News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Upper Cumberland Regional Airport will take steps to improve its Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS).
Airport Manager Dean Selby said the system is an official weather reporting system used by pilots to do local forecasting. He said they recently got an opportunity to have the National Weather Service do specialized local forecasts using the system, but the AWOS needs upgrades first.
“That should improve the forecastability not just for the airport but for the whole surrounding area,” Selby said. “So it’s going to cost the airport a little bit of money to do the upgrade, but with T-DOT taking over the maintenance going forward then we won’t have any ongoing maintenance costs going forward. So I think this is a win not just for the airport but for the area.”
Selby said the closest official reporting systems are in Nashville, Smyrna, and Crossville. He said because those are far away and, in Crossville’s case, on the mountain, the forecasting closer to Cookeville is less reliable. He said this will allow the National Weather Service more accurate data to produce more specific forecasts.
“And can produce better predictive results if they know the details locally,” Selby said. “And as well all know the weather here is not the same as it is in Crossville or the same as it is in Nashville or Smyrna. So this will be a great asset.”
Selby said the upgrades will cost the airport an estimated $23,000, but then the system will be maintained by T-DOT Aeronautics which owns the system.
Selby said the equipment has been approved and the airport has been given the green light for procurement. He said they hope to have it up and running by the end of the year.
