I did a check today, and I still am seeing manually-taken METARs
for KSWF both on the AWC site:
https://www.aviationweather.gov/metar/data?ids=kswf&format=raw&hours=120&taf=off&layout=on
and on the NCEP FTP Server:
https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/observations/metar/stations/KSWF.TXT
It is possible that other data feeds that only the NWS/FAA sees provide
additional sites or types of METARs. Or it could be an oversight. AWOS
METARs for KSWF may be intended for NADIN distribution.
Boris
On Mon, Nov 21, 2022 at 3:06 PM Michael Graf - NOAA Federal <
michael.graf@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Thanks Boris,
>
> The reason I asked is because I see that KSWF is being transmitted, ergo
> my question.
>
> Appreciate it,
> Mike
>
> On Mon, Nov 21, 2022 at 3:01 PM Boris A. Konon <trwplusa@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Mike,
>>
>> Good question!
>>
>> Any AWOS installed these days is non-Federal, so it is funded privately
>> either by the owner of an airport, a private company (such a hospital
>> for their heliport), or the state. There are additional costs involved
>> (1000s of dollars a year I believe) to establish longline communications
>> to WSMCR and add these site to NADIN (National Airspace Data
>> Interchange Network). This allows the site's METARs to be transmitted to
>> NOAAPort, AIDAP (FAA line primarily for NOTAMs), and other aviation
>> communication services.
>>
>> It is up to the owner of the AWOS to fund NADIN hook-up, and AWOS
>> vendors always try to sell this service. Some AWOS upon commissiong
>> immediately have NADIN service paid for (KW40 was a recent example)
>> so their METARs show up right away. Over the last 20 years or so,
>> I have noticed more and more AWOS have been getting NADIN service,
>> whether it be brand new sites, or sites that have been installed for
>> years.
>> Currently, I know of about 240 AWOS unit installed in the U.S., but do not
>> have NADIN service yet. There are likely several dozen more at least I
>> do not
>> know of at any one time. The 240 number used to be a lot higher (~500)
>> years ago.
>>
>> As to when new sites show up? There is no centralized site or agency
>> that tracks this that I know of. It is just a matter of scanning METAR
>> collectives and flagging the new sites with a program.
>>
>> Additions to NADIN are usually on a Tue or Thu, often in the 28 and 56
>> day FAA database update cycle, but I have seen additions every day of
>> the week.
>>
>> For international new METAR sites, often I see additions on the 1st of
>> the month and that is seperate from the NADIN process, and more tied
>> to what is distributed on GTS and what a country chooses to add. There
>> are many, many more METAR, and TAF and SYNOP sites for that matter,
>> that exist all over the world that we do not see on NOAAPort for any
>> number of reasons, but with time, more and more have been added. esp.
>> SYNOP sites.
>>
>> Boris
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 21, 2022 at 1:19 PM Michael Graf - NOAA Federal <
>> michael.graf@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> Afternoon Boris...what's this mean? "just do not
>>> have NADIN service at this time."
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Mike
>>>
>>> On Mon, Nov 21, 2022 at 1:00 PM Boris A. Konon <trwplusa@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Some of these already have AWOS units installed, but just do not
>>>> have NADIN service at this time.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *KASG KBAK KBCT KBYH KCHD KCNW KDPG KEFD KEMT KEVBKGEU KGYR KHSA KOMN
>>>> KOQU KPAO KPOC KRHV KSCH KSWFKTIX KTOA KWHP PADG PAGB PAKU PALJ PALP PAPR
>>>> PAPTPGRO PGWT PHHN PHJH PHMU PKMR PTSA PTTP TJBQ TJIG*
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Michael L. Graf
>>> Meteorologist/International Liaison
>>>
>>> National Weather Service
>>> SSMC-2 Station 13314
>>> 1325 East West Highway
>>> Silver Spring MD 20910
>>>
>>> work 301-427-9109
>>> fax 301-713-1520
>>> cell 304-268-0691
>>>
>>>
>
> --
> Michael L. Graf
> Meteorologist/International Liaison
>
> National Weather Service
> SSMC-2 Station 13314
> 1325 East West Highway
> Silver Spring MD 20910
>
> work 301-427-9109
> fax 301-713-1520
> cell 304-268-0691
>
>
