FAA plans to terminate Contract Weather Observer program

[Stebo]

I don't know about you guys but when I see these observations and then find out that these people could take over my job and there is no loss in service it worries me greatly.

 

 
KFCM 200653Z 30007KT 10SM -PL CLR M03/M08 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP177 P0000 T10281083
KFCM 200553Z 30007KT 10SM -PL CLR M02/M09 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP171 P0000 60000 T10171089 10028 21017 400331017 53021
KFCM 200453Z 31007KT 10SM -PL CLR M01/M08 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP163 P0000 T10111083
KFCM 200353Z 30009KT 10SM -PL CLR M01/M08 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP155 P0000 T10061078
KFCM 200253Z 30010KT 10SM -PL CLR 01/M07 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP149 P0000 60000 T00061072 53031

KFCM 200153Z 29008KT 10SM -PL CLR 01/M07 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP138 P0000 T00061067
KFCM 200053Z 33004KT 10SM -PL CLR 02/M07 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP125 P0000 T00221067
KFCM 192353Z 32013G19KT 10SM -PL SCT050 03/M07 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP116 P0000 60000 T00331072 10033 20006 53030
KFCM 192253Z 31011KT 10SM -PL FEW045 03/M06 A2982 RMK AO2 PK WND 33030/2224 SLP107 P0000 T00331061
KFCM 192153Z 33017G24KT 10SM -PL SCT045 OVC050 03/M07 A2977 RMK AO2 PK WND 31031/2105 SLP092 P0000 T00331067
KFCM 192053Z AUTO 33022G30KT 10SM -PL FEW042 BKN050 03/M07 A2975 RMK AO2 PK WND 31030/2053 SLP085 P0000 60000 T00281067 53025
KFCM 191953Z 34018G25KT 10SM -PL SCT038 BKN050 02/M07 A2973 RMK AO2 PK WND 33031/1913 SLP076 P0000 T00221067
KFCM 191853Z 33015G24KT 10SM -PL SCT033 OVC043 02/M06 A2970 RMK AO2 PK WND 32028/1843 RAE1759 SLP066 P0000 T00221056
KFCM 191753Z 31017G25KT 10SM -PLRA BKN030 OVC039 01/M06 A2968 RMK AO2 UPE05B22E26RAB26 SLP059 P0000 60000 T00111056 10011 21006 51026
KFCM 191721Z 33017G23KT 10SM -PL FEW029 OVC036 00/M06 A2967 RMK AO2 UPE05 P0000
KFCM 191653Z 33017G25KT 10SM -PLUP FEW017 BKN024 OVC038 01/M05 A2966 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/1619 UPB1555E22B43RAB22E26SNB26E43 SLP051 P0000 T00061050
KFCM 191640Z 32016G24KT 5SM -SNPL SCT019 BKN024 OVC043 00/M04 A2964 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/1619 UPB1555E22RAB22E26SNB26 P0000
KFCM 191553Z 33017G27KT 10SM -PL SCT026 OVC040 01/M04 A2963 RMK AO2 PK WND 32028/1525 UPE17B43E51SNB03E08B33E43 SLP041 P0000 T00061044
KFCM 191453Z 32014G24KT 9SM -PLUP FEW019 BKN024 OVC030 M01/M04 A2960 RMK AO2 PK WND 33026/1409 UPB52SNE50 SLP033 P0000 60000 T10061044 53019

 

 

2 obs of -PLUP, which is impossible btw. and then 7 hours of -PL while clear. It is like they don't even realize how dangerous these obs look even if blatantly incorrect (my guess is they locked in sleet and never changed it), oh and the nearest CWO airport 10 miles away KMSP, never had sleet. I mean these people don't even know what precipitation types are.

[famartin]

I don't know about you guys but when I see these observations and then find out that these people could take over my job and there is no loss in service it worries me greatly.

 

 

KFCM 200653Z 30007KT 10SM -PL CLR M03/M08 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP177 P0000 T10281083

KFCM 200553Z 30007KT 10SM -PL CLR M02/M09 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP171 P0000 60000 T10171089 10028 21017 400331017 53021

KFCM 200453Z 31007KT 10SM -PL CLR M01/M08 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP163 P0000 T10111083

KFCM 200353Z 30009KT 10SM -PL CLR M01/M08 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP155 P0000 T10061078

KFCM 200253Z 30010KT 10SM -PL CLR 01/M07 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP149 P0000 60000 T00061072 53031

KFCM 200153Z 29008KT 10SM -PL CLR 01/M07 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP138 P0000 T00061067

KFCM 200053Z 33004KT 10SM -PL CLR 02/M07 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP125 P0000 T00221067

KFCM 192353Z 32013G19KT 10SM -PL SCT050 03/M07 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP116 P0000 60000 T00331072 10033 20006 53030

