who uses FSS?

Years ago, FSS publicized they had a way of connecting callers over to a
meteorologist, upon request. Does that still exist? I doubt it.
I don't recall any time in the past fifty years that briefers were =
required
to be meteorologists.

On rare occasions, I've encountered briefers who had been meteorologists
in a former life, usually during military service. But when employed as
FSS briefers, their job is to disburse weather data, not interpret it.

In the old days, we pilots could walk into a weather station to get
aviation weather from an actual meteorologist.
That must be the reason they taught us the station model in ground =
school.
---JRC---

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message =
link.net...
=20
"John T" wrote in message
ws.com...

Perhaps I misunderstood the local head of training when he gave me a =
tour
a
few years ago.

=20
Sounds like you did. A degree in meteorology is not required of FSS =
weather
briefers.
=20

The flight service person has more experience in weather than I ever will.
Although I prefer to look at the graphics received over the net, the FSS
personal are a great suppliment. If the weather is at all questionable, my
last question to the FSS person is "If I get in trouble, what is the best
direction to head?". There knowledge is just another assest in my planning
and safety.


"McGregor" wrote in message
link.net...
I get my pre-flight briefings from:
*) weathertap - RadarLab, area outlook, tafs, progs
*) ADDS - flightpath tool for AIRMETS & winds aloft along the route
*) FlightStar - to tell me how long it'll take, print nice-looking flight
plans, plan fuel stops, etc.

Then I call flight service and listen to the guy/girl give me this wildly
generalized briefing that usually doesn't tell me very much.

Last time I was in a flight service station (2000 I think) they were still
using IBM CRTs with textual info, so I don't know how they can give anyone
a
very precise route briefing.

So... is FSS just there to a) cover your ass in case of an incident
("pilot
called FSS and got a full weather briefing prior to departing into known
icing/TFR/hurricane etc.") b) accept flight plans?

I look at ADDS and WeatherTap. Then I get a DUATS briefing
and print it out. That takes care of the legal requirement. And DUATS is a
good reference. If I need to file (IFR or VFR) I file it on DUATS. Other
than a bit after 9/11 while things were in turmoil .. I seldome talk to FSS.


"McGregor" wrote in message
link.net...
I get my pre-flight briefings from:
*) weathertap - RadarLab, area outlook, tafs, progs
*) ADDS - flightpath tool for AIRMETS & winds aloft along the route
*) FlightStar - to tell me how long it'll take, print nice-looking flight
plans, plan fuel stops, etc.

Then I call flight service and listen to the guy/girl give me this wildly
generalized briefing that usually doesn't tell me very much.

Last time I was in a flight service station (2000 I think) they were still
using IBM CRTs with textual info, so I don't know how they can give anyone
a
very precise route briefing.

So... is FSS just there to a) cover your ass in case of an incident
("pilot
called FSS and got a full weather briefing prior to departing into known
icing/TFR/hurricane etc.") b) accept flight plans?

"Roger Tracy" wrote in message ...
I look at ADDS and WeatherTap. Then I get a DUATS briefing
and print it out. That takes care of the legal requirement. And DUATS is a
good reference. If I need to file (IFR or VFR) I file it on DUATS. Other
than a bit after 9/11 while things were in turmoil .. I seldome talk to FSS.

It's still in turmoil. You're well advised to continue to overburden the system
by calling up to see if there are any new TFR's frequently to cover your ass.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...

"Roger Tracy" wrote in message
...
I look at ADDS and WeatherTap. Then I get a DUATS briefing
and print it out. That takes care of the legal requirement. And DUATS is
a
good reference. If I need to file (IFR or VFR) I file it on DUATS. Other
than a bit after 9/11 while things were in turmoil .. I seldome talk to
FSS.

It's still in turmoil. You're well advised to continue to overburden the
system
by calling up to see if there are any new TFR's frequently to cover your
ass.



