From: system@gnd1.wtp.gtefsd.com (Marty Anilane)
Subject: Re: Seen on DUATS / Brain Teaser
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Reply-To: system@gnd1.wtp.gtefsd.com
Organization: GTE Government Systems, Federal Systems Division, Chantilly, VA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 15:51:56 GMT

In article <b4l202X8296701@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com>, rym20@cd.amdahl.com (Robert A Moragues) writes...
>Hi Everyone -
> 
>I consulted DUATS to get a picture of the Bay Area Weather today and received
>the following FA Synopsis.  
> 
>I was confused with the statement "...WITH MDT TO STG N-NW FLOW ALF OVER AREA."
> 
>I decided that a consultation to the Plain Language Translation was in order.
>This is what I got:  
> 
>     "with {moderate, MDT} to Santiago    [STG VOR] north - northwest flow 
>      aloft over area."
> 
> 
>This doesn't quite make sense.  Anyone have insight on this.
> 
>Personally, I feel that there should be an official translator that gives a 
>meaningful translation, or better yet, the reports should be entered in both
>forms and the pilot could chose which one to read.  It wouldn't require much
>time, since the FSS guys could enter the abbreviated report and then use a 
>translator to get a start on the plain language report.  If the originating
>person verified the translation, there would be less chance of
>mis-interpretation.

A little background on the present system...
DUATS and all FSSs get their weather from WMSC (Weather Message Switching 
Center) which originally went online over 20 years ago. Originally the 
weather was transmitted at 110 and 300 baud. Eventually this went up to
1200 and today the majority of users, including DUATS, receive weather
at 2400 baud. In order to get the information across with the limited
bandwidth, the abbrieviated form is used. These weather reports are
entered into the system by hundreds of people with very few having
any type of "abbreviation spell checker" to help them. Once the report
gets into the system, there is no further checking or editing done to it.

When you get a undecoded report, it is the EXACT report that the person
entered into the system. We are RESTRICTED by the FAA from editing the 
contents of the report.

In regards to an official translator, the FAA will never approve one 
because there is no validation of abbreviations and syntax of the undecoded
reports. In implementing a translator in this situation, you could never be 
sure that you have covered all the "possible" abbreviations or 
combinations of words and context. 

Because of the problem of decoding weather, the FAA would not sponsor 
decoded weather as a part of DUATS basic service. What that means is that
the plain-language weather is a free "value added" service that GTE gives
to you. We are paying for the connect time charges while you are viewing the
plain language weather and not the FAA. That is why you are only allowed
1 decoding per session.

NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS..

The WMSC system is being updated and is expected to be online late next
year. It will use an X.25 packet switch (in this case NADIN II) as its
transmission vehicle. This eliminates the bandwidth limitations and the
FAA intends to look at eliminating the abbreviated weather products 
whenever possible.

AND THE BAD NEWS...
There is currently no plan or schedule on exactly when the abbreviated
products will go away. And because the abbreviated weather will be going
away, the FAA will not be pursuing efforts on improving the validation
of the abbreviated weather.

----------------
 Marty Anilane, GTE Contel Federal Systems, P.O. Box 10814, Chantilly VA. 22021
 Internet: "system@gnd1.wtp.gtefsd.com"    (703) 818-4413
----------------
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.student