KFCM 192253Z 31011KT 10SM -PL FEW045 03/M06 A2982 RMK AO2 PK WND 33030/2224 SLP107 P0000 T00331061

KFCM 192153Z 33017G24KT 10SM -PL SCT045 OVC050 03/M07 A2977 RMK AO2 PK WND 31031/2105 SLP092 P0000 T00331067

KFCM 192053Z AUTO 33022G30KT 10SM -PL FEW042 BKN050 03/M07 A2975 RMK AO2 PK WND 31030/2053 SLP085 P0000 60000 T00281067 53025

KFCM 191953Z 34018G25KT 10SM -PL SCT038 BKN050 02/M07 A2973 RMK AO2 PK WND 33031/1913 SLP076 P0000 T00221067

KFCM 191853Z 33015G24KT 10SM -PL SCT033 OVC043 02/M06 A2970 RMK AO2 PK WND 32028/1843 RAE1759 SLP066 P0000 T00221056

KFCM 191753Z 31017G25KT 10SM -PLRA BKN030 OVC039 01/M06 A2968 RMK AO2 UPE05B22E26RAB26 SLP059 P0000 60000 T00111056 10011 21006 51026

KFCM 191721Z 33017G23KT 10SM -PL FEW029 OVC036 00/M06 A2967 RMK AO2 UPE05 P0000

KFCM 191653Z 33017G25KT 10SM -PLUP FEW017 BKN024 OVC038 01/M05 A2966 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/1619 UPB1555E22B43RAB22E26SNB26E43 SLP051 P0000 T00061050

KFCM 191640Z 32016G24KT 5SM -SNPL SCT019 BKN024 OVC043 00/M04 A2964 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/1619 UPB1555E22RAB22E26SNB26 P0000

KFCM 191553Z 33017G27KT 10SM -PL SCT026 OVC040 01/M04 A2963 RMK AO2 PK WND 32028/1525 UPE17B43E51SNB03E08B33E43 SLP041 P0000 T00061044

KFCM 191453Z 32014G24KT 9SM -PLUP FEW019 BKN024 OVC030 M01/M04 A2960 RMK AO2 PK WND 33026/1409 UPB52SNE50 SLP033 P0000 60000 T10061044 53019

 

 

2 obs of -PLUP, which is impossible btw. and then 7 hours of -PL while clear. It is like they don't even realize how dangerous these obs look even if blatantly incorrect (my guess is they locked in sleet and never changed it), oh and the nearest CWO airport 10 miles away KMSP, never had sleet. I mean these people don't even know what precipitation types are.

 

This is by far the most common issue I've seen when ATC personnel attempt to augment ASOS:  The locking in of a variable, usually present weather or tower visibility, which then keeps reporting long after it was actually valid.  I honestly don't understand why its even possible to "lock in" an observation element like that; that ability should be removed.  Errors like this, then, at least wouldn't happen.

[isohume]

This is by far the most common issue I've seen when ATC personnel attempt to augment ASOS:  The locking in of a variable, usually present weather or tower visibility, which then keeps reporting long after it was actually valid.  I honestly don't understand why its even possible to "lock in" an observation element like that; that ability should be removed.  Errors like this, then, at least wouldn't happen.

 

Yeah this wreaks havoc with the TAF. They really do need better training and I'm sure they hate having us call them all the time to update the ob. The whole thing is just a backwards process. 

[Stebo]

This is by far the most common issue I've seen when ATC personnel attempt to augment ASOS:  The locking in of a variable, usually present weather or tower visibility, which then keeps reporting long after it was actually valid.  I honestly don't understand why its even possible to "lock in" an observation element like that; that ability should be removed.  Errors like this, then, at least wouldn't happen.

 

Well it boils down to editing the Present WX, when the precip stopped all they had to do was take it out. Of course there is no way they had sleet for 36 hours, realistically it was someone taking the observation that doesn't know what sleet is. Which in Minnesota you should know what sleet is. I agree about the TWR vis, I know there has been countless times where they have done that here and we have to call over for a vis check because they have something like 2SM while we are somewhere in the 7-10SM range.

[Stebo]

Yeah this wreaks havoc with the TAF. They really do need better training and I'm sure they hate having us call them all the time to update the ob. The whole thing is just a backwards process. 

Just another example why they shouldn't be taking observations.

[famartin]

Well it boils down to editing the Present WX, when the precip stopped all they had to do was take it out. Of course there is no way they had sleet for 36 hours, realistically it was someone taking the observation that doesn't know what sleet is. Which in Minnesota you should know what sleet is. I agree about the TWR vis, I know there has been countless times where they have done that here and we have to call over for a vis check because they have something like 2SM while we are somewhere in the 7-10SM range.

There ought to be a time-limit on edits.  Like, say, an hour.  After that amount of time it reverts back to raw ASOS and the ATC has to re-input the value.  Maybe an alarm could sound warning them of the reversion.  IDK.  Just throwing out random ideas here.

