How do I get an AWOS?

[Robert M. Gary]

I fly out of O61 (near Sacramento). Because our airport is 1000 feet
above Sacramento our weather (fog) tends to be different from
Sacramento. My partner and I end up driving up to the airport sometimes
just to find the weather isn't what we expected. What does it take to
get an AWOS? Has anyone on this group been involved in such a purchase?
-Robert

[nrp]

At SSQ (Shell Lake WI) the WiAero Dept last Friday tossed out a AWOS
number to us of about $100K plus $20K/yr to maintain it. It has to be
recertified every 5 years as I recall too. I didn't take any written
notes once the 100K number came out. There is I understand
considerable federal money available (like 80%) to help with the
intital purchase, but the maintenance cost to us was prohibitive.

At any rate, it is a pretty big deal.

(Others) - Did I get the numbers right - or is there a lower cost
method available? We have an immediately adjacent lake with ground fog
possibilities.

[TaxSrv]

"Robert M. Gary" wrote:
> What does it take to
> get an AWOS? Has anyone on this group been involved in such a
purchase?
> -Robert

There's certified ones, and noncertifieds. But even the cheaper ones
aren't cheap. Our airport considered it, and I recall a price of
$50-some thousand, like anything else manufactured in extremely low
volumes. And there's probably sticker shock associated with future
maintenance.

Fred F.

[John Theune]

Robert M. Gary wrote:
> I fly out of O61 (near Sacramento). Because our airport is 1000 feet
> above Sacramento our weather (fog) tends to be different from
> Sacramento. My partner and I end up driving up to the airport sometimes
> just to find the weather isn't what we expected. What does it take to
> get an AWOS? Has anyone on this group been involved in such a purchase?
> -Robert
>
you might want to try here
http://www.allweatherinc.com/pdf/awos_purchase.pdf
It lists costs of between 15 and 60K.

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> I fly out of O61 (near Sacramento). Because our airport is 1000 feet
> above Sacramento our weather (fog) tends to be different from
> Sacramento. My partner and I end up driving up to the airport sometimes
> just to find the weather isn't what we expected. What does it take to
> get an AWOS? Has anyone on this group been involved in such a purchase?
>

I don't know what an AWOS costs but I'll bet it's more than you want to
spend. If all you want to know is the fog situation a phone call to the FBO
should do fine.

[BTIZ]

our local airport 61B (Boulder NV) has an "automated Unicom" system, on the
CTAF freq, it calls out winds and altimeter setting, not sure it could do
visibility or cloud height. But it has to be activated by a radio
transmission on the CTAF freq. If it hears radio transmission activity, it
jumps in periodically with the wind information.

BT

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I fly out of O61 (near Sacramento). Because our airport is 1000 feet
> above Sacramento our weather (fog) tends to be different from
> Sacramento. My partner and I end up driving up to the airport sometimes
> just to find the weather isn't what we expected. What does it take to
> get an AWOS? Has anyone on this group been involved in such a purchase?
> -Robert
>

[Dean Wilkinson]

"BTIZ" > wrote in message
news:njKxd.4997$iD.211@fed1read05...
> our local airport 61B (Boulder NV) has an "automated Unicom" system, on
the
> CTAF freq, it calls out winds and altimeter setting, not sure it could do
> visibility or cloud height. But it has to be activated by a radio
> transmission on the CTAF freq. If it hears radio transmission activity, it
> jumps in periodically with the wind information.
>
> BT
>
> "Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >I fly out of O61 (near Sacramento). Because our airport is 1000 feet
> > above Sacramento our weather (fog) tends to be different from
> > Sacramento. My partner and I end up driving up to the airport sometimes
> > just to find the weather isn't what we expected. What does it take to
> > get an AWOS? Has anyone on this group been involved in such a purchase?
> > -Robert
> >

I imagine you could make a home grown station like this using a PC, a PC
interfaced weather station, and a voice synthesizer interfaced to the
radio... maybe someone already markets one like that.

