ARW
120-Day Re-Assessment Plan
Section 1.2
1.2 120-Day Re-Assessment Plan
The 120-Day ASOS Re-Assessment was conducted in response to a commitment made to Congress by the Acting Deputy Administrator during appropriation hearings in March, 1997. The intent of the ASOS Re-Assessment was to respond openly to user concerns by taking a focused, objective look at ASOS performance, especially at sites identified through user comments, Congressional inquiries, Unsatisfactory Condition Reports, and letters received in response to the Federal Register announcement of the ASOS Service Standards published in June, 1996.
The FAA’s Aviation Weather Directorate conducted a nationwide re-assessment to determine how accurately the ASOS reflects actual weather conditions and transmits aviation weather data to users, and how well the ASOS meets the Service Standards as established by the FAA, industry, and user groups. Site locations were selected by using a problem identification process based on congressional inquiries, user comments, FAA regional input, and a history of specific concerns.
A total of 91 sites were identified for possible inclusion in the re-assessment. Of the 91 sites, 35 were evaluated in one or more of the re-assessment methodologies. During the re-assessment no weather observer contracts were canceled and no ASOSs were commissioned at sites where contract weather observers were targeted for termination. Figure 1.2-1 shows all the sites chosen to be included in the ASOS Re-Assessment Plan.
The ASOS Re-Assessment began on April 1, 1997 and concluded on July 31, 1997.
The ASOS Re-Assessment Team was made up of representatives from FAA Headquarters, FAA Regional Offices, NWS, and, on particular site visits, representatives from the ASOS manufacturer and the DoD.
1.2.5 Re-Assessment Plan
In order to re-assess the ASOS, the team visited airport sites and utilized six evaluation methodologies on designated sites. Table 1.2-1 defines the purpose of the site visits and identifies the locations visited by the team. It also identifies the area of analysis, defines the purpose, and lists the sites that were included in each of the evaluation methodologies.