More stories of long FSS hold times and another issue

I've had similar experiences myself this past weekend. Ridiculous
hold times to get a clearance... finally took off in marginal VFR
and got the clearance at pattern altitude. On return I tried forever
to get through just to cancel IFR... finally gave up.

There should at least be a separate number to call for clearances
and for cancellations. Up until a few weeks ago we had an RCO to
flight service but that seems to be dead now. I use DUATS to
weather brief and file and that's always been great but at an
uncontrolled field you still need a way to get a clearance and
cancel when the weather is bad.

I guess they are going to tell us that if we want better service
we need to pay user fees. How aboutif all the other people that
receive government services (food stamps, welfare, SSI, housing,
fee medical care, etc. etc. start paying user fees?

"kontiki" wrote in message
...

There should at least be a separate number to call for clearances
and for cancellations. Up until a few weeks ago we had an RCO to
flight service but that seems to be dead now. I use DUATS to
weather brief and file and that's always been great but at an
uncontrolled field you still need a way to get a clearance and
cancel when the weather is bad.

Hmm... How hard would it be for them to configure 1800WXBRIEF to:
"Useing the touch tone phone enter your N number followed by the # sign."
Press 1 now to cancel all flight plans on file for the N number that you
have entered (verify with are you sure you want to cancel all flight plans
currently on file for "insert electronic voice".) Press 1 for yes, 2 for
no, 3 to go back to the main menu.
Press 2 to speak to a briefer

This may not work for multiple flight plans, but for the majority of people
it may work.

Of course, Press 1 would end up being something in Spanish...

Heck, I could even enter my N number and a series of 1's in my cell phone's
memory to have it "auto cancel" with a push of only a couple buttons.

Naah... this is something that just makes too much sense... it'll never
happen.

Jim

Press 1 now to cancel all flight plans on file for the N number that you
have entered

Great. Now a fellow club member can cancel my flight plan when he
cancels his? At least it gives FSS an excuse for lost flight plans.

Jose
--
Quantum Mechanics is like this: God =does= play dice with the universe,
except there's no God, and there's no dice. And maybe there's no universe.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Or 1-800-IFR-CANCEL

kontiki wrote:
Or 1-800-IFR-CANCEL

The Cancer Research Institute, in NY probably won't be any better at
closing flight plans than LM. They have the WX-CANCEL phone number.

Savannah Electric (has the IFR-CANCel number) may be a bit better, but
they would have to undergo some training.

Lol yep... but... I guess he could do that now if he wanted. Sorry, no
flight plan on file.

Maybe press 1 to cancel the oldest flight plan on file, press 9 to shoot
yourself in the head. Thank you for calling?
Jim

"Jose" wrote in message
t...
Press 1 now to cancel all flight plans on file for the N number that you
have entered

Great. Now a fellow club member can cancel my flight plan when he
cancels his? At least it gives FSS an excuse for lost flight plans.

Jose
--
Quantum Mechanics is like this: God =does= play dice with the universe,
except there's no God, and there's no dice. And maybe there's no
universe.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Jim Burns wrote:

Hmm... How hard would it be for them to configure 1800WXBRIEF to:
"Useing the touch tone phone enter your N number followed by the # sign."
Press 1 now to cancel all flight plans on file for the N number that you
have entered (verify with are you sure you want to cancel all flight plans
currently on file for "insert electronic voice".) Press 1 for yes, 2 for
no, 3 to go back to the main menu.
Press 2 to speak to a briefer

Sheesh... more menus... how about just a separate number.

Another idea would be to add a cancellation function to DUATS.

Exactly. My post was meant to be tongue in cheek. This is how I
pessimistically envision their "fix" to the situation.
Or they'll sub contract with Dell's PC techs in New Delhi to answer Flight
Plan Only questions. or maybe the XM Radio tech department, ever deal with
those geniuses? Airplane? no, we don't offer any XM services on commercial
flights, I think that's illegal, would you like to talk to our legal
department? Weather? Oh you have to call another number. (by the way, I
won't tell you that office is closed)
Jim

"kontiki" wrote in message
news
Jim Burns wrote:

Hmm... How hard would it be for them to configure 1800WXBRIEF to:
"Useing the touch tone phone enter your N number followed by the #
sign."
Press 1 now to cancel all flight plans on file for the N number that you
have entered (verify with are you sure you want to cancel all flight
plans
currently on file for "insert electronic voice".) Press 1 for yes, 2
for
no, 3 to go back to the main menu.
Press 2 to speak to a briefer

Sheesh... more menus... how about just a separate number.

Another idea would be to add a cancellation function to DUATS.