scottd
Pre-takeoff checklist
....................
...................
...................
Last edited:
I have to say, after some start-up issues, I have been pretty satisfied with LM service. Perhaps it's because so many pilots got frustrated and never came back but response time and quality of information has been very good lately.
So after 5 years we are basically back to the service we had?After the initial headaches (which for which the FAA and LM get equal blame - it's hard to do good work when the contract is awful) I've had good experiences. The "new" project managers that both sides brought in deserve a lot of the credit for the turnaround.
Hmm, maybe we can put you and Scott in the same room and see if the mutual annihalation destroys the universe.B)We call FSS before nearly every flight, simply because we're surrounded by lots of military airspace, and you never know where Obama's going to pop up next.
I have to say that (after a difficult start, back in '05) we are now 100% satisfied with their service. They answer nearly immediately. Unlike the "good old days", the disinterested guy with the monotone voice has been replaced by a surprisingly bright, upbeat and engaging person who displays a refreshing interest in the successful completion of your flight.
Not surprising, since L-M gave preferential hiring to Private Pilots, under the (correct) assumption that "it takes one to know one". Smart.
If anything, they are too thorough. I've often had to cut the briefer short, as he/she waxed poetic about the "unlit tower 12 n.m. from the Morgan VOR on the 243 radial" -- information that only the most anal of avgeeks would give a rat's patootie about on a VFR flight. But I'm always glad they're willing to share every, last detail with me, if needed.
It has once again been proven that the private sector can do things better/faster/cheaper than government. No surprise there, but we apparently have to relearn this from time to time. So long as this wasn't a precursor to "user's fee" (which, I'm afraid it was), privatization of FSS has been a true enhancing of services to pilots.
Hmm, maybe we can put you and Scott in the same room and see if the mutual annihalation destroys the universe.B)
One thing I don't get is why would they tell you about every tower that is 200 AGL with a light out? If I'm flying at 200 ft that far from the airport at night, I have bigger problems!
They usually ask me whether I want the unlit towers. I tell them to read me only the ones that are over 500 AGL or within 2 miles of the field. When the tower coordinates are relative to the field I'm departing from or landing at that's easy, sometimes they're relative to another airport and then we go back and forth. But giving guidelines streamlines the list a fair amount.One thing I don't get is why would they tell you about every tower that is 200 AGL with a light out? If I'm flying at 200 ft that far from the airport at night, I have bigger problems!
Like this?
How surprising. Now that all of the infrastructure goes through Lockheed-Martin they get the next contract run. Really?