Flightwatch not available - now a reality

[JackoSchitt]

Reviewing the current NOTAMS, as one does, and I see this gem...

ATS C3541/07
ON-REQUEST FLIGHT INFORMATION (FIS), SARTIME AND EMERGENCY
ALERTING SERVICES NORMALLY PROVIDED BY FLIGHTWATCH ON DISCRETE VHF
FREQUENCIES ARE NOT AVBL
DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGE.

SERVICES AFFECTED:
ON-REQUEST FLIGHT INFORMATION (FIS), SARTIME AND EMERGENCY ALERTING
SERVICES PROVIDED BY FLIGHTWATCH ON DISCRETE VHF FREQUENCIES

118.4 ARGYLE
118.95 MANINGRIDA
119.4 BUNDABERG AND TOWNSVILLE
120.1 GOVE
120.15 TINDAL
120.7 PERTH
121.1 SYDNEY
121.3 WESTERN VICTORIA
121.6 PORT MACQUARIE, WILLIAMTOWN AND SCONE AREAS
122.1 ARMIDALE, GLEN INNES AND COFFS HARBOUR AREAS
122.3 DARWIN
124.0 WALGETT, MOREE, COOLAH AND CAIRNS AREA
124.1 ALICE SPRINGS AND MOUNT ISA AREAS
124.15 PORT HEDLAND
124.95 CENTRAL VICTORIA AND THURSDAY ISLAND AREAS
128.15 NORTHERN NSW AREA
128.2 WHITSUNDAY ISLAND AREA
128.55 MILDURA
128.75 MAROOCHYDORE/BRISBANE AREAS
133.45 ROCKHAMPTON/GLADSTONE AREAS
133.95 ADELAIDE AREA
134.85 MUDGEE AREA
134.9 WHYALLA AREA
135.05 SOUTHERN NSW
135.6 EASTERN VICTORIA
135.75 ADELAIDE

ON-REQUEST FLIGHT INFORMATION (FIS), SARTIME AND EMERG ALERTING
SERVICES AVAILABLE ON ATC FIA FREQUENCIES OR HF (REFER ERSA FAC-B
BRISBANE ACC/FIC AND FAC-M MELBOURNE ACC/FIC).
FROM 08 192200 TO 08 240100 EST
DAILY 2200/0100

Interesting times for all ahead me thinks...

[Dog One]

Does this mean all of Northern Australia will not have Flightwatch available? Will Centre cover the areas whilst Flightwatch is unavailable? Will Airservices Australia refund the enroute charges for those operators affected?

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

Has Flightwatch EVER been available on VHF?

I have never managed to raise them!

Dr :cool:

[JackoSchitt]

Doggie,

The standalone Flightwatch service provided on the frequencies nominated in the NOTAM (ERSA lists them as "FIS Flightwatch") will be not available across the entire country - that is; the *whole* lot of 'em.

The existing mechanisms of getting FIS from ATC on FIA VHF frequencies or HF is still available.

The ATC FIA frequencies are listed in ERSA FAC-B "Brisbane ACC/FIC" and FAC-M "Melbourne ACC/FIC" as either "ACC/FIA" or simply "FIA".

[JackoSchitt]

FTD,

Yes.

[Chimbu chuckles]

FTDK I did...once...in SE Victoria.:ok:

Looks like that'll be it though...vale VFR flight following.:sad:

[OZBUSDRIVER]

Chuck, I think Flight Following is only available from ATC on work permitting basis.

That list is the entire network. Why not just say so in the first place?

[Chadzat]

Am I reading the times in the NOTAM correctly? Why have they put it in Eastern Standard Time and not UTC.

So according to the NOTAM no VHF flight watch between 10pm and 1am EST?

[CaptainMidnight]

"EST" after the end time in a NOTAM means "estimated", not eastern standard time ........

Meaning the UTC DTG given may be extended. No "EST" means the NOTAM will self-expire at the given end time.

On-request FIS services will be available on ATC frequencies, so it's not the end of the world.

[Bullethead]

Captain Midnight you are correct,.
Edited as I was wrong. :rolleyes:

[Spodman]

Chuck, I think Flight Following is only available from ATC on work permitting basis.
No, just the other stuff has priority. RIS we can decline due workload, but FIS must be provided, just at less priority than avoiding welding aircraft together.

[44WING]

Commerically experienced management trying to run a service industry. The standard user-pays joke of failure to sustain and provide infrastructure and service provision. So what did you expect.