1800-WX-Brief down?

Inverted

Inverted

mmmmmm wine
I don't use it anymore but I had a student bring it to my attention. It's been down for at least an hour now.
 
I havent called that number since I was a student. It takes forever to get a breifing and half the time I swore that the person on the other end didnt have a clue what they were talking about. I always just use either duat or duats.
 
Inverted25 said:
I havent called that number since I was a student. It takes forever to get a breifing and half the time I swore that the person on the other end didnt have a clue what they were talking about. I always just use either duat or duats.
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We must not be calling the same number. When I call they know who I am, what I'm flying, my preferred routes and all my background information. 3-5 minutes later I'm briefed and filed.

What are you doing wrong?
 
Codyjp said:
We must not be calling the same number. When I call they know who I am, what I'm flying, my preferred routes and all my background information. 3-5 minutes later I'm briefed and filed.

What are you doing wrong?
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I never file IFR with them (easier to do it online and type it rather than spelling out an enitre route), but I still find them very useful for weather briefings. Just double check TFRs online, I've found them to be inaccurate on 2 or 3 occasions with regards to effective times for TFRs.
 
Codyjp said:
We must not be calling the same number. When I call they know who I am, what I'm flying, my preferred routes and all my background information. 3-5 minutes later I'm briefed and filed.

What are you doing wrong?
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You must have filled out the personal info section so that they recognize it when you call in. I've used it 2 or 3 times since I was a student pilot and that was because the school I was at said that a DUAT/DUATs brief wasn't official for them.
 
DUAT! Used to file and get briefs for 6-8 legs per day at the last job. No way I'd be calling a briefer each time.
 
We must not be calling the same number. When I call they know who I am, what I'm flying, my preferred routes and all my background information. 3-5 minutes later I'm briefed and filed.

What are you doing wrong?
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I havent called in it like two years. Last I remember though was right after it switched to Lockhead Martin and it was terrible.
 
Inverted25 said:
I havent called in it like two years. Last I remember though was right after it switched to Lockhead Martin and it was terrible.
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Things have improved by what people tell me (I wasn't a pilot 2 years ago, so I don't know first hand).
 
Lockheed has really improved since they took over. I haven't had any problems in the last couple years.
 
It has improved a lot over the last year or so. The only time I have an issue is when I get routed to a briefer not familiar with my area. Some of them don't seem to like briefing another area and they'll make it known to you. I still use DUAT for briefings but I usually file over the phone. I was at a presentation given by a supervisor from Princeton Radio and he said FSS can't make changes to flight plans filed on DUAT because their computer systems are different. So if you change N#, route, times, etc. they can't fix it, you'd have to refile with them which seems like more of a hassle than filing with them to begin with.
 
Funny, I typically file from my bed using my iPad and Foreflight. Then get a brief for the flight/day on the drive to the airport when needed. I can talk on a wireless piece in my car, I certainly can't read through 44 pages of textual weather and notams as I drive but thats just my preference.
 
"We don't need no AFSS."

Take something wholesome, beautiful and good, then rub dirt on it and you get FSS -> AFSS
 
I only call LockMart when I don't have access to a computer. DUAT/DUATS gives me more control over what I'm looking at, and it's also way easier for filing long or complex IFR routes.
 
ScoutFlyer said:
I was at a presentation given by a supervisor from Princeton Radio and he said FSS can't make changes to flight plans filed on DUAT because their computer systems are different. So if you change N#, route, times, etc. they can't fix it, you'd have to refile with them which seems like more of a hassle than filing with them to begin with.
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I recently had a couple issues with a flight plan filed through duats/foreflight. FSS could not or would not amend it so I had to make a new one. Doesn't make sense when they both end up in the tower for the clearance controller.
 
Apophis said:
I only call LockMart when I don't have access to a computer. DUAT/DUATS gives me more control over what I'm looking at, and it's also way easier for filing long or complex IFR routes.
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That. Spelling out fixes and waypoints for the briefer can be pretty annoying.
 
A150K said:
That. Spelling out fixes and waypoints for the briefer can be pretty annoying.
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Yeah it is, especially when the briefer interrupts you mid-sentence multiple times to ask you how a particular intersection or waypoint is spelled. Arghhh!
 
ScoutFlyer said:
I was at a presentation given by a supervisor from Princeton Radio and he said FSS can't make changes to flight plans filed on DUAT because their computer systems are different. So if you change N#, route, times, etc. they can't fix it, you'd have to refile with them which seems like more of a hassle than filing with them to begin with.
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Sol Rosenburg said:
I recently had a couple issues with a flight plan filed through duats/foreflight. FSS could not or would not amend it so I had to make a new one. Doesn't make sense when they both end up in the tower for the clearance controller.
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You guys are funny. "XX Clearence, NXX looking to pick up IFR to KXXX with Foxtrot, but I need to make an amendment to the (insert screwup here)." I have done this more times than I like to admit, and have never been denied.
 
Apophis said:
Yeah it is, especially when the briefer interrupts you mid-sentence multiple times to ask you how a particular intersection or waypoint is spelled. Arghhh!
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Imagine how the controlers feel when they clear you direct to a fix, and you don't hear it right the first time, so you ask them to repeat, then you can't find it, so you ask them to repeat it again, then you still can't find it, so you ask them to spell it for you. Atleast with a breifer, if you or they screw it up, there is time to fix it before you fly into a moutnain.
 
mshunter said:
Imagine how the controlers feel when they clear you direct to a fix, and you don't hear it right the first time, so you ask them to repeat, then you can't find it, so you ask them to repeat it again, then you still can't find it, so you ask them to spell it for you. Atleast with a breifer, if you or they screw it up, there is time to fix it before you fly into a moutnain.
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Wait, what if you just filed airways? :)
 
mshunter said:
You guys are funny. "XX Clearence, NXX looking to pick up IFR to KXXX with Foxtrot, but I need to make an amendment to the (insert screwup here)." I have done this more times than I like to admit, and have never been denied.
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Well that'll work because you're talking to the controller directly...they have the computers that can do that stuff. From what I understand, the FSS computers and the DUAT computers aren't compatible with each other. If you file over DUAT and screw up, and call FSS to fix it, that's where the problem is. You're right though, I've never had a problem going through ATC to fix/change stuff.
 
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