Standard Weather Briefing efficiency

[Ben Hallert]

Hi guys,

Got a strange question for you. When I flew in Los Angeles, I'd call
800-WX-BRIEF, get connected to the local FSS and the call would go like
this.

Him: "Hawthorne flight service."
Me: "I'd like a standard weather briefing."
Him: "Go ahead."
At this point, I'd just list off all the data. Tail number, aircraft
type, departure airport, waypoint, destination, estimated time enroute,
altitudes, and time of departure. Then the briefer would start the
briefing.

Here in Oregon, I call the FSS and make the same request, and it seems
like every time, the briefer wants to do a question/answer session.
Eg:
Me: "I'd like a standard weather briefing."
Him: "Ok. What's your tail number?"
Me: (tail number)
Him: "Alright, aircraft type?"
Me: (aircraft type)
Him: "Where are you flying from today?"
.....and so on.

It's not a big deal, but I like hitting them with the standard format
and getting my briefing, and at the same time, I don't want to be rude.


Is there some better way I can ask for the briefing that'll let me do
it the way I used to without sounding like a prick? Or do I just need
to adapt to a more laid back style and go with it? If there's a code
phrase or methodology I can use, I'm all ears. If not, no worries I
guess.

Thanks!

[William W. Plummer]

Ben Hallert wrote:

> Hi guys,
>
> Got a strange question for you. When I flew in Los Angeles, I'd call
> 800-WX-BRIEF, get connected to the local FSS and the call would go like
> this.
>
> Him: "Hawthorne flight service."
> Me: "I'd like a standard weather briefing."
> Him: "Go ahead."
> At this point, I'd just list off all the data. Tail number, aircraft
> type, departure airport, waypoint, destination, estimated time enroute,
> altitudes, and time of departure. Then the briefer would start the
> briefing.
>
> Here in Oregon, I call the FSS and make the same request, and it seems
> like every time, the briefer wants to do a question/answer session.
> Eg:
> Me: "I'd like a standard weather briefing."
> Him: "Ok. What's your tail number?"
> Me: (tail number)
> Him: "Alright, aircraft type?"
> Me: (aircraft type)
> Him: "Where are you flying from today?"
> ....and so on.
>
> It's not a big deal, but I like hitting them with the standard format
> and getting my briefing, and at the same time, I don't want to be rude.
>
>
> Is there some better way I can ask for the briefing that'll let me do
> it the way I used to without sounding like a prick? Or do I just need
> to adapt to a more laid back style and go with it? If there's a code
> phrase or methodology I can use, I'm all ears. If not, no worries I
> guess.

I just came across this while viewing the King "IFR with Confidence"
tape. King suggests calling up and saying, "I'm going to file a flight
plan and then I'd like a standard briefing." This alerts the briefer
to keep the info on his screen for reuse in setting up the briefing.

[Brian Whatcott]

On 21 May 2005 14:08:11 -0700, "Ben Hallert" >
wrote:

>Hi guys,
>
>Got a strange question for you. When I flew in Los Angeles, I'd call
>800-WX-BRIEF, get connected to the local FSS and the call would go like
>this.
>
>Him: "Hawthorne flight service."
>Me: "I'd like a standard weather briefing."
>Him: "Go ahead."
>At this point, I'd just list off all the data. Tail number, aircraft
>type, departure airport, waypoint, destination, estimated time enroute,
>altitudes, and time of departure. Then the briefer would start the
>briefing.
>
>Here in Oregon, I call the FSS and make the same request, and it seems
>like every time, the briefer wants to do a question/answer session.
>Eg:
>Me: "I'd like a standard weather briefing."
>Him: "Ok. What's your tail number?"
>Me: (tail number)
>Him: "Alright, aircraft type?"
>Me: (aircraft type)
>Him: "Where are you flying from today?"
>....and so on.
>
>It's not a big deal, but I like hitting them with the standard format
>and getting my briefing, and at the same time, I don't want to be rude.
>
>
>Is there some better way I can ask for the briefing that'll let me do
>it the way I used to without sounding like a prick? Or do I just need
>to adapt to a more laid back style and go with it? If there's a code
>phrase or methodology I can use, I'm all ears. If not, no worries I
>guess.
>
>Thanks!

