AWOS Funding?

[Jay Honeck]

Does anyone know the mechanics behind the funding of Automated Weather
Observation Systems (AWOS) at airports?

I ask this because on our recent flight to St. Louis we were again
struck by the fact that Iowa has a plethora of AWOS, while northern
Missouri has painfully few. See here (select "ALL"):

http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov/metars/java/index.php?appletsize=large

Zoom in on Iowa and Missouri. You'll notice that (if you draw a line
from Iowa City [KIOW] to Spirirt of St. Louis [KSUS]) we go through a
relatively large area of empty space. We've come to call this area of
Missouri "The Kirksville Triangle" because the weather always seems to
be bizarre there -- and we can never tell what's ahead due to a lack
of reporting stations.

It's not that there aren't airports there -- there just aren't any
AWOS's.

Is AWOS primarily funded by the states, or is it federally funded?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Viperdoc[_4_]]

Does Iowa have a Republican governor and senators? How about Missouri?

It seems like keeping the people of Iowa happy would be important for either
political party due to the early caucuses.


"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Does anyone know the mechanics behind the funding of Automated Weather
> Observation Systems (AWOS) at airports?
>
> I ask this because on our recent flight to St. Louis we were again
> struck by the fact that Iowa has a plethora of AWOS, while northern
> Missouri has painfully few. See here (select "ALL"):
>
> http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov/metars/java/index.php?appletsize=large
>
> Zoom in on Iowa and Missouri. You'll notice that (if you draw a line
> from Iowa City [KIOW] to Spirirt of St. Louis [KSUS]) we go through a
> relatively large area of empty space. We've come to call this area of
> Missouri "The Kirksville Triangle" because the weather always seems to
> be bizarre there -- and we can never tell what's ahead due to a lack
> of reporting stations.
>
> It's not that there aren't airports there -- there just aren't any
> AWOS's.
>
> Is AWOS primarily funded by the states, or is it federally funded?
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

[Jay Honeck]

> Does Iowa have a Republican governor and senators? How about Missouri?
>
> It seems like keeping the people of Iowa happy would be important for either
> political party due to the early caucuses.

Right now, Iowa is all-Democrat. The parties were split between the
Governor and Legislature, but the recent election has changed all
that, and we're back to single-party rule.

How does AWOS keep the people of Iowa happy?

They keep me *very* happy, but I suspect most Iowans have no idea that
AWOS even exists.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Peter R.]

On 2/22/2007 11:28:53 AM, "Jay Honeck" wrote:

> So AWOS is a federal program?

Jay, he is the one who posts his racial ATC rants once every month or two. Do
you really think his info is credible?

--
Peter

[Jay Honeck]

> > So AWOS is a federal program?
>
> Jay, he is the one who posts his racial ATC rants once every month or two. Do
> you really think his info is credible?

As a racist ex-FAA (or current?) employee, he probably knows the
answer to my question.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[ktbr]

Jay Honeck wrote:

>
> How does AWOS keep the people of Iowa happy?
>
Here in Georgia the local TV stations use the AWOS reports
of the various airports to provide temperature and dewpoint
and baro readings from towns around in the region. I assume
its the same in most, if not all of the states.

The people may not know it, but they do get regional weather
information for AWOS/ASOS.

> They keep me *very* happy, but I suspect most Iowans have no idea that
> AWOS even exists.
> --

As I stated, most people who aren't into aviation (other than
the news media) probably don't have a clue.

[ktbr]

ktbr wrote:
>
> As I stated, most people who aren't into aviation (other than
> the news media) probably don't have a clue.

I should have mentioned that we (the airport) pay the cost of the
NADIN equipment and the monthly fee to make our AWOS data available
to the national weather network. I am sure this is true of most
airports.

[Jim Logajan]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote:
> Does anyone know the mechanics behind the funding of Automated Weather
> Observation Systems (AWOS) at airports?

Your answer is here:
http://www.faa.gov/asos/

"Both Federal and nonfederal systems are in service. The FAA purchased and
currently maintains the Federal AWOS equipment. State, local, and private
organizations buy and maintain nonfederal AWOSs."

So if Iowa has a larger number than average of stations it is probably
because local Iowa governments and organizations are paying for them.

[Jim Logajan]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote:
>> > So AWOS is a federal program?
>>
>> Jay, he is the one who posts his racial ATC rants once every month or
>> two. Do you really think his info is credible?
>
> As a racist ex-FAA (or current?) employee, he probably knows the
> answer to my question.

I've researched past claims by that troll and have routinely found his
alleged facts are wrong. I posted a reply to your original post that
provides a link that hopefully answers your question.

[Gig 601XL Builder]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>> Does Iowa have a Republican governor and senators? How about
>> Missouri?
>>
>> It seems like keeping the people of Iowa happy would be important
>> for either political party due to the early caucuses.
>
> Right now, Iowa is all-Democrat. The parties were split between the
> Governor and Legislature, but the recent election has changed all
> that, and we're back to single-party rule.
>
> How does AWOS keep the people of Iowa happy?
>
> They keep me *very* happy, but I suspect most Iowans have no idea that
> AWOS even exists.

It doesn't matter it gets on the list of fed money spent in the state.

[BiffClinton]

Jim Logajan wrote:
> "Jay Honeck" > wrote:
>>>> So AWOS is a federal program?
>>> Jay, he is the one who posts his racial ATC rants once every month or
>>> two. Do you really think his info is credible?
>> As a racist ex-FAA (or current?) employee, he probably knows the
>> answer to my question.
>
> I've researched past claims by that troll and have routinely found his
> alleged facts are wrong. I posted a reply to your original post that
> provides a link that hopefully answers your question.