[Stebo]

There ought to be a time-limit on edits.  Like, say, an hour.  After that amount of time it reverts back to raw ASOS and the ATC has to re-input the value.  Maybe an alarm could sound warning them of the reversion.  IDK.  Just throwing out random ideas here.

 

Well with the hourly unless they put the ASOS on silent will emit a noise, which should be a signal, to check the weather. Of course if you are coming in with ATCs who are incompetent in the weather dept, the hourly notice would be irrelevant. I do like the reverting back idea for something that is locked in.

[FL510]

As a pilot I find the behavior of the FAA often leaves a lot of be desired, and this is no exception.  This problem could have been dealt with a long time ago if the NWS had a stronger voice when they witnessed these observational atrocities, unfortunately now they are common place.  FAA "stakeholders" like airlines, pilots, labor unions, etc., often don't criticize the FAA because the FAA regulates and enforces and has been known to make life difficult for troublemakers, whether it be a individual, corporation or lobbying/labor group.  When it comes to aviation meteorology, the FAA seems to frequently ignore NTSB recommendations (the NTSB has no regulatory authority).

 

Augmenting ASOS with ATC personnel has proven for over a decade it can lead to inaccurate and unsafe weather reporting.  This does not comply with WMO or ICAO guidelines.

 

In England, UKMET has observers take a 3-day "in house" course to learn how to augment their automated airport weather equipment.  

 

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation/national-responsibilities

 

It's not that ATC can't create accurate weather observations, it's that the leadership, training, quality control and standards of the FAA are very poor.  Until the FAA can show that service level C sites can create accurate observations, there should be a method to stop their plans to dismantle the CWO program.  Efficiency and safety are at risk.

[famartin]

It finally made the Washington Post...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/05/01/faa-plan-to-terminate-airport-weather-observers-raises-travel-safety-concerns/

[Ground Scouring]

It finally made the Washington Post...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/05/01/faa-plan-to-terminate-airport-weather-observers-raises-travel-safety-concerns/

Good work by Jason Samenow and the Gang. These pending moves should be publicized by any agency connected to aviation and all concerned parties should lobby the FAA and/or Congress not to allow these potentially disastrous changes.

[famartin]

I'm gonna share some bad news from the NWS side.  Its only rumor-mill, technically.  However, when I shared this information about the CWO cuts with a couple of "up-and-coming" NWS managers, the responses were "they're a bunch of lazy losers, they deserve to get fired" and "the snow record is s*h*i*t anyway, let it die".  I heartily disagree with both opinions, but since these are "rising stars" I'm willing to bet that this opinion is essentially shared by the NWS top brass. 

 

Bottom line:  Don't expect much if any help from NWS to stop this from happening, apparently NWS doesn't care.

[blizznd]

I'm gonna share some bad news from the NWS side.  Its only rumor-mill, technically.  However, when I shared this information about the CWO cuts with a couple of "up-and-coming" NWS managers, the responses were "they're a bunch of lazy losers, they deserve to get fired" and "the snow record is s*h*i*t anyway, let it die".  I heartily disagree with both opinions, but since these are "rising stars" I'm willing to bet that this opinion is essentially shared by the NWS top brass. 

 

Bottom line:  Don't expect much if any help from NWS to stop this from happening, apparently NWS doesn't care.

 it does look like the CWO program was given a reprive through at  least Sep 30  according to latest info from that weather obs forum link earlier.      

[famartin]

 it does look like the CWO program was given a reprive through at  least Sep 30  according to latest info from that weather obs forum link earlier.      

Good to hear, hopefully it holds.  Noticed that one of the closures on May 1, Lubbock, had a tower-augmented report of blowing dust... that remained in the observation for 26 hours straight (even as visibility returned to 10 miles for most of that period).

[Stebo]

Good to hear, hopefully it holds. Noticed that one of the closures on May 1, Lubbock, had a tower-augmented report of blowing dust... that remained in the observation for 26 hours straight (even as visibility returned to 10 miles for most of that period).

Mobile also had issues, for 3 hours they had no altimeter in the observation.

[Ground Scouring]

I'm gonna share some bad news from the NWS side. Its only rumor-mill, technically. However, when I shared this information about the CWO cuts with a couple of "up-and-coming" NWS managers, the responses were "they're a bunch of lazy losers, they deserve to get fired" and "the snow record is s*h*i*t anyway, let it die". I heartily disagree with both opinions, but since these are "rising stars" I'm willing to bet that this opinion is essentially shared by the NWS top brass.

Unfortunately, today's cutthroat budget climate, shortsighted bureaucratic politicians, and even the results-oriented business mentality (which actually often cuts out programs whose long-term strategic usefulness may seem trivial but whose purpose actually saves lives each day, on a micro-level) tend to denigrate even trained officials as people who are simply "not competitive/hard-working [i.e. relevant] enough" or are playing a role in a "useless" program that deserves to be cut. This makes my blood boil, but it is a sad result of politics, American divisiveness/short-sighted selfishness, and even a bit of globalization (which to be fair offers many big boons, not least to the sharing of meteorological and scientific data). Do not take this is as a political cheap shot; it isn't. I do, however, have a raw nerve re: these issues.

