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Post by TCU 2U2 on Jul 15, 2016 12:35:45 GMT -5
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Post by hlsto2 on Jul 16, 2016 9:56:52 GMT -5
I still don't understand how or why the ASOS program was turned over to the FAA. the FAA has no people trained in meteorology...mostly people who talk to pilots. the NWS had to know this was going to turn into the mess that we have now. a mix of many hundreds of incompetent lawrs sites and about 140 professionally staffed CWO's. and yet,they stand around in silence. Giving the ASOS program to the FAA is like giving a plumbing company a contract to maintain the power grid. our CWO has not had a "real" inspection in many years. I think the FAA did come around once with a clipboard and checked off the number of pencils we had.
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Post by toofarnorth on Jul 18, 2016 17:27:22 GMT -5
histo2, that's a turf-battle question you don't want to ask! Just remember that power=the ability to get money and more money=more power... This is classic turf grabbing - "aviation requires weather services and aviation is the FAA's turf". So they grab authority that should be the NWS's, grab a bunch of the NWS's budget, and give themselves pay raises for creating the CWO program so the ATCs wouldn't be distracted doing weather (1994) - a safety issue. And now they want to close us, give the wx back to ATC, and somehow save $ without compromising safety NOT!, all the while scheming to give themselves another fat raise. And my cynicism is in overdrive... The bureau'rats call it "playing the game". And the public loses every time. Let's keep our chins up and remember we're providing a vital service to the aviation community.
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Post by rich on Jul 18, 2016 20:30:13 GMT -5
Actually what happened in the mid 90's was the NWS cut the CWO program so they could use the funds to expand the NEXRAD system, they also consolidated many forecast offices that took obs at that time. The FAA ended up with it and worked out the service standards with stakeholders that classified airports as either A B C or D level and determined which sites would receive CWO service (A and B levels) LAWRS service (C level) or unaugmented ASOS (D level) in the CONUS. These were the guidelines that were in effect for approx. 20 years until they were recently scrapped by the FAA.
Also remember that up until 2 or so years ago the NWS was responsible for all certifications, site inspections, and QC at LAWRS towers. The sorry state of LAWRS observations is as much their fault as it is the FAA's.
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Post by hlsto2 on Jul 19, 2016 1:16:37 GMT -5
it is MORE the NWS's fault. they know better whereas the FAA could care less. when I was in the NWS, we used to require the atct to take a REAL exam...unlike todays sham. I remember these cocky controllers coming into take the test. on their way out they were not so cocky. we would inspect towers and write them up for not doing the job. they could care less...just like today.
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Post by toofarnorth on Jul 19, 2016 17:17:06 GMT -5
Careful about what you wish for - I've heard from NWS folks that they want more budget for more remote and satellite-based sensing, and want to phase out human observers. We might not survive a restoration of NWS oversight - but it sounds logical and like the right thing to do. We are orphans as far as the FAA is (not) concerned.
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