Back in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Torrance Airport control tower closed early due to staffing shortages. As a result, ATIS updates were unavailable to arriving pilots--no altimeter setting; no winds or runway-in-use data. The need for AWOS became clear and, with the support of Mayor Furey, the process to install one began.
Airport staff laid out the requirements and requests for proposals were issued. Equipment suppliers were interviewed and Mesotech International of Sacrament was selected. Royal Electric Company of Sacramento was selected as the prime contractor for site preparation and construction.
On June 3, 2025 the Torrance City Council approved $646,000 to implement the AWOS. By late September, the equipment was installed and an operational date of October 1, 2025, was projected.
But that was 4 months ago! So yesterday, I met with Gerry Pinela and Rafael Herrara to understand the reasons for the delay. They explained that Ms Kasandra Brown is the FAA Western-Pacific Region's program implementation manager for non-federal AWOS installations. She monitors all of the AWOS programs in our area and is responsible for certifying each installation prior to operation. To do this, she must call a meeting with the prime contractor, the equipment supplier and the local FAA technical organizations that will monitor and maintain the system. Together they review and certify that the system is ready for operation.
In October of 2025, there was the government shutdown. During that month-long period and for 3 weeks thereafter, the FAA suspended all projects so their personnel could focus on the commercial air transportation system. Then came Thanksgiving and Christmas. For 3 weeks prior and 3 weeks following each holiday, the FAA suspends all projects--again to focus on the commercial transportation system. Now, we are facing another possible government shutdown.
Mesotech's equipment is installed and ready; Royal Electric's work is completed and ready for operation. All that remains is that meeting with the FAA to sign the certificates. Ms Brown has not returned my calls or e-mails.