Definition
A weather observing site operated under a basic-level contract with the National Weather Service or FAA, where trained personnel take and report a defined set of surface weather observations (such as sky condition, visibility, temperature, wind, and altimeter setting) on a scheduled or as-needed basis. A BASIC station provides a limited observation set compared with fully staffed or automated stations with broader sensor coverage.
Plain English
A weather reporting site staffed by people under a contract that covers only the basic set of observations — not the full range a larger weather station would provide.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA abbreviation lists, airport information, and weather-station descriptions that identify the source or type of local aviation weather observation.
Derivation
‘Contract’ here means the station is run under an agreement with the government rather than directly by it. ‘Basic’ flags that the contract covers only the core observations, not the full set. Knowing this tells the pilot that reports from a BASIC station may be less detailed than those from a primary station.
Why Pilots Care
Provides reliable minimum weather data at locations that would otherwise lack observations, supporting safer flight planning and decision-making.
Intuition Check
“Basic” does not mean unimportant or unreliable here. It means the station is contracted to provide a limited, foundational weather-observing service.
Example Sentence 1
The forecaster noted that the nearest report along the route came from a BASIC station, so wind and altimeter were available but some additional elements were not.
Example Sentence 2
Data from BASIC contract observing stations is used when planning flights to airports without staffed weather services.