On 22 Sep 2005 07:44:24 -0700, wrote in
.com::


Larry Dighera wrote:
On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 10:14:11 -0600, Newps wrote
in ::


Larry Dighera wrote:
Could it be? The President is a friend of GA? Or is the FSS
modernization the camel's nose under the user-fee tent?

A friend to GA would let FSS die.

If there were no Flight Service Stations, how would you get briefed
about all the pop-up TFRs and military activity?

The issue here is that Weather, TFRs, etc. are information. Information
costs a fixed amount to manufacture, and a variable amount to
distribute. FSS with 2500 employees is a very costly way of
distributing it. My example of the 396 is not meant literally but it
shows just how ridiculous the gap is.

If FSS added significant value through human expertise, it would be
different. It's my understanding that once upon a time, FSS specialists
actually had local expertise and could tell you things that weren't
written in the forecasts. If that's what we had, I'd fight for it too.

The issue you raise, whether or not FSS' are necessary, is not the
issue I mentioned, user fees.

But I would agree that FSS could be pretty much replaced by DUATS.
However, I still prefer the luxury of a live preflight briefing.