Where did you hear that?

Author: Deke

I have already posted a weather story on the site about a Dash-1 proving to be a career saver for several pilots. Today is another brief story about weather, a dubious forecast and the experiences that causes me to say: “As a pilot, I do not blindly trust a weather person, an air traffic controller or an Intelligence officer”. This story happened at Vance when I was a young FAIP, a Lt and a morning spent as the Center Runway Monitor. Having graduated pilot training at Vance I had experienced the weird weather phenomenon that normally followed a couple of days rain in Oklahoma. The first time I saw fog at Vance was an early week in Tweets. We came in hours before sunrise to accomplish the morning brief, stand-up and brief the first sorties of the morning. Walking into the squadron there was not a cloud in the sky, the sky was filled with thousands of visible stars, and we looked forward to an “Unrestricted” status. By the time we got to step, the fog formed and we were Stand-bye for hours or most of the day! This morning was similar, but I was now an IP and the T-38 center monitor for 17C and we were briefing with the SOF. The morning forecast agreed with the door-rep from the squadron. Clear and a million, light winds out of the south and absolutely nothing in the forecast to prevent an “Unrestricted’ status. The T-38 Wx ship had launched for a delay and then headed out to the West MOA. The PIREPs were confirmed that everything looked clear and a million. The SOF briefed us in between briefing dozens of solos who’d be waiting for official sunrise to taxi and takeoff. The SOF, a very experienced Major, who was our Pre-PIT commander, as he was preparing to launch the fleet. I got settled into the center RSU and was running my checklist. After completing opening procedures, I switched frequency from Vance Tower to Woodring Tower to see if there was anyone awake. While Shoehorn was accomplishing their radio checks I heard a Cessna, November Alpha Bravo xx calling Woodring Tower. The T-38 ramp was in a frenzy with both dual and solos starting engines and preparing for taxi. Woodring Tower responded, November Alpha Bravo xx, Woodring is Weather Obscured, Indefinite Ceiling, Zero Visibility due to fog (WOXOF). November Alpha Bravo xx responded with some excitement in his voice as he started searching for a divert. I looked at the gauges showing winds from the E/SE at 2mph. I called the SOF stating Woodring is WOXOF, the Major said, “Where did you hear that? What are your winds? I’m calling Base Weather”. Within minutes T-38s began shutting down, the Wx-ship was recalled, and I watched the first couple of rows of Tweets disappear in the Fog. As I continued to watch T-37s disappear in the fog, the SOF called and said, “I hope the Wx-ship makes it”. Soon they were checking in on the ILS, 4 miles gear down, full stop. By that time nothing was visible on the ramp and the RSU was beginning to look like you were sitting inside a ping pong ball. The Wx-ship went to minimums followed by missed approach; I heard them go overhead but saw nothing. They diverted to Tinker for breakfast and a Tinker burger. Soon I could not see runway remaining markers 500 ft from the RSU. We did not get the Wx-Ship home until after 1500 and Vance spending a day in the fog!