FSS annoyance

ScottM

ScottM

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iBazinga!
I called FSS today on the 1-800-number to ask them to amend a flight plan that I had filed a little earlier. This happens from time to time as things change and I have always been able to do this in the past before. But this time FSS told me that they cannot change flight plans and I would have to redo the entire flight plan with the new information.

I suspect that the person I reached was just untrained. Have any of you heard of this nonsense?
 
I had a similar problem with a VFR flightplan pre-LM takeover. If filed online, they said they couldn't modify it.
 
Welcome to the new improved FSS.

I haven't had precisely this problem, but recently they changed my flight plan down the West Coast (Seattle to SoCal) to include a waypoint in Texas.

~ Christopher
 
jwriteclub said:
Welcome to the new improved FSS.

I haven't had precisely this problem, but recently they changed my flight plan down the West Coast (Seattle to SoCal) to include a waypoint in Texas.

~ Christopher
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Did you comply with the clearance? :)
 
Yes this has happened to me. Now if I anticipate it, I file TWO flight plans. It causes a little dep. control confusion when they ask which one I want, but hey, LM sucks so bad, that's my response.
 
I started amending the flight plan in the GPS. Noticed the flight path increased to several thousand miles, and then zoomed out so I could see the waypoint.

When I called clearance delivery and advised them and then gave my original plan (just 4 Victor Airways), they just cleared me for that.

~ Christopher
 
I've heard that before, but that's when the flight plan was still in DUAT. Obviously they can't modify it then since it's not in their system yet.

If I know DUAT has sent it, I just call them and ask them right away to call Center (since they've got all the flight plans) for me since I need to change my flight plan. That has always worked....

-Felix
 
SkyHog said:
I had a similar problem with a VFR flightplan pre-LM takeover. If filed online, they said they couldn't modify it.
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They've never been able to modify them when they're filed online, because that goes through a separate system. I was under the impression that Scott had both filed and requested modification with LockMart.

Scott, how close to the original departure time was it when you called in the modification?
 
You can't modify a DUAT flight plan by phone. Requires entire new filing.

Even if you file originally by phone, FSS may or may not be able to modify. In the pre-LockMart days, you couldn't modify flight plans filed at a different FSS (if you filed at San Angelo, Ft. Worth couldn't modify it), and I was unable to modify a plan that already had been sent to ATC (to alter the departure time to avoid time-out). It even affected VFR - if you called the wrong FSS to close a flight plan or update the time enroute, they'd often have to contact the destination FSS.

LockMart was supposed to create a seamless national system. We're not there yet.
 
wsuffa said:
LockMart was supposed to create a seamless national system. We're not there yet.
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That is for cure. The time I called to modify was post departure, I was running a few minutes late. instead I just called form the air and made the modification from there. I find there to be less and less reason to actually speak to a briefer on the phone.
 
smigaldi said:
That is for cure. The time I called to modify was post departure, I was running a few minutes late. instead I just called form the air and made the modification from there. I find there to be less and less reason to actually speak to a briefer on the phone.
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If you were post-departure, (and it was IFR), the flight plan already went to ATC. IME, this can't be modified through FSS, though ATC usually can.

If you were VFR, they should have been able to do it, as I don't think the flight plan goes to the destination FSS until you open it.
 
wsuffa said:
If you were post-departure, (and it was IFR), the flight plan already went to ATC. IME, this can't be modified through FSS, though ATC usually can.

If you were VFR, they should have been able to do it, as I don't think the flight plan goes to the destination FSS until you open it.
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It was a VFR flight plan.
 
I rarely file VFR flight plans.

I usually file IFR, and then ask for VFR flight following. If either I a) don't get flight following or b) the weather goes to hell, I've already got a route in the system and there is a lot less reading of clearances over the air.

~ Christopher
 
jwriteclub said:
I rarely file VFR flight plans.

I usually file IFR, and then ask for VFR flight following. If either I a) don't get flight following or b) the weather goes to hell, I've already got a route in the system and there is a lot less reading of clearances over the air.

