By Rob Stapleton
Alaska Journal of Commerce

At a time when the fishing industry needs workers flown in and out of Dutch Harbor for upcoming openers, aviation weather observation for the area around Unalaska may be at risk.

RNR Technologies, a new weather observation contractor, is not giving pilots weather for flights to Dutch Harbor. In the meantime, the previous contractor is providing the service.

The RNR contract, through the Federal Aviation Administration, was set to start Jan. 1, but the contractor has no physical place to work in Alaska and has not provided any service to date.

A VHF weather radio frequency that aircraft use for real-time weather observations in Dutch also has been dropped from the Alaska supplement, an informational resource.

FAA officials connected with this contract did not return calls.

Officials with the Alaska Weather Operation Services Inc., which held the previous contract, said the contract for what is called “mic in hand” weather observation has expired. “Mic in hand” is a service that requires a person to give real-time weather reports on location.

“All indications are that the FAA has moved all engineering, contracting and quality control functions out of Alaska in what can only be characterized as a bureaucratic Ôexperiment' in management efficiency,” said AWOS president Jim Miller.

Miller a seasoned electronics and weather systems installer, has asked Sen. Ted Stevens' office to look into the award.

RNR Technologies was the lowest bidder. The company also received the contract for reporting weather in King Salmon, Iliamna and Sand Point.

The company is listed on an FAA contract award page as being located in Grand Rapids, Mich., but RNR does not have a Web site and a number could not be found through directory assistance.

AWOS has 25 years of experience in Alaska, with both weather observation and the installation of automatic weather observation service remote sensors. These sensors give weather observations by telephone and radio.

AWOS is an outgrowth of Alaska Aviation Radio Inc., which established the first statewide weather-observing program. AWOS has also installed and maintained 45 automated sites for four years.

Miller got his start by working for Reeve Aleutian Airways by going to remote location in the Aleutian Islands as a weather observer.

AWOS is giving weather observations from Dutch Harbor under a supplemental aviation weather reporting service agreement with the National Weather Service.

Miller said he feels the state is trying to force him out of his lease at the Dutch Harbor terminal. FAA apparently let the contract to RNR with no provision for a location from which to operate.

“This is outrageous. Dutch Harbor weather observing has fallen into the hands of an organization with no experience in dealing with weather in the Aleutians, and who was not, and is not, prepared to perform,” Miller said in his letter to Stevens' office.

Miller's letter to Stevens was endorsed by 11 air carriers who use or have used his services.

Peninsula Airways, one of those listed on the letter to Stevens, indicated that Miller has always done a superb job. Pen Air was also contacted by the FAA to help the new contractor find a location to work, according to company officials.