[blizznd]

Here is a copy of what was mentioned....

 

The gist of it is the FAA is extending all contracts thru 9/30 the 14 that were closed are coming back and the FAA is going to use the extra time for what they called "stakeholder input". It looks like some of the stakeholders were never notified of the full details of the plan. The strange thing was in the FAA's response they confirm that the plan was to do a gradual phase out of the program (the transition plan) that they have officially denied up until now.

Read more: http://wxobservers.freeforums.net/index.cgi?board=faa&action=display&thread=233&page=2#ixzz2SBmpvEyj

[CT Rain]

Is there a union the represents the CWOs? Thinking about doing a story on this since BDL and BDR are on the chopping block. Got a statement from the FAA but have had no luck getting in touch with the local observers.

Any ideas?

I imagine the air traffic controllers and people who work in the towers aren't thrilled about the possibility of having to augment obs themselves with their already large workload.

[famartin]

Is there a union the represents the CWOs? Thinking about doing a story on this since BDL and BDR are on the chopping block. Got a statement from the FAA but have had no luck getting in touch with the local observers.

Any ideas?

I imagine the air traffic controllers and people who work in the towers aren't thrilled about the possibility of having to augment obs themselves with their already large workload.

All I can think of is going to visit them.  I could determine their address (35 Perimiter Road) from Google, but that's about all.

 

I think the ATC's are unhappy, but the ATC union is going along with this.  Even heard a rumor that the ATC union has threatened any ATC who speaks out publicly against it, but that was a rumor.  There is no CWO union; they are all technically private contractors.

[CT Rain]

All I can think of is going to visit them.  I could determine their address (35 Perimiter Road) from Google, but that's about all.

 

I think the ATC's are unhappy, but the ATC union is going along with this.  Even heard a rumor that the ATC union has threatened any ATC who speaks out publicly against it, but that was a rumor.  There is no CWO union; they are all technically private contractors.

 

Thanks Ray. May take a ride up there. 

 

I imagine the ATC union is going along with it since they'd rather any staffing reductions to come from CWOs and not ATCs even if it means increased work load. I can't imagine how ATCs will have time to correctly augment obs during a storm. 

[Stebo]

Thanks Ray. May take a ride up there. 

 

I imagine the ATC union is going along with it since they'd rather any staffing reductions to come from CWOs and not ATCs even if it means increased work load. I can't imagine how ATCs will have time to correctly augment obs during a storm. 

 

They won't, it has already been proven countless times at other sites where they already take obs

[famartin]

Latest rumor mill:

 

1 - FAA won't be closing CWO's for FY14.  FY15 is unknown.

 

2 - To plan in advance for the possible cut of snow observing at FAA sites, NWS may cut its own paid snow observing program down to once per day.  This would surely muck up the snowfall climo, but NWS says it doesn't have the money to pay for the current snowfall measuring program if all the FAA sites were added.  Right now it only pays for about 90 stations, costing approximately $1,000/station/year.

[gloomy_weather]

Couple of items from the FAA Contact Weather Observers Facebook page:

 

A - The FAA Contract Weather Observing Program has assumed weather certification responsibility as of 1 October, 2013.  Previously this was the responsibility of the National Weather Service ...

 

B - The following is updated status on the Contract Weather Observer Program groupings ... currently 10 sites are on extensions - due to protests (to November 30, 2013) and 7 sites are on 1st option year (to September 30, 2014):

 

10 FAA CWO Groups awarded on June 16, 2013 (2,3,8,9,11,12,13,15,16,17)

 

Currently on 1^st Option year to September 30, 2014

 

Group 2 - Awarded to Vero Technical Support, Inc.
William B. Hartsfield Int’l. Arpt. ATL
Birmingham Int’l. BHM
Columbia Metropolitan Arpt. CAE
Charleston AFB/Int’l. Arpt. CHS
Huntsville Int’l HSV
Jackson Int’l Arpt. JAN
Mobile Regional Arpt. MOB
Savannah Barbara Municipal Arpt. SAV

Group 3 – Awarded to CJ Rogers Aviation, Inc.
Nashville Int’l. BNA
Lovell Field CHA
Charlotte/Douglas Intl CLT
Yeager CRW
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Int’l CVG
Piedmont Traid Int’l GSO
Memphis Intl. MEM
Raleigh-Durham Int’l RDU
Louisville Intl. Standiford Field SDF
Tri-Cities Regional TRI
McGhee Tyson TYS

