OK...What's up with the Flight Service Stations... ?

Lately (3-6 months) I have found them to be grumpy and very unhelpful. They
come across as condescending and expect you to take what drool they deliver
without question or review and be thankful.....please don't even think of
asking a clarifying question or get momentarily senile.

I used to feel that we needed to preserve their jobs and service, but lately
I like the online briefing better because it seems to lack the attitude of
the bureaucracy. I have even gone so far as to remember the names of the
nice briefers and ask for them by name.

Anyone else have these "issues", or am I flying solo on this?

Stuart
ASEL IA EIEIO

"Stuart King" wrote:
> OK...What's up with the Flight Service Stations... ?
>
> Lately (3-6 months) I have found them to be grumpy and very unhelpful.

They seem the same as always to me - every attitude from surly and
sarcastic to chatty and helpful. I can't say I've noticed any change
lately.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

On 2004-01-01 17:52:54 -0800, "Stuart King"
> said:

> Lately (3-6 months) I have found them to be grumpy and very unhelpful.
> Anyone else have these "issues", or am I flying solo on this?

My experiences with various FSS locations run the gamut from helpful and
friendly to downright surly.

--
Larry Fransson
Seattle, WA

"Stuart King" > wrote in message r.com...
> OK...What's up with the Flight Service Stations... ?
>
> Lately (3-6 months) I have found them to be grumpy and very unhelpful. They
> come across as condescending and expect you to take what drool they deliver
> without question or review and be thankful.....please don't even think of
> asking a clarifying question or get momentarily senile.
>
> I used to feel that we needed to preserve their jobs and service, but lately
> I like the online briefing better because it seems to lack the attitude of
> the bureaucracy. I have even gone so far as to remember the names of the
> nice briefers and ask for them by name.
>
> Anyone else have these "issues", or am I flying solo on this?
>
> Stuart
> ASEL IA EIEIO
>
>

No change. Never particularly found an unhelpful fss tho.

I work with government employees on a daily basis and this seems to be on
par with what I've experienced. There are some good people who want to be
there and some who wait for their next week's paycheck right after they cash
the previous week's.

Maybe your local FSS has for some reason an abundance of the latter type. Or
maybe those people just happen to be working most of the times you choose to
call.

Marco

"Stuart King" > wrote in message
r.com...
> OK...What's up with the Flight Service Stations... ?
>
> Lately (3-6 months) I have found them to be grumpy and very unhelpful.
They
> come across as condescending and expect you to take what drool they
deliver
> without question or review and be thankful.....please don't even think of
> asking a clarifying question or get momentarily senile.
>
> I used to feel that we needed to preserve their jobs and service, but
lately
> I like the online briefing better because it seems to lack the attitude of
> the bureaucracy. I have even gone so far as to remember the names of the
> nice briefers and ask for them by name.
>
> Anyone else have these "issues", or am I flying solo on this?
>
> Stuart
> ASEL IA EIEIO
>
>



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My only complaint is that they tend to be overly cautious, otherwise thay
have always been pleasant and helpfull
"Stuart King" > wrote in message
r.com...
> OK...What's up with the Flight Service Stations... ?
>
> Lately (3-6 months) I have found them to be grumpy and very unhelpful.
They
> come across as condescending and expect you to take what drool they
deliver
> without question or review and be thankful.....please don't even think of
> asking a clarifying question or get momentarily senile.
>
> I used to feel that we needed to preserve their jobs and service, but
lately
> I like the online briefing better because it seems to lack the attitude of
> the bureaucracy. I have even gone so far as to remember the names of the
> nice briefers and ask for them by name.
>
> Anyone else have these "issues", or am I flying solo on this?
>
> Stuart
> ASEL IA EIEIO
>
>

"Stuart King" > wrote in message
r.com...
> OK...What's up with the Flight Service Stations... ?
>
> Lately (3-6 months) I have found them to be grumpy and very unhelpful.
They
> come across as condescending and expect you to take what drool they
deliver
> without question or review and be thankful.....please don't even think of

You need to move to an airport serviced by Riverside (CA) Radio. I
dunno, maybe its the workload.

> My only complaint is that they tend to be overly cautious, otherwise thay
> have always been pleasant and helpfull

I had a good one like that the other night. I was running befroe the storm that is
presently dropping snow on Portland. Now this was bad planning, I know, but
I didn't consider the amazing norward winds while coming down to Redding. Those
things were moving so fast that the last part of the Redding leg was done in the 60-70kt
range (a 172 !). As a result I was making the last leg to San Jose in the dark with
the controller calling IFR fields all over the Sacremento valley. I was not IFR, and didn't
want to go IFR that night, my skills were just too rusty. Anyways, asked the controller
for information about if I was going to encounter IFR along that route, with the option
to return to Redding.. They said ground fog. But you know the feeling. You are flying
along, its pitch black moonless and the ground disappears. Suddenly you are left
only with stars, and those not all that clear either due to poor visibility.
Listening to Travis on one radio, got FSS on the other. What are the conditions at
destination ? Guy gave me the report, then went into the weather along my route, which
I politely let him finish, even though the controller had given me that (hey double check
is good). Anyways, he finished with the obligitory "VFR flight not recommended".
Then followed a pregnant pause where you could just hear the man think "and what
the hell do you think you are doing out there ?". I suppose if he had asked, I would have
told him I was 4,000 above the crud with several other clear areas in sight.