AFSS clearance delivery

In the back of the A/FD there are special phone numbers published to be
used for calling AFSS's to get an IFR clearance. I was completely
unaware of this until last Sunday, when I called for a void time leaving
Cross City, FL. The specialist said he'd be glad to help me, "...but
next time please call the clearance delivery number." According to him,
using this number skips you past the advisories and menus that you get
when you dial 1-800-WXBRIEF.

Somehow the existence of these numbers was missed in my training. I've
been calling the usual number for void times for five years, and this is
the first time a specialist has ever said anything. Did everyone know
this but me? If you use these numbers, what has the quality of service
been like for you?
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)

I got the same advice once too, taking off from Auburn, CA. I rarely
fly IFR out of untowered fields, as it happens, and I don't think I've
needed to do it since, so I can't comment on how well it works.

John

"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...
In the back of the A/FD there are special phone numbers published to be
used for calling AFSS's to get an IFR clearance. I was completely
unaware of this until last Sunday, when I called for a void time leaving
Cross City, FL. The specialist said he'd be glad to help me, "...but
next time please call the clearance delivery number." According to him,
using this number skips you past the advisories and menus that you get
when you dial 1-800-WXBRIEF.

Somehow the existence of these numbers was missed in my training. I've
been calling the usual number for void times for five years, and this is
the first time a specialist has ever said anything. Did everyone know
this but me? If you use these numbers, what has the quality of service
been like for you?
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)

"Dan Luke" wrote in message ...
In the back of the A/FD there are special phone numbers published to be
used for calling AFSS's to get an IFR clearance. I was completely
unaware of this until last Sunday, when I called for a void time leaving
Cross City, FL. The specialist said he'd be glad to help me, "...but
next time please call the clearance delivery number." According to him,
using this number skips you past the advisories and menus that you get
when you dial 1-800-WXBRIEF.

Somehow the existence of these numbers was missed in my training. I've
been calling the usual number for void times for five years, and this is
the first time a specialist has ever said anything. Did everyone know
this but me? If you use these numbers, what has the quality of service
been like for you?

I fly out of O61 near Sacramento (just under the approach path for a
major cargo airport with 747's and DC-9's coming and going all the
time). We use the number 1-800-752-7860 for "Sac Clearance".

"John Harper" wrote in message news:1075924212.164227@sj-nntpcache-3...
I got the same advice once too, taking off from Auburn, CA. I rarely
fly IFR out of untowered fields, as it happens, and I don't think I've
needed to do it since, so I can't comment on how well it works.

Must be a different Auburn, CA than the one near Sacramento. You can
go days there without being able to get out VFR. Then you're ok the
rest of the year. Its the same at Cameron Park. I've taken off out of
there with 2 strips visible at a time. You can go weeks without being
able to see one end of the runway from the other. Then you get 11
months of VFR. Auburn and Cameron Park were not VFR accessible for
almost a week at the begining of January this year. Auburn has a lot
less to hit than Cameron Park. I wouldn't recommend anyone land at O61
at night or take off in IMC without trying it in the day. Its down in
a bowl in the foothills.

-Robert

"Dan Luke" wrote in message ...
In the back of the A/FD there are special phone numbers published to be
used for calling AFSS's to get an IFR clearance. I was completely
unaware of this until last Sunday, when I called for a void time leaving
Cross City, FL. The specialist said he'd be glad to help me, "...but
next time please call the clearance delivery number." According to him,
using this number skips you past the advisories and menus that you get
when you dial 1-800-WXBRIEF.

Somehow the existence of these numbers was missed in my training. I've
been calling the usual number for void times for five years, and this is
the first time a specialist has ever said anything. Did everyone know
this but me? If you use these numbers, what has the quality of service
been like for you?

Well, I think it just depends upon where you train. Apparently
some FSS have special numbers and some don't, and occasionally the
number in the A/FD is not the one to use. We happen to fly most
often into non-towered fields with an FSS that has a special number,
so we both encountered this pretty early in training.

Service is fine, no complaints.

Anyway, when we're filing IFR from a non-towered field, as a habit
we just ask the briefer what number to call for a void-time clearance.

If you're using a cell phone to call for your clearance from the
end of the runway, chances are you can't use 1-800-WX-Brief anyway,
it may route you to your home FSS -- you have to look up the direct
number in AF/D or Cellular Pilot or wherever.

Cheers,
Sydney

"Snowbird" wrote:
Anyway, when we're filing IFR from a non-towered field,
as a habit we just ask the briefer what number to call for
a void-time clearance.

Good idea.

If you're using a cell phone ... you have to look up
the direct number in AF/D or Cellular Pilot or wherever.

Right. I keep a list on my clipboard.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)

There is another interesting problem with the local toll free numbers.

This summer I was trying to get my clearance at Sidney New York, N23,
using a toll free number for Buffalo Clearance Delivery posted at the FBO.
The message I got was that this toll free numbers would not accept
calls from my area code. My phone is from south east Ohio.
Calling 800-WX-Brief would have gotten me Dayton FSS. I ended up
using a pay phone at the airport.

This wasn't a major problem, but could have been under other circumstances.
I assume, but don't know, that Dayton FSS could have helped me if that
was my only alternative. The weather prevented calling in the air.

Alan


"Snowbird" wrote in message om...
"Dan Luke" wrote in message ...
In the back of the A/FD there are special phone numbers published to be
used for calling AFSS's to get an IFR clearance. I was completely
unaware of this until last Sunday, when I called for a void time leaving
Cross City, FL. The specialist said he'd be glad to help me, "...but
next time please call the clearance delivery number." According to him,
using this number skips you past the advisories and menus that you get
when you dial 1-800-WXBRIEF.

Somehow the existence of these numbers was missed in my training. I've
been calling the usual number for void times for five years, and this is
the first time a specialist has ever said anything. Did everyone know
this but me? If you use these numbers, what has the quality of service
been like for you?

Well, I think it just depends upon where you train. Apparently
some FSS have special numbers and some don't, and occasionally the
number in the A/FD is not the one to use. We happen to fly most
often into non-towered fields with an FSS that has a special number,
so we both encountered this pretty early in training.

Service is fine, no complaints.

Anyway, when we're filing IFR from a non-towered field, as a habit
we just ask the briefer what number to call for a void-time clearance.

If you're using a cell phone to call for your clearance from the
end of the runway, chances are you can't use 1-800-WX-Brief anyway,
it may route you to your home FSS -- you have to look up the direct
number in AF/D or Cellular Pilot or wherever.

Cheers,
Sydney

(Snowbird) wrote in message . com...
"Dan Luke" wrote in message ...
If you're using a cell phone to call for your clearance from the
end of the runway, chances are you can't use 1-800-WX-Brief anyway,
it may route you to your home FSS -- you have to look up the direct
number in AF/D or Cellular Pilot or wherever.

If you do call WX-BRIEF they'll just give you the correct number.
That's what I'll usually do. Someday Jepp will have the numbers but
until then, its easier. Last summer I landed at Tucsan to clear
customs. The customs guy wouldn't come out (and I had to stay in my
plane). So I called WX-BRIEF and got the AFSS in Sacramento! They
seemed pretty confused. I just wanted to find out what number I could
call to get the guy to come out. I had touched down with 30 seconds of
my ADVCUS time so he really didn't have any excuses. Turned out he was
watching a baseball game and said he forgot about me.

-Robert