Steve
En-Route
transcript of a recent correspondence between the prez of the MS airport assoc. (who is also the airport director at GTR) and the FAA...in case you're interested.
From: jeanne.giering@faa.gov [mailto:jeanne.giering@faa.gov]
Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 11:19 AM
To: mhainsey@gtra.com
Cc: michael.a.cirillo@faa.gov; Doug.Murphy@faa.gov; John.Staples@faa.gov; james.little@faa.gov; Rhonda.Phillips@faa.gov; ron.r.petro@lmco.com; richard.a.post@lmco.com; daniel.j.courain@lmco.com
Subject: Greenwood Flight Service Station
Mr. Hainsey,
First, let me apologize for the lack of communication with Mississippi airports prior to the closure of Greenwood AFSS and the subsequent FAA response providing the pilot complaint line. Lockheed Martin Flight Services headquarters has provided each facility with a facility closure checklist that includes coordination responsibilities. They will conduct an investigation to determine why airports in Mississippi were not contacted. Also, I will take appropriate action to ensure my staff provides more thoughtful responses to our customers.
The Greenwood flight plan area was relocated to the Washington Hub in Ashburn, VA. Lockheed Martin has set up phone numbers for specific functions.
Pilot Weather Briefing - 1-800-WX Brief
Report Notam conditions - 1-877-4-US-NTMS (1-877-487-6867)*
Weather Observations - 1-866-225-7410**
Supervisor (use this number for search & rescue) - 703-724-4288***
Clearance Delivery - 1-888-766-8267****
* Notams: Currently, this line will take you to the first available specialist (nationwide). On 8/8/07, Lockheed Martin will be adding a call tree to the Notam line. It will opererate similar to the wx-brief line. It will prompt you to say a state (or enter a numeric code) so you can be connected to the specialist working the sector for the area that the airport is located in.
** Weather Obs: If CWOs are unsuccessful using this line, they can use the WX-Brief line or the clearance delivery line to pass weather observations.
***Supervisor Line: This line can also be used to report aircraft accidents and other events you would have previously reported to the supervisor when GWO AFSS was open.
****Clearance Delivery: This line will also take you to the first available specialist nationwide. A pilot may or may not be connected to the specialist that has direct communication with the overlying control facility. If the pilot reaches someone who does not, the specialist will use an internal procedure to the obtain clearance. The procedure includes placing the pilot on hold, contacting the appropriate flight service sector who will contact the overlying control facility for the clearance. This line is scheduled to have a call tree added no later than 9/12/07. The call tree will prompt the pilot to say or enter a numeric code for the state they are departing from so they can be connected to the appropriate flight service sector.
I will make a follow-up call to you on Monday to answer any other questions you may have.
Thanks you,
Jeanne Giering
Manager Flight Services Safety and Operations
202-385-7627
From: jeanne.giering@faa.gov [mailto:jeanne.giering@faa.gov]
Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 11:19 AM
To: mhainsey@gtra.com
Cc: michael.a.cirillo@faa.gov; Doug.Murphy@faa.gov; John.Staples@faa.gov; james.little@faa.gov; Rhonda.Phillips@faa.gov; ron.r.petro@lmco.com; richard.a.post@lmco.com; daniel.j.courain@lmco.com
Subject: Greenwood Flight Service Station
Mr. Hainsey,
First, let me apologize for the lack of communication with Mississippi airports prior to the closure of Greenwood AFSS and the subsequent FAA response providing the pilot complaint line. Lockheed Martin Flight Services headquarters has provided each facility with a facility closure checklist that includes coordination responsibilities. They will conduct an investigation to determine why airports in Mississippi were not contacted. Also, I will take appropriate action to ensure my staff provides more thoughtful responses to our customers.
The Greenwood flight plan area was relocated to the Washington Hub in Ashburn, VA. Lockheed Martin has set up phone numbers for specific functions.
Pilot Weather Briefing - 1-800-WX Brief
Report Notam conditions - 1-877-4-US-NTMS (1-877-487-6867)*
Weather Observations - 1-866-225-7410**
Supervisor (use this number for search & rescue) - 703-724-4288***
Clearance Delivery - 1-888-766-8267****
* Notams: Currently, this line will take you to the first available specialist (nationwide). On 8/8/07, Lockheed Martin will be adding a call tree to the Notam line. It will opererate similar to the wx-brief line. It will prompt you to say a state (or enter a numeric code) so you can be connected to the specialist working the sector for the area that the airport is located in.
** Weather Obs: If CWOs are unsuccessful using this line, they can use the WX-Brief line or the clearance delivery line to pass weather observations.
***Supervisor Line: This line can also be used to report aircraft accidents and other events you would have previously reported to the supervisor when GWO AFSS was open.
****Clearance Delivery: This line will also take you to the first available specialist nationwide. A pilot may or may not be connected to the specialist that has direct communication with the overlying control facility. If the pilot reaches someone who does not, the specialist will use an internal procedure to the obtain clearance. The procedure includes placing the pilot on hold, contacting the appropriate flight service sector who will contact the overlying control facility for the clearance. This line is scheduled to have a call tree added no later than 9/12/07. The call tree will prompt the pilot to say or enter a numeric code for the state they are departing from so they can be connected to the appropriate flight service sector.
I will make a follow-up call to you on Monday to answer any other questions you may have.
Thanks you,
Jeanne Giering
Manager Flight Services Safety and Operations
202-385-7627
