By Howard Deevers
Why do some new Private Pilots, even new Instrument Pilots, not talk to Flight Service?
Those of us that have been flying long enough can remember when Flight Service Stations were located at many large and small airports all over the country. You could walk right in, go up to a counter and meet a Flight Service Specialist right across from you. Just tell them where you were going, about what time, what kind of plane you were flying, the “N” number, and how many people on board. They had copies of those small FAA Flight Plan Forms right on the counter. Just fill out that form and hand it to the briefer, and he would type it into a computer.
Then you would get a weather briefing, complete with weather charts on his computer. The briefer would explain what all of those symbols mean and how the weather would affect your planned flight. And, you could find those Flight Plan Forms in the flight planning rooms of just about every FBO where you stopped for fuel.
Things have changed. The old “face to face” experience is almost a thing of the past for so many of our experiences: banking, grocery shopping, and more... and of course, FSS contacts. Yes, I do know that you can do online banking, and self-checkout at stores, and you can file your Flight Plan online.
It may have changed, but you can still talk to a Flight Service Briefer on the phone, and you can get personal weather information that you would not get on your computer or iPad. If you do look at your weather information on your devices and are still wondering if that planned flight is a good idea or not, call Flight Service. Be sure to tell the briefer what information you already have, and they can help you “fill in the blanks” on the things you really need to know for that flight.
It is not all negative information. There are times that a briefer can help you make a decision to simply delay your departure for an hour, if things will be better. On one of my cross-country flights, I knew that there were thunderstorms to the west of my position in New Mexico. Going due west after takeoff would have sent me right into those storms. My conversation with the briefer really helped. He said fly straight south for 20 miles before turning to the west and you will avoid all of those storms. Not only did I avoid the storms, but I was also able to stay VFR on my route back to Tucson all the way. I can file IFR, but with embedded thunderstorms, I prefer to stay VFR as much as possible, and it is much less of a workload for me and for the controllers.
On another cross-country flight in Pennsylvania, I had a great briefing from FSS and filed a VFR flight plan. The briefer had told me that a cold front was moving across Pennsylvania from west to east, and that I would likely encounter it about mid-way across the State. He was right on! At Bedford, PA, looking west all I could see was black clouds from the ground up. I landed at Bedford just before the very heavy raid started, and called FSS to let them know where I was and close my VFR flight plan. The Briefer said to just wait there about an hour and then I could continue to Pittsburgh VFR. He was right again. The front passed, and VFR conditions allowed me to make it home that evening. Of course, that was a long time before iPads or GPS, but I still would not have wanted to fly into those conditions.
Before you do talk to Flight Service, do your “homework.” Have a flight plan already made up from your departure airport to your destination. If you are planning a long cross-country, and will need to make fuel stops, be sure to let the briefer know that also. Have your navigation fixes already planned. If using VOR navigation have all of the VOR identifiers ready. If you can go GPS direct, let them know that also. Planned departure time, time in route, and the destination are important information that helps the briefer give you the information you need.
Start by introducing yourself with your name and your aircraft N number. Many of us have already set up an “account” on FSS, and the briefer can look at your account and get some of the information that he needs in order to give you a good briefing from that account. If you have not set up an account yet, call 1-800-WXBRIEF and a briefer will help you set up your own personal account.
Be prepared to write down the information as they give it to you. I have made up my own “shorthand” way to taking notes. Some of that information may come faster than you can write, but you can ask them to repeat any critical information that you need.
If you are planning a flight for the next day and just need an OUTLOOK on the weather, request an “Outlook” briefing. Usually, you are not planning to file a flight plan at that moment but just want to know more about the weather for the flight you are planning. You can file a VFR or an IFR flight plan up to 24 hours in advance.
If you are planning to depart in the next hour or the next few hours, request a STANDARD briefing. This will include a lot of information, so be prepared to write down the important features of the briefing. NOTAMS will be included unless you already have them, which is another good reason to do your homework.
And there is the ABBREVIATED briefing if you just want the latest information before departing on that long cross-country trip. Just let the briefer know that you already did get a Standard briefing, and only need the abbreviated update at this time.
There is no way to document this, but I am sure that FSS Briefers have saved many lives by talking plots out of making a flight into adverse conditions. They cannot tell you NOT to go, but they can give you all of the reasons why you should make the decision to not go. I respect that.
Want to learn more? Come to an ARIZONA PILOTS ASSOCIATION Safety seminar at a location near you. They are free and do count for the WINGS program. Don't forget to “Bring your wingman!”