SMA X WAS LOST AND FSS SPECIALIST REORIENTED THE PLT AND PLT MADE SAFE LNDG.

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ON SEP/XX/94 AN ACFT BECAME DISORIENTED ON A FLT OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAINS. THE ACFT WAS LOCATED AND GUIDED TO A SAFE LNDG. DURING THE ORIENTATION OF THE ACFT; THE ATC SPECIALIST WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN A WX RPT FOR DILLON; MT. THE SPECIALIST RELIED ON THE RELAY OF UNOFFICIAL WX INFO FROM UNCERTIFIED PERSONS. THE VISIBILITY AT THE ARPT WAS LIMITED TO 3-4 MI DUE TO SMOKE; ACCORDING TO THE 'UNOFFICIAL OBSERVER.' THIS OBTAINING OF UNOFFICIAL WX BY ITSELF IS NOT THAT UNUSUAL IN AN EMER SIT. I MIGHT ADD; THE ACFT LANDED WITH AN ESTIMATED 15 MIN OF FUEL REMAINING. WHAT IS FRUSTRATING; HOWEVER; IS THE FACT THAT THE ARPT AT DILLON; MT; HAS ASOS (AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVATION SYS) EQUIP IN OP. THIS EQUIP (WHICH HAS BEEN INSTALLED FOR OVER 2 YRS) PROVIDES ALTIMETER SETTING INFO; IS NOT COMMISSIONED AND CANNOT BE USED. ONE CAN ONLY SPECULATE ON THE OUTCOME OF THIS ORIENTATION PROB; HAD GND PERSONNEL NOT BEEN AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE LCL WX CONDITIONS. I HAVE DECIDED TO PASS THIS PROB ALONG VIA THIS PATH (NASA) INSTEAD OF USING AN OFFICIAL FAA SUGGESTION. THE REASON BEING; THERE IS A COM PROB (I BELIEVE) BTWN THE FAA AND NWS IN FINDING APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR TELEPHONE LINES BTWN THE SEVERAL AS YET COMMISSIONED ASOS SITES IN THE STATE OF MONTANA. I HOPE THAT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION CAN ASCERTAIN THE CRITICAL NEED FOR THE COMMISSIONING OF ALL ASOS EQUIPPED SITES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR INFORMED THAT ASOS HAS A LOT OF PROBS AND FAA POLICY IS NOT TO COMMISSION ANY MORE UNITS UNTIL PROBS ARE WORKED OUT.