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ZBW controller reports that nexrad routinely provides inaccurate WX information; which is degrading pilot and controller confidence in ATC WX reporting capabilities.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 712343 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200609 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : orw.vor |
| State Reference | CT |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 23000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | Rain |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 19 |
| ASRS Report | 712343 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Navigational Facility |
| Primary Problem | Navigational Facility |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | radar equipment : zbw.artcc |
Narrative:
On sep/thu/06; ZBW nexrad WX radar showed moderate heavy and extreme precipitation over the norwich VOR on the boston arrival route. When informed of this WX aircraft X and aircraft Y both advised ATC that they were in the clear; no WX around; above or below them. From FL230 to the ground was clear. This situation is becoming very common. When ATC nexrad WX display shows aircraft in the WX they are often in the clear. Then when the pilots inform ATC that they are in fact in the WX; our radar display shows them in the clear. The FAA however still requires ATC to continue to inform the aircraft of the WX knowing that the radar data in most cases is wrong. This is creating several problems; one of which is that the pilots are no longer taking our WX reporting seriously. Another is that when aircraft do need ATC help we cannot accurately provide them with information they need.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZBW CTLR RPTS THAT NEXRAD ROUTINELY PROVIDES INACCURATE WX INFO; WHICH IS DEGRADING PLT AND CTLR CONFIDENCE IN ATC WX RPTING CAPABILITIES.
Narrative: ON SEP/THU/06; ZBW NEXRAD WX RADAR SHOWED MODERATE HVY AND EXTREME PRECIP OVER THE NORWICH VOR ON THE BOSTON ARR RTE. WHEN INFORMED OF THIS WX ACFT X AND ACFT Y BOTH ADVISED ATC THAT THEY WERE IN THE CLR; NO WX AROUND; ABOVE OR BELOW THEM. FROM FL230 TO THE GND WAS CLR. THIS SITUATION IS BECOMING VERY COMMON. WHEN ATC NEXRAD WX DISPLAY SHOWS ACFT IN THE WX THEY ARE OFTEN IN THE CLR. THEN WHEN THE PLTS INFORM ATC THAT THEY ARE IN FACT IN THE WX; OUR RADAR DISPLAY SHOWS THEM IN THE CLR. THE FAA HOWEVER STILL REQUIRES ATC TO CONTINUE TO INFORM THE ACFT OF THE WX KNOWING THAT THE RADAR DATA IN MOST CASES IS WRONG. THIS IS CREATING SEVERAL PROBS; ONE OF WHICH IS THAT THE PLTS ARE NO LONGER TAKING OUR WX RPTING SERIOUSLY. ANOTHER IS THAT WHEN ACFT DO NEED ATC HELP WE CANNOT ACCURATELY PROVIDE THEM WITH INFO THEY NEED.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.