The federal government is moving forward with
a proposal to close 20 weather centers at regional air traffic control centers and replace them with two central units -- one in Missouri and one in Maryland. Though not yet approved, the proposal has already drawn a lot of ire.
A recent
Washington Post story included comments from unions representing weather service and air traffic control workers:
"'Air traffic controllers will no longer have the immediate expertise of an on-site meteorologist to advise them where to route aircraft experiencing difficulty when weather conditions play a critical role in that decision,' said Dan Sobien, president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization.
"'This is a foolish plan that puts cost savings ahead of safety,' said Patrick Forrey, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. 'Quite frankly, we cannot believe such a reckless idea has gotten this far.' But the Federal Aviation Administration, which sought the changes, says advances in technology make face-to-face contact between controllers and forecasters unnecessarily expensive. No weather service employees will lose jobs under the proposed consolidation, according to federal officials, though job locations would change.'"
You can find out details about the government's plan here [PDF].
Background on Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs)CWSUs are located in:
Houston, Fort Worth, Texas; Albuquerque, N.M.; Seattle; Los Angeles; Oakland, Calif.; Salt Lake City; Minneapolis,: Cleveland; Denver; Kansas City, Kan., Chicago; Indianapolis; Memphis, Tenn.; Atlanta; Jacksonville, Fla.; Miami; Washington D.C., New York City; and Boston.
The National Weather Services Employees Organization said [PDF]:
"The CWSUs were established in 1978 as a result of a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
"The NTSB determined that one of the major contributing factors in the Southern Airways DC-9 crash in New Hope, Georgia, April 4, 1977, was the FAA's air traffic control system's inability to disseminate hazardous weather information to flight crews on a real time basis.'
... "On April 18, 2007 Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Inouye wrote the FAA Administrator
a letter opposing consolidation plans because the Committee has grave concerns over the safety and wisdom of removing meteorologists from the ARTCCs. Senator Inouye wrote that the Committee believes that the FAA should focus its efforts on working with the NWS to enhance the services provided by its meteorologists in situation, rather than considering proposals to obtain meteorological support for the ARTCCS from off-site."