Group 8 - Awarded to Vero Technical Support, Inc.
Albuquerque Int’l Sunport Arpt ABQ
Wichita Mid-Continent Arpt. ICT
Adams Field Arpt. LIT
Louis Armstrong New Orleans Int’l MSY
Will Rogers World OKC
Shreveport Regional Arpt. SHV
Tulsa Int’l TUL

Group 9 - Awarded to Condor Reliability Services
Duluth Int’l Arpt DLH
Des Moines Int’l Arpt DSM
Joe Foss Field FSD
Grand Forks International Airport GFK
Kansas City Int’l Arpt MCI
Minneapolis – St. Paul Int’l MSP
Eppley Airfield OMA
Lambert-St. Louis Int’l Arpt. STL

Group 11 - Awarded to ATS Meterology, USA, Inc.
Akron-Washington County CAK
Cleveland-Hopkins Int’l. Arpt. CLE
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County DTW
Gerald R. Ford Int'l Arpt. GRR
Capital City LAN
Muskegon County MKG
Oakland County Int'l, Pontiac PTK
Cherry Capital Arpt TVC
Youngstown-Warren Regional YNG

Group 12 - Awarded to Pacific Weather, Inc.
Columbus Int’l CMH
James M. Cox Dayton International Airport DAY

Group 13 - Awarded to CJ Rogers Aviation, Inc.
Fresno Yosemite Int’l FAT
Honolulu Int’l Arpt. HNL
Los Angeles Int’l LAX
Metropolitan Oakland Int’l OAK
Ontario Int’l Arpt. ONT
San Diego Int’l Linbergh Field SAN
San Francisco Int’l Arpt. SFO
San Jose Int’l Arpt SJC

Group 15 - Awarded to Pacific Weather, Inc.
Reno/Tahoe International Airport RNO
Sacramento Int’l Arpt SMF

Group 16 - Awarded to Midwest Weather, Inc.
Cordova Merle K. Smith Mudhole Arpt. CDV
Juneau Field JNU
Petersburg Arpt. PSG
Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Arpt. SIT
Valdez Pioneer Field Arpt. VDZ
Wrangell Arpt. WRG

Group 17 - Awarded to Alaska Wx Operations Svc.
Anchorage Int’l Arpt. ANC
King Salmon Arpt. AKN
Bethel Arpt. BET
Dutch Harbor Unalaska Tom Madsen Arpt. DUT
Iliamna Arpt. ILI
Merrill Int’l. MRI
Sand Point Arpt. SDP
 

 

7 FAA CWO Groups not awarded on June 16, 2013 (1,4,5,7,10,14,18)

 

Currently on extension to November 30, 2013

 

Group 1

Daytona Beach Int’l. DAB
Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood Int’l FLL
Jacksonville Int’l Arpt. JAX
Orlando Int’l MCO
Miami Int’l MIA
Palm Beach Int’l PBI
Luis Munoz Marin Int'l Arpt. SJU
Tallahassee Regional Arpt. TLH
Tampa Intl. TPA

Group 4

Buffalo-Niagara Int’l. Arpt. BUF
Baltimore-Washington Int’l. BWI
Ronald Reagan National Arpt. DCA
Washington Dulles Int’l IAD
Harrisburg Int’l Arpt. MDT
Philadelphia Int’l PHL
Pittsburg Int’l PIT
Richmond Int’l RIC
Roanoke Regional/Wooddrum ROA
Greater Rochester Int’l ROC
Syracuse Hancock Intl. SYR

Group 5 
Albany Int’l ALB
Logan Int’l. Arpt. BOS
Bradley Int’l. BDL
Newark Int’l EWR
Long Island Mac Arthur Arpt. ISP
John F. Kennedy Int’l JFK
La Guardia Int’l LGA
Manchester Arpt. MHT
Theodore Francis Green State Arpt. PVD
Portland Int’l Jetport Arpt. PWM
Bangor International Airport BGR
Burlington Int’l. Arpt. BTV

 

Group 7 
Fort Worth Alliance Arpt. AFW
Robert Mueller Municipal Arpt. AUS
Corpus Christi Int’l Arpt. CRP
Dallas Love Field DAL
Dallas/Fort Worth Int’l Arpt. DFW
El Paso Int’l ELP
William P. Hobby Arpt. HOU
George Bush Intercontinental IAH
Lubbock Int’l Arpt. LBB
San Antonio Int’l SAT

Group 10 
Fort Wayne Int’l FWA
Indianapolis Int’l IND
Chicago Midway MDW
Milwaukee Arpt. MKE
Dane Co. Regional-Truax Field MSN
Chicago O’Hare Int’l ORD
Greater Rockford Arpt. RFD

Group 14
Centennial Arpt. APA
Billings Logan Int’l Arpt BIL
Colorado Springs Municipal COS
Denver Int’l DEN
Mahlon Sweet Field Arpt. EUG
Spokane Int’l GEG
McCarran Int’l Arpt. LAS
Portland Int’l Arpt PDX
Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Arpt. PHX
Seattle-Tacoma Int’l SEA
Salt Lake City Int’l Arpt. SLC

Group 18 
Allen Army Airfield BIG
Bettles Arpt. BTT
Fairbanks Int'l Arpt. FAI
Fort Yukon Arpt. FYU
Great Circle Arpt. ORT
Deadhorse Arpt. SCC
Ralph Calhoun Arpt. TAL 

[isohume]

A - The FAA Contract Weather Observing Program has assumed weather certification responsibility as of 1 October, 2013.  Previously this was the responsibility of the National Weather Service ...

