non compos mentis

A bit off topic.

Over the past two weeks or so, the web has been littered with news stories referencing how the FAA wants to consolidate the CWSU (Center Weather Service Unit) positions at the 21 ARTCCs into one or two facilities. These are the meteorologists stationed at the centers, who's job it is to evaluate 'local' weather conditions and weather hazards in able to pass the information to the air traffic controllers.
Just about every article focuses on the two extremes of the issue. Local weather knowledge, spouted by the controllers and weather specialists and on the FAA side... saving money. Why does this scenario sound familiar....oh yea, the same arguments were given during the raping of the Flight Service option. Unfortunately, due to politics, the FSS folks lost. I venture to guess the same path will be taken with the NWS folks. Some may say there is a different administration in place now, and they will do the right thing. Sadly, with the US being in dire straights economically, NATCA looking to be awarded back-pay, NEXTGEN on the horizon, saving money will be placed above safety one again.

To quote a few experts:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FAA_METEOROLOGISTS?SITE=WDUN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

FAA: "We're considering ways to reduce costs while ensuring the FAA air traffic controllers receive appropriate and timely weather reports," said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said. "This isn't a safety issue. We're just trying to find ways to spend tax dollars more wisely and use the best technology available."

NWS: "The people in Kansas City would be forecasting from the Virgin Islands to the Ohio Valley and out to Honolulu," said Dan Sobien, president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization. "There's no way to have that kind of expertise. They could be dealing with a blizzard and a hurricane at the same time.".....Sobien, who has been a meteorologist for 23 years, said he knows the weather patterns in Tampa, Fla., very well. "But don't ask me what's happening in New Mexico, because a thunderstorm here is completely different from a thunderstorm there," he said

NATCA: "I worry whether or not the meteorologists there, not familiar with the local weather nuances in our airspace, will be able to act on our local behalf to the best advantage of the flying public," said Craig Boehne, a representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association in Minneapolis.
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The basic theme repeats again and again:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2009/02/post_4.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-219-Denver-Weather-Examiner~y2009m2d16-FAA-to-cut-meteorologists-from-regional-air-traffic-control-centers

http://www.stuckmic.com/natca-news-issues/3274-miami-center-controllers-faa-keep-meteorologists-here.html

I could go on but you get the idea.

Most reasonable companies or in this case agencies learn from their mistakes. Most. Unfortunately we are dealing with the FAA here. Most companies would look at past practices, say for instance, the Flight Service Privatization. See that it has been a total disaster and change tactics. Most. One phrase comes to mind....non compos mentis.


Till next time,
From Away