Re: The Horror; FSS service stories

Kevin Clarke wrote:
In honor of Halloween and the fact that I need your help for a school project (from another thread, I am that engineer getting his MBA) I'd like to hear your horror stories about the degraded service we now get since the flip over of the FSS to LockMart. Just the details around the flight, from where to where, what happened. I'd also like to hear if this poor service resulted in or could have resulted in compromised safety of the flight. Extra special bonus credit if you come up with ideas for how the service could be improved.
<snip>

It is an old story, but the only one I have since I stopped calling them.

I was making a short trip from Central Illinois to Northern Illinois.
I figured it would save me some time to go along the lake... I had a few questions, so I figured I would call the FSS.
1. Meigs had recently been closed, but was still on current charts. I wanted to verify that the airspace had been changed.
2. I wanted to check for TFRs.

Question 1 was about a 25 minute ordeal. No one knew... they kept repeating what I told them. The airport is closed, but it is on the current chart.... I don't know. They must have gone around asking everyone in the area while I was on hold... After I got sick of waiting, they suggested I call another FSS to try to find out.
Finally, I said forget it... are there any TFRs? the answer was no.... Oh wait, there is if there is a night Cubs game.... naturally I asked... is there? They did not know. I was told I would need to find a computer and check the Cubs website to determine if there was a TFR.

I thanked them for their "help" and ended the call... I haven't called since.
It doesn't address the new scheme, but is a data point for the old one.

Mike
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: HOUSE BILL COULD KILL FLIGHT SERVICE STATION MODERNIZATION
    ... >>The issue here is that Weather, TFRs, etc. are information. ... >>If FSS added significant value through human expertise, ... Sorry, I thought you asked, "If there were no Flight Service Stations, ... I still prefer the luxury of a live preflight briefing. ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)
  • Re: We still need FSS
    ... So while at a remote rural airport, how do you learn of TFRs without ... Flight Service Stations? ... I actually still use my cell phone to call FSS before each flight, ... you need an "official" briefing to CYA for TFRs. ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)