 

Let's hope tower staff can be trained to not disable ASOS pressure sensors by simply logging in...at a minimum.   

[gloomy_weather]

Let's hope tower staff can be trained to not disable ASOS pressure sensors by simply logging in...at a minimum.   

ASOS software version 3.10, which is the latest, and from what we hear last upgrade, does address this issue by giving the controller a warning message before the pressure sensor is turned off.

 

3.10 has been delayed in some (many?) regions due to required training and NWS tech install being affected by the government shutdown earlier this month. 

[gloomy_weather]

New post this morning reverses yesterday's announcement:

 

Hello Everyone, 

Please continue to request certifications through the NWS until we (FAA) notify you that FAA new procedures are in place. 

Thanks 

Contract Weather Team
Federal Aviation Administration

[famartin]

ASOS software version 3.10, which is the latest, and from what we hear last upgrade, does address this issue by giving the controller a warning message before the pressure sensor is turned off.

Last upgrade?  I don't know of any replacement for ASOS in the works, so I don't know how that will be the "last" upgrade.

[gloomy_weather]

Last upgrade?  I don't know of any replacement for ASOS in the works, so I don't know how that will be the "last" upgrade.

 

There is just talk from the NWS techs that this may be the last upgrade ...

 

Here is the FAACO posting from mid 2011 ... request to industry:  in search for a possible "NEXGEN weather system" 

 

 

 

Title FAA Aviation Weather Group - Weather Sensors (Rightsizing) Announcement Type Market Survey Date Posted 06/29/2011 Date / Time Closed 07/28/2011 / 12:00 AM (local) Solicitation / Contract # 10867 Contact Name / Organization Colleen McLaughlin-Heasty / AJA-4A3 Region Issuing Office CT - William J. Hughes Technical Center (Atlantic City, NJ) Phone / Email 609-485-6740 / [email protected] Details Set-Aside n/a NAICS Code n/a Classification Code n/a Procurement Method Commercial/Simplified Region(s) of Performance n/a Abstract In accordance with Federal Aviation Administration Acquisition Management System (AMS) Policy 3.2.1.2.1 - this announcement is to conduct a Market Survey for the purpose of soliciting statements of interest and capabilities from interested vendors to provide information for the FAA to consider in choosing the type and number of weather sensors which would be needed to go forward with proof of concept and prototyping activities.  This announcement is NOT A SCREENING INFORMATION REQUEST (SIR) or REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP).  Further, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals.

The principal North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this effort is 334511, Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing, with a size standard of 750 employees. 

Background:

The surface weather sensor network that serves aviation weather information users today is a complex system of weather sensor, point-to-point communication paths and processors that relies on an outdated and redundant collection of hardware, software, and protocols.  In the current environment, the addition of new sensors or sensor types requires costly hardware and software changes to multiple systems.  As the FAA implements the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), the demand for additional weather sensor information will make continuation of the current legacy systems untenable.

The FAA currently owns a number of standalone weather sensor systems that it maintains alone or in partnership with other agencies.  These systems include but are not limited to:

Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)

Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS)

Automated Weather Sensor System (AWSS)

Runway Visual Range F(RVR)

Low Level Windshear Alert System (LLWAS)

Wind Measuring Equipment (WME) 

Anemometer (F420) 

Standalone Weather Sensors (SAWS) 

Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator (DASI) 

Runway Surface Condition.  

This Market Survey will provide information that will help determine the feasibility of combining these stovepipe systems into a single consolidated NextGen surface observing system.  

The FAA has identified the following critical success factors for the NextGen surface sensor network 

•   Optimize (i.e., minimize) the use of wireless bandwidth within the Aerodrome

•   Optimize (i.e., maximize) the value data available in the NAS

•   Optimize (i.e., minimize) the physical and carbon footprint of the system

•   Meet the legacy requirements of weather information users in the NAS

•   Be scalable to meet the needs of an increasing number of data sources and users

•   Enable weather data format standardization

•   Meet the FAA's requirements for a mission-critical service

•   Minimize costs to the FAA and to users

Requirement:

The FAA is seeking information on a number of sensor types and technologies, these include:

Ceilometer -  0 to 25,000ft  minimum, 40,000ft desired

Visibility Sensor - 0 to 10mi minimum

Pressure Sensor -   17 to 31.5 inches of mercury 

Present Weather/Precipitation ID - reports R-, R, R+, S-, S, S+, DZ-, DZ ,DZ+, GR, GS

