How do I get an AWOS?

"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.

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

"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".

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

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/d...sp?sourceid=20

These are south:
http://www.aws.com/pocketpc/sitelist...C+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

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

"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

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