[[email protected]]

It's not an AWOS, not FAA Approved, and not even located
on the airport I fly out of - but about a mile away there
is a webcam that is user-controllable. I have found it to
be quite useful in determining what the weather is like
there when at a distance. I'd guess that a similar device
could be installed for $2-3,000 plus the cost of an internet
connection - less if you scrounge or have someone who will
donate space/power/connectivity. Every airport should have
one IMHO.

David Johnson

[Robert M. Gary]

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
> "Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
> oups.com...

> I don't know what an AWOS costs but I'll bet it's more than you want
to
> spend. If all you want to know is the fog situation a phone call to
the FBO
> should do fine.

What FBO?

[Robert M. Gary]

That's not a bad idea. One of the oddities of our airport is that its
owned by the people that live at the airport. The apron area is divided
up and owned by several people. It's not unsual for the guy next to you
to pay a different owner for his tie down fees than you. The runway
itself is divided up into slivers, which are then owned by the home
owners at the airpark. As a result, the only way to shut down the
airport would be if the state changed the zoning out from under us
(very unlikely). Cal trans could (in theory) take our operating permit
but they only have authority to do that if the airport itself is out of
compliance with safety requirements. Since there is no county or city
board that operates it, we have some protection. However, we've never
taken AIP funds, and I suspect that we may not be able to because of
the private ownership. We did recently get state funds though because
we are public use. We used it to level the tie down areas. Now you can
preflight and not fall down.

It's interesting that so many small, little airports have AWOS's now,
it can't be totally prohibitive.

-Robert

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
>> "Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>
>> I don't know what an AWOS costs but I'll bet it's more than you want
> to
>> spend. If all you want to know is the fog situation a phone call to
> the FBO
>> should do fine.
>
> What FBO?
>

The one selling fuel at the airport.

[Robert M. Gary]

There are two self-serve pumps at the airport but there is no one there
operating them. There is an airport manager but he only works a couple
hours a week. Its funny, about 1/2 the time I'm out there I'll see some
transient pilot walk up and ask if there is a phone or bathroom at the
airport. Its not a "slow" airport at all. We have lots of people coming
and going, but no one seems to have been able to make a business work
out there. We currently have some rentals. There is a guy who rents
some planes out there but you must drive to his house (down the hill)
to get the keys from his wife, he doesn't operate from the airport.
There is an FBO out of Rancho Murienta airport that keeps a plane there
with keys in the back seat for its members, but again, no one is at the
airport itself. If I knew any of the airpark residence I could call
them and ask about the WX but those of us (about 80 planes) that rent
hangers and tie downs are the red headed step children of the airport,
the home owners would just assume not have us there.

-Robert

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> There are two self-serve pumps at the airport but there is no one there
> operating them. There is an airport manager but he only works a couple
> hours a week. Its funny, about 1/2 the time I'm out there I'll see some
> transient pilot walk up and ask if there is a phone or bathroom at the
> airport. Its not a "slow" airport at all. We have lots of people coming
> and going, but no one seems to have been able to make a business work
> out there. We currently have some rentals. There is a guy who rents
> some planes out there but you must drive to his house (down the hill)
> to get the keys from his wife, he doesn't operate from the airport.
> There is an FBO out of Rancho Murienta airport that keeps a plane there
> with keys in the back seat for its members, but again, no one is at the
> airport itself. If I knew any of the airpark residence I could call
> them and ask about the WX but those of us (about 80 planes) that rent
> hangers and tie downs are the red headed step children of the airport,
> the home owners would just assume not have us there.
>

AirNav.com shows "Cameron Airpark District" under "FBOs, Fuel Providers, and
Aircraft Ground Support" and "Attendance: 0800-1700".

[Robert M. Gary]

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
> AirNav.com shows "Cameron Airpark District" under "FBOs, Fuel
Providers, and
> Aircraft Ground Support" and "Attendance: 0800-1700".

Yea, that's not correct. The only "district" person there is the
airport manager who works a few hours a week. Even then he's driving
around in his truck. It sometimes takes weeks before he returns phone
calls.