Freezing Rain - 0.01 inches per hour

Wind Speed - 0 to 150mph, 

Wind Direction - 0 to 360 degrees, 2 and 3 dimensions

Temperature - -80 to 140 degrees F

Humidity/Dewpoint - -30 to 90 degrees F

Precipitation Accumulation

Precipitation Liquid Water Equivalent - 30 inch capacity

Snow Depth

Lightning Detection and Range

All Sky Camera/Sensor

Runway Surface Condition Sensors

Ambient Light Sensors

Runway Light Intensity Monitors

The FAA maintains a preference for Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) components.  The FAA is interested in sensors that support network communications protocols (e.g. TCP/IP) as well as serial communications.  The FAA is interested in low power designs which are amenable to solar or other alternative power sources.  The FAA is interested in the aviation/airport usage or history of any proposed sensor.  The FAA is interested in sensors that support or include wireless communications capabilities.  The FAA is interested in consolidated sensor packages (i.e. a single package that can measure more than one parameter from the list above).  The FAA is interested in the built in test capabilities and data quality checks organic to each sensor design.  

The FAA expects the interested parties to possess knowledge, capabilities, and experience in the following areas:

•   Surface Weather Sensors

•   Deployment and maintenance of weather sensors into the NAS environment

•   Efficient bandwidth utilization

•   Knowledge of FAA weather sensors, weather formats, and the integration of weather sensor information into air traffic management systems

All responders must provide a Capability Statement that addresses the following:

a.   Type of services or products provided by your firm that demonstrate ability to perform the services described above.

b.   Services or products provided under previous contracts to enable the measurement of weather information that are similar in size, scope and complexity to this effort.  

c.   Provide detailed information and past performance information for previous contracts including program title, customer name, project dates, project value, customer point of contact, and description of work performed.

d.   Completed Business Declaration Form (attached)

e.   Copy of SBA 8(a) Certification Form and/or proof of service-disabled veteran-owned small business status (if applicable). 

If a vendor's specified products are COTS items with a published price list, include applicable pricing with the required Capability Statement. 

Electronic submission is preferred.  Submissions must not exceed 20 pages in length.  The electronic submission should be in either Microsoft WORD format or portable document format (PDF).  Please note that the FAA e-mail server restricts file size to 10MB per email message, therefore, responses may have to be submitted in more than one e-mail in order to be received. All Submissions must be received by 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 28, 2011 to Colleen Mclaughlin-Heasty, Contract Specialist at[email protected].   Submission must include company Point(s) of Contact, telephone number(s), FAX number(s), E-mail address, and mailing address. 

Questions regarding this market survey may be submitted no later than July 15, 2011 to Colleen McLaughlin-Heasty, via E-mail to [email protected]. 

This announcement is not intended to guarantee procurement of the services, and must not be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract.  The Government is not liable for costs associated with the preparation, submittal of inquiries or responses for this announcement and will not reimburse any firm for cost incurred in responding to this market survey.  Based on vendor's capabilities as a result of this Market Survey, the Government reserves the right to hold future communications with vendors in an effort to address supplementary details of this survey. 

While registration in the Central Contracting Registration (CCR) database is not required at this time, vendors participating in this market survey are advised that if any future requirement(s) result from this announcement, a vendor must be registered in the CCR database.

 

[famartin]

Interesting.  Considering how long it took to develop ASOS, this is probably WAY down the line.  But I do like that they actually bothered to list "snow depth" on there.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[gloomy_weather]

Not currently part of the Contract Weather Observation Program ... responsibility for observations, to include required backup and augmentation with ATC.  KORF was in the program a few years ago until the contract was cancelled by the FAA due to site becoming a "C" level ... LAWRS.

 

http://www.wavy.com/news/local/norfolk/system-failure-causes-frustrated-fliers

 

 

Observation scan from this past weekend:

 

