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Post by stardustwx on Mar 6, 2013 20:58:43 GMT -5
SO LAX is closing also. I have a news flash for everyone out there. If LAX is closing we are all closing. Yes, that's what the document says. Sounds like any time AFTER May 1. |
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Post by wxfcstr on Mar 6, 2013 20:59:35 GMT -5
Since the sequestation has gone into effect, has any sites been notified of any changes to thier contract that has not yet been implemented yet. We are on a extension until 31 march and a 24 hour station. With 3 weeks left until the supposed NEW contracts are supposed to take affect, has any CWO been notified of any new changes or developments. I know or believe that the FAA would like to get rid of us and let the ATC people do the weather. Saves them money, bottom line, and would preserve ATC jobs and towers while putting lots of CWO out of work. Safety is a issue but money is more of a issue. Now at our site we report to the NWS actual snowfall/ snowdepth/ and snow core samples and report observations of movement of TS and acurate Sfc Visibility and sky cover..Kind of hard to do that from over 200 feet. Our weather Observations are a lead in during the Weather on the local TV channels. Funny if the by line is "Current conditions at the Airport are---. " only to learn it is from the ASOS and not a person. One word of caution. If the ATC Airport manager comes to talk to you about information or contracts: say as little as possible, answer only the question asked but be truthful and do not divulge too much information or you can refer them to your Company HQ. For what you say can right or wrong can and will be used against you. Reason i am saying this is that one day after our site manager had a converation with the ATC airport manager, a ATC tower supervisor came down to see if they needed any extra equipment to do our job. The ATC manager was given too much information about our contract then was asked and our site manager spoke of things that should have been refered to the company for official information. just be wary of what you say and the reason they are asking. ATC and CWO 's are both in a defense mode and what can we do to save our jobs.
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Post by fu on Mar 6, 2013 21:16:43 GMT -5
Some points about the FAA memo These are the stakeholders that are mentioned who agreed to the present service standards. I don't know if they have to agree to the proposed plan or not but would imagine they do: The Air Transportation Association (ATA) Aircraft Owners and Private Pilot Association (AOPA) Airline Pilot Association (ALPA) American Association of Aircraft Executives (AAAE) Aircraft Dispatchers Federation (ADF) AOPA Air safety Foundation (ASF) Airports Council International (ACI) Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA, Helicopter Association International (HAI) National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Allied Pilots Association (APA) General Aviation Manufactures Association (GAMA) National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation (AASF) Regional Airline Association (RAA) Here's the bean counter that wants to scrap the CWO program: www.faa.gov/about/key_officials/grizzle_ato/In my totally uninformed opinion the FAA is going to want to shut all the CWO's and the stakeholders (particularly the ones that stand to lose money) are not going to want it to happen and they will negotiate. 109 CWO's is the FAA's starting point whether they all end up closing will be debated between the airlines and the other stakeholders and the FAA over the coming months. |
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Post by fu on Mar 6, 2013 21:22:45 GMT -5
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Post by stardustwx on Mar 6, 2013 21:35:14 GMT -5
In the 90's it was the airline pilots that complained and it brought back the program...if those listed HAVE to agree before the program is canned, then we are safe. But if the FAA doesn't care what those groups have to say, then we are gone anyway. The first line of the document posted says regardless of sequestration status.....
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binovc
Junior Member
Posts: 84
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Post by binovc on Mar 6, 2013 21:37:47 GMT -5
As I began reading this thread, the ASOS took a dump - everything except DP went missing during Pending, and I had to scramble to get out a manual obs. I'm thankful the wx tonight is basically non-existent, but I wonder how Grizzle will handle a totally missing obs at a major airport during crap wx.
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Post by weatheri on Mar 6, 2013 21:38:51 GMT -5
Here are the numbers:
21 Alaska sites
23 Western Region
109 remainder
Total = 133
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Post by coldlover on Mar 6, 2013 22:00:35 GMT -5
Some points about the FAA memo These are the stakeholders that are mentioned who agreed to the present service standards. I don't know if they have to agree to the proposed plan or not but would imagine they do: The Air Transportation Association (ATA) Aircraft Owners and Private Pilot Association (AOPA) Airline Pilot Association (ALPA) American Association of Aircraft Executives (AAAE) Aircraft Dispatchers Federation (ADF) AOPA Air safety Foundation (ASF) Airports Council International (ACI) Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA, Helicopter Association International (HAI) National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Allied Pilots Association (APA) General Aviation Manufactures Association (GAMA) National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation (AASF) Regional Airline Association (RAA) Here's the bean counter that wants to scrap the CWO program: www.faa.gov/about/key_officials/grizzle_ato/In my totally uninformed opinion the FAA is going to want to shut all the CWO's and the stakeholders (particularly the ones that stand to lose money) are not going to want it to happen and they will negotiate. 109 CWO's is the FAA's starting point whether they all end up closing will be debated between the airlines and the other stakeholders and the FAA over the coming months. I completely agree. We just had a call from United today about what happens to the weather if station goes part time. This is a time game. The FAA is not wanting this info to be (or delayed as long as possible) released. The longer the aviation community is in the know-- the better. Also-- so current service standards mean nothing??? rather odd that the 15 or so stations out May 1st due to service standards "changed" in JAN -- you would think the service standards would be "manipulated" before this memo was released. |
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Post by fu on Mar 6, 2013 22:09:12 GMT -5
^
Great point. I will try to find contact info for the stakeholders and email them the FAA's power point document tomorrow. The FAA probably won't notify them until the 15th.
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Post by fu on Mar 6, 2013 22:12:18 GMT -5
looks like it uploaded....if you can download it send it off to the stakeholders listed above. Attachments:
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Post by stardustwx on Mar 6, 2013 22:18:33 GMT -5
Here are the numbers: 21 Alaska sites 23 Western Region 109 remainder Total = 133 21 alaska sites 14 sites slated for closing May 1 109 remainder by July 31 144 total sites |
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Post by fu on Mar 6, 2013 22:24:36 GMT -5
^
That's correct but the numbers still don't match. Their were 141 CWO's on the last bid. The FAA has no idea what we do so why should they be expected to know how many offices their are.
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Post by kcfan on Mar 6, 2013 22:46:29 GMT -5
FU, I think the numbers don't add up because several of the sites in the solicitation have already closed. Those are not being accounted for in the count.
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Post by wxobs1 on Mar 6, 2013 22:52:59 GMT -5
did anyone contact their local nws office and ask them if they knew what was going on?
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Post by fu on Mar 6, 2013 22:54:52 GMT -5
Thanks kcfan
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