FSS slooooooow response times

[RotaryWingBob]

I don't know whether this is happening elsewhere, but over the last couple of weeks it's been taking 10-15 minutes on hold before getting a briefer at the Williamsport (PA) FSS.

Of course, maybe they know it's me and just don't want to talk to me...

 

[Anthony]

I don't know whether this is happening elsewhere, but over the last couple of weeks it's been taking 10-15 minutes on hold before getting a briefer at the Williamsport (PA) FSS.

Of course, maybe they know it's me and just don't want to talk to me...

Or maybe they know they're being replaced and some have left or don't care anymore. I've experienced the same thing Bob.

Or, could be they have it "out" for helo pilots.

 

[SkyHog]

Yeah, actually, I noticed the Albuquerque FSS is getting slower and slower too. My last flight yielded about 10 minutes on hold waiting for a briefer.

 

[azure]

One summer evening in 2002 I was a student pilot just returned from one of my solo XCs, on the phone to Lansing FSS to close my VFR flight plan, waiting for the briefer to come on. The minutes ticked by, 5, 10, 15... somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes I started thinking that at this rate they would start SAR before I got through so I gave up, went back out and after a quick pre-flight, fired up again and closed my flight plan in the air.

I don't know about PA, but in MI this isn't anything new, at least on those nice summer weekends when just about everyone is up flying.

Liz

 

[wsuffa]

And that IS the way it is at Leesburg.

Every time I've been up there since the ADIZ, I have waited no less than 15-20 minutes. It was 25 the last time.... One more reason to stay out of the ADIZ, even IFR.

 

[cherokeeflyboy]

I don't know whether this is happening elsewhere, but over the last couple of weeks it's been taking 10-15 minutes on hold before getting a briefer at the Williamsport (PA) FSS.

Of course, maybe they know it's me and just don't want to talk to
me...

Bob, when you dial 1800 wxbrief you are automatically switched to the FSS in your area. When things are busy at Williamsport, You can call MIV (or any other FSS)using the direct 800# I still often call the RDU AFSS in NC from NJ.
Because:
1) They actually understand my southern accent.
2) My Primary instructor is a specialists there and I get to chat w/ him (he works mids so there is time) on occasion
3) I still use the flying club's (that I was in when I lived in Raleigh) tail number for a brief and all the briefers know the # so at times I get a little more out of them.
4)Help keep the numbers of calls up. Seems that this did no good, because Lockheed Martin is taking it over in Oct,......................KD


MIV AFSS
[size=-1]866-225-7920[/size]
[size=-1]WILLIAMSPORT[/size] [size=-1]866-655-6434

For a complete listing see
http://www.alaska.faa.gov/fai/afss/AFSSphone.htm
[/size]

 

[poadeleted20]

Yeah -- I, too, have waited up to 15 minutes for Leesburg lately. OTOH, the new contract with LockMart guarantees no more than 20 seconds of wait time! How they gonna do that?

 

[cherokeeflyboy]

Yeah -- I, too, have waited up to 15 minutes for Leesburg lately. OTOH, the new contract with LockMart guarantees no more than 20 seconds of wait time! How they gonna do that?

"for english press 1.
for other press 2
for a briefer press 3
to close F/P press 4
etc. I believe that they would deem this a response.

BTW i applied to them for a flight service specialists position just to see what would happen!

 

[Gary Sortor]

Yeah -- I, too, have waited up to 15 minutes for Leesburg lately. OTOH, the new contract with LockMart guarantees no more than 20 seconds of wait time! How they gonna do that?

They just won't. It's a government contract and they'll agree to just about anything to get it, then not meet the outrageous specs.

 

[corjulo]

Bridgeport FSS is in the same bag. Very slow. But damn if their briefing aren't the best. Its like talking to an old commercial fisherman. Lots of "the model tell me this but I can tell you this is what's really going to happen" Boy I will miss that kind of local knowledge

 

[wsuffa]

They just won't. It's a government contract and they'll agree to just about anything to get it, then not meet the outrageous specs.

Well, it depends on the penalty clauses.

The cost of the FSS network is a barrier to entry for a competitor, so it would be much, much harder for the Guvmint to take it back and rebid.

My greatest fear on an outsourced ATC (aside from prohibitive user fees and a group of airlines that keeps GA "out") is that the barrier of rebuilding the system becomes so high that it will be nigh on impossible for the contract to be rebid. Once that kind of contract is let, the winner is virtually guaranteed a lifetime contract. The Feds will find it too expensive to take back, and competitors won't be willing to put up the $$billions in costs to develop the systems. That ensures that substandard performance will meet with minimal penalty. Simple economics.

 

[Gary Sortor]

Well, it depends on the penalty clauses.

The cost of the FSS network is a barrier to entry for a competitor, so it would be much, much harder for the Guvmint to take it back and rebid.

My greatest fear on an outsourced ATC (aside from prohibitive user fees and a group of airlines that keeps GA "out") is that the barrier of rebuilding the system becomes so high that it will be nigh on impossible for the contract to be rebid. Once that kind of contract is let, the winner is virtually guaranteed a lifetime contract. The Feds will find it too expensive to take back, and competitors won't be willing to put up the $$billions in costs to develop the systems. That ensures that substandard performance will meet with minimal penalty. Simple economics.

The guvmint can always waive some of the more onerous provisions in the contract (implicitly, if not explicitly) because they no longer feel the standards are realistic. For example, suppose it takes 5 minutes more than required to handle 10% of the calls. Are they really going to do anything about it? I seriously doubt it. Of course, there will be the never ending adjustment period to tweak the program and other maneuvers.

 

[Kaye]

And that IS the way it is at Leesburg.

Every time I've been up there since the ADIZ, I have waited no less than 15-20 minutes. It was 25 the last time.... One more reason to stay out of the ADIZ, even IFR.

Dont' get me started. Since I fly out of Leesburg, don't have much choice, but at least I can walk up to the counter........well, it used to work......

Couple of weeks ago, I walk up to the counter. Shift supervisor standing at the counter, looks up at me, says "some one will be with you in a minute" and walks over to his desk. He stands there looking around (might as well be scratching his butt), and another guy walks up to him and they start chatting. My fingers begin drumming on the counter, and the super looks at me and says "some one will be with you in a minute". The yakking continues. Third guy walks up to the group and the super asks him to take care of the counter. Can't do.....he's off the clock. So there I stand watching the 3 guys talk about whatever. Finally, the off-duty briefer strolls over and says he'll go ahead and help me......

......and you wonder why it's a 25 min wait on the phone

 

[grattonja]

I, too have noticed the horrendous delays at Williamsport FSS. Not just on sunny days either. The last time I had to file IFR, I finally filed a duats briefing while waiting for a live body. 20 minutes, and that was a day where central PA was mostly at 600 foot ceilings. Boloney they were busy! I think they know they are either going to be Lockheed Martin employees or unemployed in a few months and they don't give a rat's rump about us in the meantime.

Plus side, I finally learned how to plug in a DUATs filing. Negative side, can't do that for ADIZ VFR. Anyone know if you can file DUATs to get through the ADIZ, if you file IFR?

Jim G

 

[4CornerFlyer]

Re DUATS for the ADIZ:

Officially you cannot use DUATS to file a flight plan that includes ADIZ penetration. However, operationally, you can file an IFR flight plan with DUATS, and it will work. A VFR ADIZ plan via DUATS won't work (mainly because it is enetered into the ATC system as a quasi-IFR flight plan).

Jon