Never Never question the "Guvment" huh Comrade?
Or those chosen African-American PC trophy's huh?
Or those Beltway FemiNazi's?

Those "We nose better than you" Washington SNOBS?

"Political Correctness-Tyranny with Manners"

What we need is a good old fashioned Boston Tea party type
American revolution.Starting with the "Guvment" and the IRS
Goon squads. Our Air Traffic system is a joke and broke. Get
the "Guvment" out of the Air Traffic business. Fix the
problem at the source.

Reminder-Katrina + Guvment = "Monkey ****ing a football"

Formula for cluster **** below:

Washington D.C.+Guvment+IRS+WASTE= Airline Mess

Racist? I think not comrade try Revolutionary.

Research this comrade and see how the FAA is wasting your
air traffic tax dime

http://www.nbcfae.org/2006AnnualTraining.htm

DENY comrade the above funding of FAA waste is not a crime
and bad use of Aviation Tax dollars.

Racist? Routinely found facts wrong?
You are full of ****.

Research that Comrade

[Denny]

On Feb 22, 2:38 pm, "Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net>
wrote:
> Jay Honeck wrote:
> >> Does Iowa have a Republican governor and senators? How about
> >> Missouri?
>
> >> It seems like keeping the people of Iowa happy would be important
> >> for either political party due to the early caucuses.
>
> > Right now, Iowa is all-Democrat. The parties were split between the
> > Governor and Legislature, but the recent election has changed all
> > that, and we're back to single-party rule.
>
> > How does AWOS keep the people of Iowa happy?
>
> > They keep me *very* happy, but I suspect most Iowans have no idea that
> > AWOS even exists.
>
> It doesn't matter it gets on the list of fed money spent in the state.

The AWOS at my airport (MI) is state funded... No federal funds the
airport manager is aware of (just phoned him)...

denny

[Gig 601XL Builder]

Denny wrote:
> On Feb 22, 2:38 pm, "Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net>
> wrote:
>> Jay Honeck wrote:
>>>> Does Iowa have a Republican governor and senators? How about
>>>> Missouri?
>>
>>>> It seems like keeping the people of Iowa happy would be important
>>>> for either political party due to the early caucuses.
>>
>>> Right now, Iowa is all-Democrat. The parties were split between the
>>> Governor and Legislature, but the recent election has changed all
>>> that, and we're back to single-party rule.
>>
>>> How does AWOS keep the people of Iowa happy?
>>
>>> They keep me *very* happy, but I suspect most Iowans have no idea
>>> that AWOS even exists.
>>
>> It doesn't matter it gets on the list of fed money spent in the
>> state.
>
> The AWOS at my airport (MI) is state funded... No federal funds the
> airport manager is aware of (just phoned him)...
>
> denny

Well then your airport manager isn't doing his job. He needs to get out
there and file those grant applications to get federal money. At my last
count little ELD in Arkansas has spent over 5,000,000 of Uncle Sugar's money
in the last 10 years.

[Jay Honeck]

> "Both Federal and nonfederal systems are in service. The FAA purchased and
> currently maintains the Federal AWOS equipment. State, local, and private
> organizations buy and maintain nonfederal AWOSs."
>
> So if Iowa has a larger number than average of stations it is probably
> because local Iowa governments and organizations are paying for them.

And, conversely, Missouri must be keeping their money in their
wallets...

Thanks for the info!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> Here in Georgia the local TV stations use the AWOS reports
> of the various airports to provide temperature and dewpoint
> and baro readings from towns around in the region. I assume
> its the same in most, if not all of the states.

I've often wondered why our local radio/TV stations don't use the
readily available AWOS information, but they don't. I guess it's just
more "folksy" to use their "spotters" around the state, like "Bill in
Ottumwa..."
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Viperdoc[_4_]]

Exactly- my guess was that Iowa got a lot of federal money, particularly
during election cycles.

[Denny]

I actually called the local TV/radio group a few years back and
suggested that the weatherman use the local AWOS to add the ceilings
and barometer to his otherwise good presentations... Thought I was
being helpful - ya know, community involvement and all that...
Boy was I wrong...
What I got was a frosty lecture on how he is a certified meterologist
and knows best - period, end of discussion...

Well, I also intended as part of that call to offer to take him/them
for a flight and maybe a sunrise shot over the city on the morning of
the equinox as the summer equinox was just a week away - and he is a
reporter at times so I felt spreading aviation experience would ooze
down to better reporting on general aviation... But after getting my
butt dressed down I politely said good by and quietly hung up...

denny

[Denny]

>
> Well then your airport manager isn't doing his job. He needs to get out
> there and file those grant applications to get federal money. At my last
> count little ELD in Arkansas has spent over 5,000,000 of Uncle Sugar's money
> in the last 10 years.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Well, we have a spanking new ramp, fresh runway repairs, and a less
than 1 year old ILS on the airport - 111.35... I think our manager
is doing a fine job of managing... I suspect there was some back door
horse trading between the state and feds where the state picked up the
AWOS...

BTW, here is the url for the USA AWOS/ASOS systems map, and an
interactive point and click to the local wx everywhere -
My local AWOS is in Michigan, KRSN - where this morning it is cool,
clear, and calm... Good wx for bringing Fat Albert home from his
annual...

http://www.faa.gov/asos/map/map.htm

enjoy - denny