There is a wonderful building that was built for an FBO. Nice lobby,
hanger, offices etc, but its all abandoned. Some of the offices are
rented out as storage units for non-aviation usage. The largest hanger
is now a car rental dealership.

-Robert

[Darrel Toepfer]

Robert M. Gary wrote:

> I fly out of O61 (near Sacramento). Because our airport is 1000 feet
> above Sacramento our weather (fog) tends to be different from
> Sacramento. My partner and I end up driving up to the airport sometimes
> just to find the weather isn't what we expected. What does it take to
> get an AWOS? Has anyone on this group been involved in such a purchase?

These are quite a bit cheaper and allow worldwide monitoring...
http://www.weatherbug.com/backyard/default.asp?sourceid=20

These are south:
http://www.aws.com/pocketpc/sitelist.asp?group=Sacramento%2C+CA+%28SAC%29
Ceres, CA - Ceres Police
Modesto, CA - Elliott Education Center

http://www.aws.com/pocketpc/camview.asp?group=Sacramento,%20CA%20(SAC)&dma=862&camid=CRSPO
Ceres Police InstaCam

http://www.aws.com/pocketpc/sitelist.asp?group=Los%20Angeles,%20CA%20(KVEA)
California State list

[Robert M. Gary]

I just got an email from the airport manager. BTW: The "obstruction
lighting" is something the state did to us a couple years ago. Although
people have been operating in and out of these airports at night for
years, the state decided a few years ago that night operating permits
would be pulled if trees were not cut back. We have one airport that
has already lost its night permit (RIU) because there are endangered
species in the trees. Now O61 may lose its night operating permit. At
another airport (Grass Valley, I believe) they added giant polls with
lights on the top to warn you about the trees. Honestly, I believe the
giant polls (about 40 feet high) are more dangerous than the trees.

-Robert



Robert:
We have listed with Cal-trans as one of our CIP projects an AWOS.
However, there is a point system where you have to qualify.
Furthermore, we don't have the required matching funds at this time if
we were offered the grant for an AWOS. We are in the process of
completing an obstruction lighting project so the airport can maintain
it's current operational status. There is no broadband service here at
my office, we still do it the old fashion way. This time of year we
rarely see fog, however you never know, it can come and go every few
minutes because we are on the edge just over the hill to the west. If
you want call me on my cell, (XXX) XXX-XXXX I'll be happy to discuss it
further.
Bob

[Paul Sengupta]

"Dean Wilkinson" > wrote in message
...
> "BTIZ" > wrote in message
> news:njKxd.4997$iD.211@fed1read05...
> > our local airport 61B (Boulder NV) has an "automated Unicom" system, on
> the
> > CTAF freq, it calls out winds and altimeter setting, not sure it could
do
> > visibility or cloud height. But it has to be activated by a radio
> > transmission on the CTAF freq. If it hears radio transmission activity,
it
> > jumps in periodically with the wind information.
>
> I imagine you could make a home grown station like this using a PC, a PC
> interfaced weather station, and a voice synthesizer interfaced to the
> radio... maybe someone already markets one like that.

Yeah...and if you can fit some sort of internet connection, you can
fit some sort of webcam to have a look what it's like outside.

Paul

[Denny]

On the cost of an AWOS... They are cost prohibitive unless the airport
has state and federal grant money for the installation and the
upkeep... My field has one and it seems like the maytag repairman is
there about every 6 to 8 weeks... Ditto the NDB, though it has been
working about 3 months now, a new record... The biggest issues now
with the AWOS seems to be simple problems, like crud depositing on the
visual range sensors, or the wind direction sensor getting locked up
with ice, etc., whereas in the early going it was expensive circuit
boards going to that great repair shop in the sky... The biggest issue
with the NDB seems to be EMP from lightning blowing out the
transmitter - or simply tripping the circuit breaker, which still
requires the fixit guy to make a 100 mile trip to fix it... We users
rarely notice the amount of time and money it takes to keep all the
bells and whistles working... I can hardly wait for them to turn on
the new ILS, that should be fun to watch as it goes through the burn in
stages...

Denny