ATCT LCL CTLR UNABLE TO GET CONTRACT WX OBSERVERS TO CHANGE THE CEILING HT AFTER 5-6 PIREPS INDICATING THE CEILING WAS 400-500 FT LOWER THAN THE WX OBSERVERS WERE RPTING IT TO BE.
Synopsis
ATCT LCL CTLR UNABLE TO GET CONTRACT WX OBSERVERS TO CHANGE THE CEILING HT AFTER 5-6 PIREPS INDICATING THE CEILING WAS 400-500 FT LOWER THAN THE WX OBSERVERS WERE RPTING IT TO BE.
Narrative
DURING LOW CEILING; IFR WX; AFTER 5 OR 6 PIREPS CONFIRMING A 500-600 FT BROKEN/OVCST CEILING; OUR CONTRACT WX OBSERVER CONTINUED TO IGNORE THE PIREPS AND RPT THE CLOUDS AT 1000 FT OVCST WITH 7 MI VISIBILITY. REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT TRYING TO CLARIFY THE SIT RESULTED IN A BRICK WALL RESPONSE. THE SUPVR THEN MADE A PHONE CALL TO ME IN THE TWR AND INFORMED ME NOT TO SEND ANY MORE PIREPS BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST 'PLT ESTIMATES' AND THEIR ABILITY TO 'EYEBALL' THE CEILING WAS MORE ACCURATE. THEIR ASOS WAS OTS AND AS IT WAS DAYLIGHT THE CEILOMETER WAS UNUSABLE. THE OBSERVER ALSO REFUSED TO SEND UP A BALLOON BECAUSE OF THE 'HIGH WINDS' (15 KTS). I WISH I HAD THE ANSWER; BUT I DO KNOW ASOS ISN'T IT! EXPERIENCE WITH ASOS HAS TAUGHT NOT TO RELY ON ASOS BECAUSE OF THE NARROW PARAMETERS OF THE 'BEAM.' PERHAPS A MORE IN DEPTH TRAINING PROGRAM (MORE THAN JUST HERE -- READ; STUDY THESE BOOKS; TAKE THIS TEST AND HERE'S YOUR FIRST PAYCHK) FOR THE NEW FOLKS AND BETTER RECURRING TRAINING FOR THE EXISTING ONES. (WE'RE ALSO HAVING TO EDUCATE THE NEW AND SOME OF THE EXPERIENCED ONES THE DIFFERENCE BTWN AGL AND MSL.) THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.