FSS

[killbilly]

Just about every practice exam I tool for the Private written has questions about them. My CFI didn't explain them to me...had to teach myself!

RD

Rod Machado taught me that stuff.

 

[Bernoulli Fan]

The FAA has a phone number if you're having trouble getting hold of FSS, I think it's 888-FLT-SRVC (don't quote me on that). Or you can try this website: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...ato/service_units/systemops/fs/key_officials/
, so far they've been good about getting back to me.

FSS never answers the radio up here in New England. I'd be calling that phone number every week. I explain to my students, "Sometimes they're busy on another frequency...forever. Ok, now lets go back to flight following."

 

[jdlilfan]

FSS never answers the radio up here in New England. I'd be calling that phone number every week. I explain to my students, "Sometimes they're busy on another frequency...forever. Ok, now lets go back to flight following."

That sounds like St. Louis when flying around central and eastern Illinois. I have tried all of the nearby RCO's and listening over VOR's. Checked all of the notams, asked FSS on the phone, and ATC. No one could give me an answer why it wouldn't work.

 

[juan valdez]

"Michigan,"
FSS Bot "I'm sorry, I did not understand you, did you say Hawaii?"
Me "No,"
Bot "Please say your state, you can say Tex-"
Me "MIIIICCCHHHHIIIGAAAANNNNN"
Bot "Please hold while I connect you with a flight briefer"
FSS "Thanks for calling Flight Service, this is Bob in Hawaii, how may I help you?"
:bandit:

Then I ask for a flight briefing and although they're supposed to all be able to give you a briefing for anywhere in the country, I still got the "Let me transfer you to your area *cue elevator FSS music*"

RD

Really annoying when you live in Texas and the machine still doesn't understand that's the state asking for. Half the time I get to the part where it asks you to enter "1" if yes. :banghead:

 

[Bernoulli Fan]

That sounds like St. Louis when flying around central and eastern Illinois. I have tried all of the nearby RCO's and listening over VOR's. Checked all of the notams, asked FSS on the phone, and ATC. No one could give me an answer why it wouldn't work.

My favorite was the lesson on cancelling IFR on the ground at an uncontrolled airport.

"Ok, call up the RCO"...(30 seconds)..."Try again?...ok shut down the engine and I'll use my cell phone so the next guy can stop holding over the VOR."

 

[ctab5060X]

Check out this link:
http://www.atchistory.org/History/FacilityPhotos/FSS_Dir/CurrentFSS_Directory.htm

It's kinda sad how many former facilities are gone now.

Nice link.

It is very sad when you see how few are left of the many, many we had.

I also like where you can see pictures of the facilities.

 

[///AMG]

Do you remember DF steers? I called Flight Service a few months back to see if I could get one for my student and the FSS said all the DF equipment had been decommissioned.

I remember getting one back in the 2003 timeframe.....never bothered since then though....

 

[Blackhawk]

Rod Machado taught me that stuff.

No, Rod Machado gave you the rote and understanding of those items. In order to truly be "taught that stuff" you need the correlation and application side as well, which can only come from flight instruction that includes these items on a daily basis so you can apply the knowledge to real life situations. Kind of like saying I learned about soft field take offs and landings from reading a book and watching a video.