FAA Flight Service changes

Low&Slow

Ancora imparo
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/fs/changes/


Flight Service Program Changes

Recognizing a shift in users' preferences for automated services, the FAA is changing its Flight Service operation to make it more efficient and reduce costs. The agency will continue to maintain the highest level of safety.

The changes come as general aviation pilots are transitioning from traditional Flight Service assistance to more automated and web-based tools to obtain services. Through the use of updated technology Flight Service is taking the opportunity to eliminate redundancies and underutilized services.

"None of these changes will affect core flight service safety functions such as search and rescue, emergency services, Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) entry and dissemination, and pilot weather reports," said Steven Villanueva, Deputy Director Flight Service, in the ATO's System Operations Service Unit. "We are phasing in the changes to ease the transition for users," he added.

On October 1, 2015, the FAA will consolidate Flight Watch services into routine flight services inflight frequencies to eliminate unnecessary duplication of service and provide greater convenience for pilots. These services provide inflight weather information to pilots. After that date, these services will be available on the same frequencies that pilots use to open and close flight plans and to receive updates on NOTAMs or Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). Dedicated Flight Watch frequencies will be decommissioned.

The FAA is proposing to phase out legacy Remote Airport Advisory Service. Seven of the airports do not meet the Agency's criteria for receiving advisory service. Flight Service is collaborating with our user groups on possible impacts and will be posting the proposed change in the Federal Register for public comment.

The FAA is also proposing to implement flight plan filing for civil aircraft exclusively under the format used by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Flight plans contain specific information relating to the proposed flight of an aircraft and controllers use them to provide air traffic services. Today pilots file flight plans in the U.S. under either the domestic or ICAO format. The use of one format will simplify the process and align U.S. flight plans within ICAO standards.

General aviation pilots increasingly have turned to automation in recent years to file flight plans and receive pre-flight briefings. New technology such as ADS-B is providing more inflight options to pilots. Flight Service will incorporate the industry's newest technologies and reduce or eliminate other functions to create efficiencies and value. The changes to Flight Watch and RAA are the first in what is anticipated to be a series of right-sizing initiatives surrounding flight services provided to pilots.
 
Well what do you think when your service is so bad and your customers go elsewhere to get it.

Most businesses are forced to close their doors...

IMG_0916.jpg
 
FAA doing ICAO flight plans? Ha! As if filing a flight plan wasn't acary enough for some... But I'm looking forward to it, less roadblocks to file Intl' flight plans!
 
Well what do you think when your service is so bad and your customers go elsewhere to get it.
I was an instrument student - I think, it's been too long for me to really remember salient details - right after they gave away the "store" to LockMart.

Oh boy. Calling on the phone was not fun. Calling airborne was worse. Harassing Center for weather did not endear you to anyone, but that was often what you had to do.

Fixed it for ya.
We should TOTALLY privatize ATC. Because you know, the outsourced AFSS has been such a success...
 
also lol@alaska not being a part of what was outsourced.

Even more to LOL about when you consider:
  • Pro-privatization Congressman Don Young was perfectly happy to ship to Lockheed-Martin every other states' AFSSs, but he made darned sure Alaska's were retained by the FAA.
  • Things got so bad in the lower 48 that many pilots were calling the Alaskan FAA facilities for everything from flight plan filing to even weather briefs . . . in Florida!
  • When Lockheed-Martin took over they were handling 26 million operations a year. By 2011 they had chased away some 75% of that number, dropping to about 6.5 million ops. Any takers on the bet that number has dropped by now to less than 3 million?
  • But Lockheed-Martin still get paid as though they were handling 26 million ops, meaning the cost per operation is at least four times what it was when the FAA ran the service.
Gotta love those contractors . . . and the buzzards in Congress who feed them. Saving us just tons of money.

Yeah . . . riiight. And don't even get me started on the "life-saving" services LockMart Leesburg AFSS supplied to Michael Trapp.
 
How many here still call FSS for a briefing?

If so, why?

How many never call FSS for a briefing?

If so, why not?

With an ADS-B w/ WX receiver plus iPad/Android tablet combo costing under $1,000 and free online flight planning and filing, what purpose does a personalized WX briefing serve these days?
 
How many here still call FSS for a briefing?

If so, why?

How many never call FSS for a briefing?

If so, why not?

With an ADS-B w/ WX receiver plus iPad/Android tablet combo costing under $1,000 and free online flight planning and filing, what purpose does a personalized WX briefing serve these days?

I almost always call for an abbreviated briefing when I fly VFR (which is as frequently as possible) as a CYA for additional TFR's, runway closures, and adverse weather conditions. Takes less than 5 minutes on my drive to the airport and gives me a little peace of mind just in case my Stratus overheats (has happened several times) and doesn't come back on. If I'm going IFR I just use the fltplan.com weather.
 
How many here still call FSS for a briefing?
If so, why?
I do, sometimes, just to shake the rust off, or when I'm flying within the US and I'm doing something that has my hands busy.

With an ADS-B w/ WX receiver plus iPad/Android tablet combo costing under $1,000 and free online flight planning and filing, what purpose does a personalized WX briefing serve these days?
I agree. I'd put those dollars to work elsewhere.
 
When the automated systems spits out garbage or confusing NOTAMs, I call. What they really need to do is fix the POS telephone clearance delivery system.
 
also lol@alaska not being a part of what was outsourced.

Because people would literally die, as opposed to the lower 48 where I guess they don't need skilled flight information specialists to provide real time in flight information?? So stupid. Some things shouldn't be privatized; when it comes to safety sensitive duties, free market efficiency has dangerous consequences when corners are cut to save a buck.
 
How many here still call FSS for a briefing?

If so, why?

How many never call FSS for a briefing?

If so, why not?

With an ADS-B w/ WX receiver plus iPad/Android tablet combo costing under $1,000 and free online flight planning and filing, what purpose does a personalized WX briefing serve these days?

I call for briefings all the time. Some times it's better to have a human on the other end of the line explaining what I'm getting myself into.
 
I almost always call for an abbreviated briefing when I fly VFR (which is as frequently as possible) as a CYA for additional TFR's, runway closures, and adverse weather conditions. Takes less than 5 minutes on my drive to the airport and gives me a little peace of mind just in case my Stratus overheats (has happened several times) and doesn't come back on. If I'm going IFR I just use the fltplan.com weather.

I call regularly.

First - I have to. You have to file on the phone with a briefer when you fly in the FRZ - even the automated features that will file DC SFRA flight plans won't cut it for the FRZ.

Second - I like supplementing what I'm reading online with a conversation. I'm still a very new instrument pilot (ink hasn't even dried on the rating) and I like getting the...overlap.

I'm surprised about the negative experiences a lot of you have had with FSS. I've actually had really good experiences with LockMart and value the services they've been providing. Maybe I'm just naive or something....
 
How many here still call FSS for a briefing?

If so, why?
I do. It's how I was taught, and I'm also very cautious about rapidly shifting coastal weather as a low-hour VFR pilot. Plus, it's in my rental agreement :)
 
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