 2013-11-17 07:46 METAR KORF 171246Z 1/2SM RMK AO2 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-17 06:51 METAR KORF 171151Z AUTO 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO 6//// 7//// PWINO FZRANO TSNO RVRNO
PNO $ =
2013-11-17 05:51 METAR KORF 171051Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-17 04:51 METAR KORF 170951Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-17 03:51 METAR KORF 170851Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO 6//// RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-17 02:51 METAR KORF 170751Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-17 01:51 METAR KORF 170651Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-17 00:51 METAR KORF 170551Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO 6//// RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 23:51 METAR KORF 170451Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 22:51 METAR KORF 170351Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 21:51 METAR KORF 170251Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO 6//// RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 20:51 METAR KORF 170151Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 19:51 METAR KORF 170051Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 18:51 METAR KORF 162351Z 10SM RMK AO2 SLPNO 6//// RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 17:58 METAR KORF 162258Z 10SM RMK AO2 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 17:51 METAR KORF 162251Z 05005KT 10SM OVC023 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP245 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 17:16 METAR KORF 162216Z 05005KT 10SM OVC023 A3025 RMK AO2 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 16:58 METAR KORF 162158Z AUTO 10SM RMK AO2 PWINO FZRANO TSNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 16:51 METAR KORF 162151Z AUTO 04006KT 10SM OVC021 16/13 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP262 T01600130
PWINO TSNO RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 15:51 METAR KORF 162051Z 04006KT 10SM OVC021 16/13 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP262 6////
T01600130 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 14:51 METAR KORF 161951Z 04007KT 10SM OVC021 16/13 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP242 T01600130
RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 14:44 METAR KORF 161944Z 05007KT 10SM OVC021 16/13 A3025 RMK AO2 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 13:51 METAR KORF 161851Z A3025 RMK AO2 SLP245 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 12:51 METAR KORF 161751Z COR 06008KT 10SM OVC017 15/12 A3026 =
2013-11-16 11:51 METAR KORF 161651Z A3028 RMK AO2 SLP255 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 10:51 METAR KORF 161551Z A3029 RMK AO2 SLP258 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 09:55 METAR KORF 161455Z A3030 RMK AO2 RVRNO PNO $ =
2013-11-16 09:51 METAR KORF 161451Z AUTO A3030 RMK AO2 SLP261 6//// 51014 PWINO FZRANO TSNO RVRNO
PNO $ =
2013-11-16 09:14 METAR KORF 161414Z AUTO 13/12 A3030 RMK AO2 PWINO TSNO RVRNO PNO $ =

[gloomy_weather]

Assuming all option years are executed, contacts good to September 30, 2017:

Base year: Dec 2013 - Sep 2014 (10 months)
1st option: Oct 2014 - Sep 2015 (12 months)
2nd option: Oct 2015 - Sep 2016 (12 months)
3rd option: Oct 2016 - Sep 2017 (12 months)

Original contact was for 5 years (1 base year and 4 option years), however 14 months were spent on extensions for many of the groups due to upheld protests, which in the end did turn over some awards from this past June 2013. 

 

 

Title Notice of Contract Award to Solicitation No. DTFAWA-R-12-08591-FAA Contract Weather Observation (CWO) Services

 

Announcement Type Award Date Posted 11/26/2013

 

Date / Time Closed 12/26/2013 / 05:00 PM (local)

 

Solicitation / Contract # 15387

 

Organization Katherine Petito-Peverall / AAQ-200 Region Issuing Office WA - FAA Headquarters (Washington, DC) Phone / Email 202-385-8591 / [email protected]

 

Details Set-Aside Total small business NAICS Code 561990 -- All Other Support Services Classification Code 99 --

 

Miscellaneous Procurement Method Commercial/Simplified Region(s) of Performance Nationwide Abstract The Federal Aviation Administration announces the following contracts to be awarded on November 26, 2013 under Solicitation DTFAWA-12-R-08591.

The Rockhill Group, Inc. - Group 1, ($11,527,600.00)
1170 Laguna Lane
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
Place of Performance – FL, PR  
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C- 00004


Midwest Weather Inc.- Group 3, ($13,569,734.00)
28 Harmony Crossing Drive
St. Peters, MO 63376
Place of Performance – TN, NC, WV, KY 
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C-00005


Diversified Management Solutions – Group 4, ($15,858,628.00)
230 State Street
Garner, IA 50438
Place of Performance – NY, MD, DC, VA, PA 
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C-00006


IBEX Weather – Group 5, ($16,246,160.00)
125 South State Road 7
Suite 104-140
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
Place of Performance – NY, MA, CT, NJ, NH, RI, ME, VT
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C-00007


The Rockhill Group, Inc. – Group 7, ($14,873,916.00)
1170 Laguna Lane
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Place of Performance – TX
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C-00008


RNR Technologies, Inc. – Group 10, ($9,231,326.00)
8262 Bold Drive, SE
Ada, MI 49301
Place of Performance – IN, IL, WI
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C-00009


RNR Technologies, Inc.- Group 11, ($10,553,964.00)
8262 Bold Drive, SE
Ada, MI 49301
Place of Performance – OH, MI 
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C-00010


IBEX Weather – Group 13, ($15,019,562.00)
125 South State Road 7
Suite 104-140
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
Place of Performance – CA, HI 
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C-00011


Diversified Management Solutions, Group 14, ($14,054,512.00)
230 State Street
Garner, IA 50438
Place of Performance – CO, MT, OR,WA,  NV, AZ, UT
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C-00012


Alaska Weather Operation Services, Inc. – Group 18, ($9,692,922.00)
4235 Airport Drive,  C
Anchorage, AK 99502
Place of Performance – AK 
Contract No. DTFAWA-14-C-00013

The FAA Contracting Officer for this procurement is: 

Katherine Petito-Peverall
202-385-8591
[email protected]