On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 10:41:55 -0700, Peter Duniho wrote:

"Matthew P. Cummings" wrote in message
news
I believe a pilot who does not get a briefing before flying is asking for
trouble and they need to be weeded out.

You are confusing getting a complete preflight briefing with using flight
planning software. I do the former without doing the latter, and I take
offense at your claim that I need to be "weeded out".

Read what I wrote, nowhere did I say you need to be weeded out. I don't
know how you got that absurd idea into your head but I didn't say it and
if you read my post you'll see I didn't even imply it.

Now, you apparently are not familiar with good flight planning software
because it allows you to get a complete briefing from FSS. I call FSS in
addition because I want my voice on tape getting a briefing just in case.

What I am trying to get across is that software allows a pilot to get a
complete briefing including graphic maps of weather and other items
related to flight faster and more accurately than calling FSS. I've even
had to remind the local FSS of a notam they forgot to include, when I'd
ask them what about x they'd know that I already had a briefing and
usually said so. I've never had to remind my software about a notam that
was missing in the briefing. The local FSS is good at interpreting things
for you, but they miss things where the software doesn't.

Not to mention that on a long cross country the local FSS will tell you to
call the other FSS for information there, they don't provide things beyond
their own area, the computer software does it all at once so it's faster.

That's all I'm saying, it's useful and accurate. Pilots should take
advantage of it. If you can't that's fine, but if you can you should
because it's more likely to keep you out of trouble than a phone call
would. FSS is not always on top of notams, even when they're in the
system.

Read this, I know you said you call FSS for a briefing, I'm not saying you
are dangerous. I am saying pilots that don't, or won't, those are the
ones who cause trouble. Software just makes it painless.

I hope you realize I am cautious in my flying, I do everything in my power
to insure a great flight. I plan it all, and nothing makes me more
pleased than seeing a hand done plan come out on time and on course. I
also enjoy VFR flying, using pilotage and DED Reckoning are just plain
fun, but software is another tool in your bag of tricks.