NWS weather Hacks at ARTCCs

In a recent AOPA piece,

http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2009/090204weather.html

AOPA disagrees with the FAAs idea to eliminate the CWSU (Center Weather Service Unit) duties at the nations ARTCCs. Their argument? Local weather pattern familiarity. First, why didn't AOPA use that argument during the A-76 of the nations FSS. There, that argument carried weight and was one of the arguments the FSS specialist raised from day one, and believe it or not, it has been proving itself over and over again since LM started their further consolidation of the FSS system. Now down to about 15 (including the 3 hubs) the local area knowledge is all but gone. Now when you finally get to speak with an actual "specialist", all he/she will do (after reading the handful of disclaimers) is read you your weather. Gone are the subtle briefings, the briefings that actually helped with your flight by including years of observation by specialists familiar with the area and weather anomalies. What happened to AOPAs rigorous oversight? Looks like it went the way of the FAAs oversight. Gone.

So far, I count 3 “reports” due Congress. You see, the FAA was instructed to report to Congress quarterly with a status report on how it’s going with LMs FSS…….hello…..hello.

As to the issue of the CWSU.
I have worked in 2 ARTCCs. I have observed the duties of these folks. At both facilities, they were seriously under-worked. They provided their “shift change” briefing and kept tabs on severe weather throughout the day. 90% waiting around is what I observed. Sure they can look busy, compiling their “package”. As an ex-FSS pilot weather briefer, I could perform the same duties,safely and efficiently. All their data is extracted from NWS data bases and no longer needs to be “created” on site, like in the old days. So if you ask my opinion, I say let them go. There is no reason they need to be IN THE FACILITY. Hey, FSS is working swimmingly, right? Same concept. Have two “hub” facilities where the ARTCC calls in and is put on speaker-phone. That would save tens of thousands of dollars a year, just when we need it.

Better yet, transfer the duties to the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) in Herndon, Va. Hire a few lower paid ex-FSS folks and collect your bonus for saving the FAA some serious coinage.

As for AOPA, we all hoped that things would get better when Uncle Phil “WOW” Boyer left, I guess we are still Baraking up the wrong tree.

FromAway