What does everybody think of this? Been hearing about it a bit lately, but read a blurb this morning in my AOPA ePilot that Lockheed Martin won the bid and will take over operation of Flight Service Stations at some date in the future, supposedly will save the FAA 2.2 billion over the next 10 years. Also, new improvements include reduced response times by briefers/operators to less than 20 seconds by telephone and 5 seconds by radio.

How heavily do you rely on FSS? I use DUATS quite a bit, and I enjoy talking to preflight briefers. If you are charging off into uncharted territory, into the backwoods, do you file a flight plan? I am curious.

I'm not sure if we'll see a difference in service or not. Doesn't seem there is much to improve upon, other than maybe a little better web functionality.

ZJ

I'm just concerned that this "privitization" of FSS services might be the first step toward user fees. I don't know how long ago it started, but as of a couple years ago NavCanada charges you $15 per quarter for ATC services. The bill is sent to you in the mail, at your airplane ragistration address. Even if all you do is open & close the flight plans required for an international flight. $15 ain't much, especially with a favorable exchange rate, but it's the principal of the thing. It's like the $25 sticker you have to buy from US Customs to re-enter. If you're back & forth alot it's not much per trip, but it adds alot to the trip costs when you're only gonna go once.
I'm kinda curious what's gonna happen with all the FSS specialists who are now employed by the FAA--will they all get laid off? Or will the private contractor take over the existing labor force & infrastructure, & go from there?
I don't generally file flight plans. I do make use of the recorded weather forecasts & current conditions fairly often, but only occasionally talk to a briefer. I think that if they do start charging user fees (a la NavCanada) for FSS or ATC services, some people (like me!) will avoid using those services even when it's prudent to do so. That would have a detrimental effect on safety.

Eric

Was talking to a CFI buddy who added that with the privatization of FSS come many imporvements to the antiquated FAA service. Notams and wx advisories will be changed so that you don't get tornado warnings for OK for a 100 mile flight in CA. I often skim the DUATS weather briefings because there is so much irrelevant information. Also, did you know that if you file a flight plan online as opposed to over the phone with a briefer, that it is not forwarded to FAA control centers?

He added that commercial weather products have been superior for a long time and that hopefully Lockheed canbring the free FAA products into the 21st century.

Z

What thinking about this again today.

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/air_traffi ... ocess.html

I was trying to think like a pilot and was going through the AIRMETs, which as you all know, are such a pain in the ass. Just look at this:

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WAUS45 KKCI 031345
   SLCT WA 031345
   AIRMET TANGO UPDT 2 FOR TURB VALID UNTIL 032000
   AIRMET TURB...ID NV UT OR CA
   FROM DSD TO SLC TO DTA TO LAS TO EHF TO RBL TO OED TO DSD
   OCNL MOD TURB BLW FL180 DUE TO MOD LOW/MID LVL WNDS OVR RUFF
   TRRN. CONDS CONTG BYD 20Z THRU 02Z.


Pretty easy to understand the warning, but the coverage area is hard to visualize from the point outline.

This tool makes it a lot easier, but still...