On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:30:46 -0700, Jay Honeck wrote:

I've already noticed that the new briefers are treating me like the
CUSTOMER, not an annoyance, as some of the gummint FSS guys would
occasionally do. It's a matter of attitude and tone which makes calling
them much more pleasant.

You've mentioned this before. As I think I've also written, I experienced
nothing like this from the FSS staffers with whom I dealt prior to the
corporate takeover.


They also clearly have access to superior computer equipment, and are
being encouraged to use every tool at their disposal to help us,
including websites like ADDs. This was NOT the case with the old FSS
guys, whom I often found were using less-capable weather forecasting
tools than I was.

That may be true (though I remember seeing modern Internet-based tools in
use when I visited Millville FSS, once upon a time). But it's not like
this would have been difficult/expensive to achieve w/o the takeover.

If we do assume that you're correct that this was somehow unavailable
before the takeover, then this was likely an artificial condition held
precisely for the purpose of making the takeover look better.


Finally, the fact that many of the new guys are real pilots sure gives
me a sense of confidence that I'm talking to someone who actually walks
the walk. I rarely had the impression with old FSS.

Perhaps. But I'd prefer an aviation-ignorant weather expert to the
reverse. Admittedly, though, I'd prefer dual experts. Again, though, I'm
not sure why hiring aviators had to wait for the takeover. Perhaps
because it was ditching the weather experts that made room for the
aviators?

- Andrew