ATLANTA (AP) - Air traffic controllers say a proposal to consolidate dozens of meteorologists around the nation to two centers could hurt effective weather forecasting. The Federal Aviation Administration is considering consolidating the 84 meteorologists serving at 21 air centers across the nation to major centers in Maryland and Kansas City, Mo. The FAA says it is looking at ways to cut costs and use the best technology available. Critics say the plan will make it difficult for meteorologists to have knowledge of local weather patterns and expertise that is crucial to flight crews. The FAA says there is no final proposal yet. Yesterday, the agency extended the time to respond to the proposal 30 days.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Consolidating ATC Meteorologists: good or bad idea?
ATLANTA (AP) - Air traffic controllers say a proposal to consolidate dozens of meteorologists around the nation to two centers could hurt effective weather forecasting. The Federal Aviation Administration is considering consolidating the 84 meteorologists serving at 21 air centers across the nation to major centers in Maryland and Kansas City, Mo. The FAA says it is looking at ways to cut costs and use the best technology available. Critics say the plan will make it difficult for meteorologists to have knowledge of local weather patterns and expertise that is crucial to flight crews. The FAA says there is no final proposal yet. Yesterday, the agency extended the time to respond to the proposal 30 days.
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1 comment:
Bad Idea.
But hey, here's a thought. Why don't they try it for a few months and see how it goes. Not laying off meteorologists in the 21 air centers, but let the folks already in MD and MO give out their forecasts for distant airports and compare their work with that of those already in the field and knowledgeable about those local areas. See whether they actually are "just as good" from a distance or not.
Gee, pretty soon meteorology won't even include any actual experience of the weather at all ... its all just computer modeling and number crunching, right? (*NOT*)
I.e., sometimes ya just gotta look out the window (or walk out the door) and do a reality check on what all the computers are telling you, in my opinion.
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