Do the FlightService / FlightWatch people get many calls?

M

Martymccasland

Pre-takeoff checklist
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M.McCasland
I ask because in 15 years of flying, I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've used them. A few times to see if they have differing icing forecasts than what I see on XM, maybe once or twice when I ran into wildly different than forecast weather (to give a PIREP -- however, if it is radical enough like unforecasted icing or intense turbulence, I just tell Center/Approach), once to ask them to call someone on the ground for me, and once yesterday to file an IFR plan in the air (did a quick flight, left origin CAVU, got to destination CAVU, came back VFR but could see a layer of clouds forming that I'd have to go through -- and didn't want to tie-up Center filing -- and was too high to get a cell signal to file via Foreflight - 1st time I've ever had to file unplanned from the air).

Anyway, each time I've used them it seems like they are just thrilled to get any calls. On Wx calls it's hard to get to the end of the discussion (and I'm usually listening to Center and them at the same time, so I want to keep it short and sweet). They just are so eager to help and keep on asking Qs. On the time I called to ask them to make a phone call, I thought I would be told to pound sand -- but no, they were totally happy to do so and very kind. Ditto yesterday.

So I kept monitoring Flightwatch as I get this picture of people in some dark office playing solitaire that are ecstatic to get a call. In 90 more minutes of monitoring yesterday, I never heard another transmission except once when they said the HIWAS recording had been updated.

So back to the question: do these people have much to do / get many calls? Is it a service that will soon go away?
 
I use it on most of my dual x/c to get the student experience. I have them file a PIREP even if it's CAVOK.

They can be helpful, however, last time I used it I got a lady that wasn't very helpful. I was flying ELD-TXK and noticed some lightning up ahead over by TXK. I called up FlightWatch and almost ended up getting into a fight with the lady. She ended up telling me that thunderstorms were not possible because it wasn't forecasted. She basically called me a lier.

I filed a complaint and within 24hr I got a call from the manager of the Fort Worth branch. He took my statement and said he would call back when he found out more info. He kept his word a few days later and told me that the lady would be given additional training. He took it seriously and said that he was amazed at the recording of the radio call.
 
I'm pretty careful about using it, and offering pireps in the mtns. The weather there can change rapidly, and mistakes are not well tolerated. On CAVU days, over flat land, I generally don't bother.
 
I used to use it a lot more before XM. Now the tools are so sophisticated that the service is just a tad redundant. Without XM I depended on them quite a bit.
 
For those near the physical location of the FSS facilities (like us in the DFW area), a tour is well worth your time.

I came away with a much improved understanding of the service they provide and how to interact with them, both on the phone and while in flight.
 
I call them before most flights.
I dont know how accurate they are but getting my weather and notams over the phone while driving to the airport is nice.
 
I still use Flight Watch. Since XM became the rage it is a lot easier to reach a specialist and you get a lot more information. Usually I am IFR and do not want to chat but the specialists are not busy and seem to want to keep the conversation going. Next week will likely be busy for them if any weather is being generated in the center of the country (Oshkosh).
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I call them before most flights.
I dont know how accurate they are but getting my weather and notams over the phone while driving to the airport is nice.
Click to expand...

I need to show you how to get all of that out of FF on your iPad.

But it's still fun to always remind the briefer.... "Yes, I am very aware of the permanent TFR over W's house in North Dallas"
 
I use it while driving. I can't get online briefing while driving any other way. (it's legal to talk on a cell phone while driving in Colorado).
 
I still use flight watch,just to hear a human voice. Can be very reassuring.
 
On long cross country flights it is convenient to call FSS from the air prior to your fuel stop and file the next leg of the trip with them, getting updated weather.

When you land for fuel, you don't have to rush around trying to create a route and connect to the internet to electronically file the next flight plan or call FSS on the cell phone from the lobby and hope they get the flight plan in quick enough to be in the system when you depart.
 
I have called them on rare occasions in the air to either update an estimated time of arrival on a VFR flight plan so search and rescue isn't prematurely deployed, to give position reports on a long VFR cross-country with flight-plan, and/or to report significant weather / winds.

Since I have ADS-B/FIS-B and get enroute and arrival weather, METARs, etc., I don't have much of a reason to call them to actually get the weather.
 
Cruiser said:
On long cross country flights it is convenient to call FSS from the air prior to your fuel stop and file the next leg of the trip with them, getting updated weather.

When you land for fuel, you don't have to rush around trying to create a route and connect to the internet to electronically file the next flight plan or call FSS on the cell phone from the lobby and hope they get the flight plan in quick enough to be in the system when you depart.
Click to expand...

Why not file it all before you ever depart?
 
In the last 10 years, I've used them to activate my VFR flight plans for border crossings. That's about it.
 
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