Concur. I also prefer not having to slog through 25 pages of TFRs looking
for changes.

Also, it costs about one hour of Avgas (single engine, 10gph) to have an
AOPA panel attorney for a year should you have to "phone a friend." Not an
ad, just my perspective. IIRC, the magic words when reaching the FSS
specialist are "standard briefing".

One thing I haven't seen written up too much yet is that when GWB starts up
his reelection campaign, there will be a moving 30 mile radius, up to FL180,
TFR moving around the country with up to 5-6 different stops a day.

If they plan on hammering every one who blunders into these, the FAA
enforcement division will have a 10 year backlog and the F16s will run out
of flares.
"Robert Henry" wrote in message
news:_HIeb.30502$AH4.29102@lakeread06...

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...

"Roger Tracy" wrote in message
...
I look at ADDS and WeatherTap. Then I get a DUATS briefing
and print it out. That takes care of the legal requirement. And DUATS
is
a
good reference. If I need to file (IFR or VFR) I file it on DUATS.
Other
than a bit after 9/11 while things were in turmoil .. I seldome talk
to
FSS.

It's still in turmoil. You're well advised to continue to overburden
the
system
by calling up to see if there are any new TFR's frequently to cover your
ass.



Concur. I also prefer not having to slog through 25 pages of TFRs looking
for changes.

Also, it costs about one hour of Avgas (single engine, 10gph) to have an
AOPA panel attorney for a year should you have to "phone a friend." Not an
ad, just my perspective. IIRC, the magic words when reaching the FSS
specialist are "standard briefing".

"Dan Thompson" wrote in message
news
One thing I haven't seen written up too much yet is that when GWB starts
up
his reelection campaign, there will be a moving 30 mile radius, up to
FL180,
TFR moving around the country with up to 5-6 different stops a day.

If they plan on hammering every one who blunders into these, the FAA
enforcement division will have a 10 year backlog and the F16s will run out
of flares.


You DO know the intercept procedure in *IMC* should you go lost comms and
blunder into one of those "oh-let's-stop-here-and-shake-some-hands-PTFRs."

Reminds me of KAL007. It's only a matter of time.

--

Bob
PP-ASEL-IA, A/IGI

"Robert Henry" wrote in message news:_HIeb.30502$AH4.29102@lakeread06...

Concur. I also prefer not having to slog through 25 pages of TFRs looking
for changes.

We have been told we can not rely on sources other than FSS.


Also, it costs about one hour of Avgas (single engine, 10gph) to have an
AOPA panel attorney for a year should you have to "phone a friend." Not an
ad, just my perspective. IIRC, the magic words when reaching the FSS
specialist are "standard briefing".


Phoning a friend won't get you out of a certain certificate violation if you bust
a TFR or other special "security" airspace.

Well .. I hope my butt is covered. I had a FSS guy tell me at a seminar
that DUATS has what they have. And the published ones are at:
http://www1.faa.gov/NTAP/
So far it's worked. A call to FSS enroute will check the area ahead. And
Center
is a big help. I can plug my laptop into my cellphone at stops and update
the info. If the weather
is complex then a call is certainly in order prior to flight.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...

"Roger Tracy" wrote in message
...
I look at ADDS and WeatherTap. Then I get a DUATS briefing
and print it out. That takes care of the legal requirement. And DUATS is
a
good reference. If I need to file (IFR or VFR) I file it on DUATS. Other
than a bit after 9/11 while things were in turmoil .. I seldome talk to
FSS.

It's still in turmoil. You're well advised to continue to overburden the
system
by calling up to see if there are any new TFR's frequently to cover your
ass.

"Roger Tracy" wrote in message ...
Well .. I hope my butt is covered. I had a FSS guy tell me at a seminar
that DUATS has what they have.

Well he's incorrect.

And the published ones are at:
http://www1.faa.gov/NTAP/

The Published ones aren't so much of a problem.