The Oregon FSS is being more supportive of pilots with less frequent
calling needs.
You could say something like this,
" I'd like a standard weather briefing, and I can give you all the
details in one shot, if you wish".
At least, give it a try.

Brian Whatcott Altus, OK

[Ben Hallert]

Thanks, I'll try that!

[C. J. Clegg]

On 21 May 2005 14:08:11 -0700, "Ben Hallert" >
wrote:

>It's not a big deal, but I like hitting them with the standard format
>and getting my briefing, and at the same time, I don't want to be rude.
>
>
>Is there some better way I can ask for the briefing that'll let me do
>it the way I used to without sounding like a prick?

Good morning, Ben.

If I'm going to file a flight plan with the briefer, in my
introduction I'll say something like...

"This is N12345 at Podunk International, I have a flight plan for you
and then I'd like a standard briefing, please."

If I'm not going to file a flight plan, or if I filed it on DUATS,
I'll say something like...

"This is N12345 at Podunk International, VFR from Podunk to East
Nowhere at 7500 feet, departing 1600 Zulu, request a standard briefing
please."

Either of those seems to work well wherever I tried it.

CJ

[Ben Hallert]

So if I start my call with the info straight out, they should be ready?
I'll try that too.

[C. J. Clegg]

On 22 May 2005 07:58:00 -0700, "Ben Hallert" >
wrote:

>So if I start my call with the info straight out, they should be ready?

Yes, they really should. They know they're going to have to write
something down 99.9 percent of the time, so they really should have
pen in hand when they answer the line.

[Ben Hallert]

So, I tried it today. I called up, then asked for a standard briefing
and started giving the briefer the spiel. The guy actually interrupts
me a couple sentences in and asks incredulously if I'm getting a
briefing or filing a flight plan. When I tell him it's a briefing, he
takes a firm grasp of the call and converts it back to the
question/answer format.

Well, I'll try the great experiment again next time. These McMinnville
FSS guys seem, based on my super limited sample size, pretty committed
to that format.

[Ron Rosenfeld]

On 21 May 2005 14:08:11 -0700, "Ben Hallert" > wrote:

>Hi guys,
>
>Got a strange question for you. When I flew in Los Angeles, I'd call
>800-WX-BRIEF, get connected to the local FSS and the call would go like
>this.
>
>Him: "Hawthorne flight service."
>Me: "I'd like a standard weather briefing."
>Him: "Go ahead."
>At this point, I'd just list off all the data. Tail number, aircraft
>type, departure airport, waypoint, destination, estimated time enroute,
>altitudes, and time of departure. Then the briefer would start the
>briefing.
>
>Here in Oregon, I call the FSS and make the same request, and it seems
>like every time, the briefer wants to do a question/answer session.
>Eg:
>Me: "I'd like a standard weather briefing."
>Him: "Ok. What's your tail number?"
>Me: (tail number)
>Him: "Alright, aircraft type?"
>Me: (aircraft type)
>Him: "Where are you flying from today?"
>....and so on.
>
>It's not a big deal, but I like hitting them with the standard format
>and getting my briefing, and at the same time, I don't want to be rude.
>
>
>Is there some better way I can ask for the briefing that'll let me do
>it the way I used to without sounding like a prick? Or do I just need
>to adapt to a more laid back style and go with it? If there's a code
>phrase or methodology I can use, I'm all ears. If not, no worries I
>guess.
>
>Thanks!

At multiple FSS, I've never had any trouble with giving all the information
at the first contact:

FSS: Bangor FSS

Me: Good morning. N5843Q, a Mooney, I'd like weather for a flight from
ORIGIN to DESTINATION (with the identifiers if obscure); departing at
DEPARTURE TIME @ 8000'; we can go IFR.

or something similar.




Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)