AN ATC RPTR IS CONCERNED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION CERTIFICATION OF ASOS EQUIP AT MKG. RPTR ALLEGES THAT ATC HAS NOT RECEIVED THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR BACKUP EQUIP TO AUGMENT THE ASOS RPTS; WHEN NECESSARY.

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ON MAY/XX/96; MUSKEGON TWR ACCEPTED AN ASOS. AIR TFC CTLRS ARE NOW REQUIRED TO AUGMENT THE WX THAT IS BEING PRODUCED BY THE ASOS. THERE HAS BEEN NO ADDITIONAL STAFFING ALLOCATED TO PERFORM THIS TASK. THE ASOS UNIT WAS NOT COMMISSIONED UNTIL MAY/XX/96. THERE HAS BEEN NO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING CONDUCTED FOR LAWRS CERTIFICATION; AND IN THE EVENT OF ASOS FAILURE OR SENSOR FAILURE IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE; AS CTLRS; WILL BE ORDERED TO SUPPLEMENT AND AUGMENT THE ASOS RPTS AND TO TAKE LAWRS. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT THE ASOS UNIT AT MUSKEGON HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ANY FACILITY ACCEPTANCE TESTING; OPERATIONAL READINESS DEMONSTRATION TESTING; OR INITIAL OPERATING CAPABILITY TESTING. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THAT THE ASOS UNIT AT MUSKEGON HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FAA ORDER 1812.5. THERE HAVE BEEN NO NATIONALLY DESIGNATED PROCS FOR ASOS USE PROVIDED TO MUSKEGON TWR. LACK OF ADDITIONAL EQUIP TO TAKE WX OBSERVATIONS WHEN THE ASOS EQUIP FAILS ALSO CAUSES GREAT CONCERN. WE CAN ONLY ESTIMATE THE CEILINGS THROUGH PIREPS AND IF THE ASOS ALTIMETERS BECOME UNUSABLE; WE HAVE NO WAY OF VERIFYING AN ALTIMETER SETTING. THE APCH PLATES AT MUSKEGON HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED TO REFLECT THE POSSIBILITY OF NO ALTIMETER SETTING AVAILABLE. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY MANUALS TO BE USED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ASOS UNIT AT MUSKEGON.