Flight Service Station Conversation (US)

[drauk]

This (http://www.naats.org/docs/flightassist.mp3) is an interesting (and chilling) recording of the conversations surrounding a call to a Flight Service Station in the US. It was released because the FAA are planning to sell off this service to the private sector.

[Aussie Andy]

Absolutely fascinating to hear what goes on that isn't heard by the us on the frequency (the coordination with "centre")... certainly reinforces the need for good ATC.

But sadly how they are funded / who they are employed by (whether govt or private) may not necessarily impact on how good the service is that is provided, and thus I imaigine that the funding argument may not be impacted by this illustration of the importance of the service (unless the argument is to have no service?)

Andy

[drauk]

You're right Andy - I don't see how showing that those guys do a good job actually proves anything in terms of why they should remain employed by the state or not. But the whole thing was very interesting to listen to nonetheless - an amazing view of an incredible situation.

[ratsarrse]

That pilot certainly wasn't sticking to standard phraseology there was he! It must be gut-wrenching to be sitting on the other end of the radio and receiving a mayday call like that. The pilot is in IMC, has lost control of the aircraft and is panicking and all you can do is talk calmly and hope that he gets it together. Very well handled though, especially as it is a FSS - aren't they normally for weather briefing and flight planning etc?

[FlyingForFun]

For those of us at work, who can't download this "inappropriate media", can someone please give us a summary?

Thanks!

FFF
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[Julian]

Hi FFF

Briefly, 3 audio clips in the clip. First, a VFR rated pilot flies into IMC and loses his awareness of where he is. Whilst on the radio he reports the aircraft starting to roll and sounds like he ends up in a spin which he is told how to recover from. Throughout there a lot of screaming from the pilot (I am not surprised!), but the FSS is amazing calm and deals with it very professionally, the pilot survives.

Second part is the co-ordination between to two centre on handover between them and how they are going to deal with him.

Final audio clip is the same pilot calling for a weather briefing, I know you have flown in US so you will be familiar with these. The weather briefer ask him how he got into the situation and what happened.


I am not sure how they are intending to sell off but one way I could see it affected is if it is broken up with each FSS becoming a seperate business. Unless set up properly you could find things which were usually done as a matter of course now costing a fortune and involving masses of paperwork. Also when an incident occurs seperate businesses start thinking about money and @rse covering rather than the matter in hand. I have seen it happen in my own industry but I hope it wont happen in this case.

[FlyingForFun]

Thanks for that, Julian. One thing I am permanently amazed by is the professionalism of ATCers in an emergency situation.

I doubt that privatising the service would change much. UK ATC is privatised, and I don't think our controllers are any less professional than our American friends. The fragmentation would make very little difference. On a flight from Phoenix to Las Vegas, I had to make an un-planned stop at an airfield in eastern California. Once on the ground, I phoned the local FSS to update my flight-plan. But because they didn't cover my departure or destination airfield, they had no knowledge of my flight, and it took a little effort and a few phone calls on their part to get it all sorted out. So I think things are actually quite fragmented already, but it doesn't stop them providing a superb service.

FFF
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[RomeoTangoFoxtrotMike]

FFF

I can cut a cd and bring it along to the PF Bash if you or anyone else is interested....

[FlyingForFun]

Thanks, RTFM - but not necessary. I can listen to it from my home PC tonight. I'm just too impatient! :D

FFF
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[david viewing]

Thanks to drauk for posting this.

I also believe that our UK ATC would provide at least as good a service during the actual emergency as these chaps.

What is different, and relevant to the US privatisation plans, is our complete lack of access to a pre-flight briefer in the UK. The best way to avoid situations like this one is adequate pre flight planning and this is made incomparably simpler and safer in the US through the 1-800-WX-BRIEF service which puts the pilot directly in touch with a specialist who can advise on weather, Notams and other matters. The specialist can also file a flight plan during the briefing, encouraging the use of VFR plans.

Some of the services proposed for privatisation in the US would be moved to the Internet and I have been able to get a letter (http://www.avweb.com/news/avmail/181728-1.html) published in the US aviation press regarding our sometimes very poor experiences in the UK in this area.

I'm not sure FSS is 'inherantly governmental', but it is clear that private business bidding to take over the service would have to demonstrate significant cost savings. Sadly, the ideal area for this is to transfer the personal briefings to some nieve Internet automation because the true cost, in terms of putting it all right again, does not become apparent until later.

[FWA NATCA]

Drauk,

President Bush and the FAA Administrator are trying to get the US Congress and Senate to allow them to contract out (to the lowest bidder) the Air Traffic System here in the United States.

NATCA, PASS, NATS, and various pilot organizations are working hard to lobby our elected representatives to prevent the sell off of the US air traffic control system, so far we have won a few major battles, but the war isn't over.

Once we get the NATCAnet web site ( http://www.natca.org )back up (about another week) you will be able to read about NATCA's efforts to prevent the sell of of the air traffic system.

Mike
NATCA FWA