~ Christopher
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That is exactly what I do for personal flights as well.
 
I called FSS to file a flight plan today. First time since LM took over. I didn't have to wait an unacceptable length of time for a briefer to come on line. I didn't need a weather briefing, I had already pulled that on DUATS. Just needed to file an IFR flight plan from OLM to PWT. Just read it off to him and his only question was how to spell CARRO intersection. Obviously not from these parts. And, when we called OLM ground to pick up the clearance, it was waiting for us. 1 down, many, many to go. :yes:
 
After accidentally filing an IFR flight plan with the wrong N# and tower deleting it I had to refile. While on the ground I called Hawthorne FSS on the radio and they replied quickly and took the flight plan without incident. Before they even confirmed it was filed I had ground calling me on the comm1 with a clearance. So far I haven't had any FSS issues except for the briefers not recommending against flight in poor conditions us as much as the local guys used to.
 
I have noticed that the time delay from filing with FSS to it being available to controllers has gotten a lot better in the past couple of years (before the major consolidation for sure, but perhaps even before LM took over). It's almost instantaneous.
 
I would think that they have a better system.

What I cannot understand is why we cannot get DUAT(S) with at least the level of quality of the NOAA site, or better yet a real, modern web application. I can't cost more than a few grand to hire a web company to produce something better.

~ Christopher
 
jwriteclub said:
I would think that they have a better system.

What I cannot understand is why we cannot get DUAT(S) with at least the level of quality of the NOAA site, or better yet a real, modern web application. I can't cost more than a few grand to hire a web company to produce something better.

~ Christopher
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What's happening on DUAT? (Note: DUAT, not DUATS) I've never had a problem with it. For local flights, I dig the data out of NOAA. The school has WSI but it bites as far as I'm concerned.
 
jwriteclub said:
I would think that they have a better system.

What I cannot understand is why we cannot get DUAT(S) with at least the level of quality of the NOAA site, or better yet a real, modern web application. I can't cost more than a few grand to hire a web company to produce something better.

~ Christopher
Click to expand...

Now that IS a good question. DUAT and DUATS have the crappiest looking websites on the planet. More than a bit clunky too. Make no mistake, I use them exclusively for briefings and filing, but I always wonder while they are still so pokey!!!!
 
jwriteclub said:
What I cannot understand is why we cannot get DUAT(S) with at least the level of quality of the NOAA site, or better yet a real, modern web application. I can't cost more than a few grand to hire a web company to produce something better.
Click to expand...

Both DUAT(S) services are provided under contract to the FAA which sets the technical specifications. There's part of the problem right there. The other part is that the contracts expired in September. The FAA announced over a year ago that they were going to let DUAT(S) die, rolling the on-line briefing service into the Lockheed-Martin FSS contract. But that has turned into such a fiasco, the FAA is keeping DUAT(S) on life support. No one knows for how long. Meanwhile the vendors have no incentive to spend money on upgrades.

Regards,
Joe
 
So, if that's an idea of the result of FAA tech specs, then I'm even more concerned about ADS-B!
 
Joe B said:
Both DUAT(S) services are provided under contract to the FAA which sets the technical specifications. There's part of the problem right there. The other part is that the contracts expired in September. The FAA announced over a year ago that they were going to let DUAT(S) die, rolling the on-line briefing service into the Lockheed-Martin FSS contract. But that has turned into such a fiasco, the FAA is keeping DUAT(S) on life support. No one knows for how long. Meanwhile the vendors have no incentive to spend money on upgrades.

Regards,
Joe
Click to expand...

DUATS did role out a very nice upgrade to Golden Eagle about 8 weeks ago. In it you can buy subscriptions to all kinds of extra data. The interface to the briefing is still the same though.
 
you can modify on fltplan.com at any time and on DUATS as long as you are 1 hour to prior departure.
 
My point was just that the collective "nerds" on this board could probably whip together a web application in a day or two that would kick the duat(s) web interface all over the place.

~ Christopher
 
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