who uses FSS?

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:
He probably can, but why can't you use those resources? The first thing the
FSS specialist would have to do is figure out where 4F2 is, information you
should already have if you just completed a trip there. Then he'd have to
look up the field in the A/FD and determine what FSS to call, something you
should already know since you recently planned a trip there.

The way the system should work, is he types in your callsign and hits
the "cancel IFR" button. Should work from any terminal anywhere in the
world. But, I guess given that we're all flying airplanes with 1950's
technology, it's only fair that FSS is using 1950's technology too.

"Craig Prouse" wrote in message
...
Your flight plan has been forwarded to the FSS that serves your
destination.

I would expect as much for a VFR flight plan (SAR), but not for IFR, as was
the case for the poster of this thread.

"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...

The way the system should work, is he types in your callsign and hits
the "cancel IFR" button. Should work from any terminal anywhere in the
world. But, I guess given that we're all flying airplanes with 1950's
technology, it's only fair that FSS is using 1950's technology too.


That would appear to give a lot of people the ability to cancel an IFR
flight plan. Is that a good idea?

In article t,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...

The way the system should work, is he types in your callsign and hits
the "cancel IFR" button. Should work from any terminal anywhere in the
world. But, I guess given that we're all flying airplanes with 1950's
technology, it's only fair that FSS is using 1950's technology too.


That would appear to give a lot of people the ability to cancel an IFR
flight plan. Is that a good idea?



A lot of people have the ability to cancel an IFR flight plan right now.
All I need do is call an FSS on the phone and say, "This is N12345, on
the ground at XYZ, cancel IFR" and nobody asks me to prove that I am who
I say I am. For that matter, I can stand on the ramp with a handheld
and pull the same stunt via radio.

But, in any case, I was talking about a terminal connected to the ATC
system. There is just no good reason (other than continued use of
archaic technology) why a FSS guy in Bridgeport shouldn't be able to
close an IFR flight plan for somebody who just landed at a field in
Texas and is calling in on his Connecticut-based cellphone.

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:

Do you think someone else should bear the burden of cancelling your IFR
clearance?

No.

Why can't the FS Specialist use the same resources I would have to use to
figure it out?



He probably can, but why can't you use those resources?

I can.

"Chip Jones" wrote in
k.net:
Why can't the FS Specialist use the same resources I would have to
use to figure it out?

He can and he will.

Actually, in this case it was "He would, but he couldn't."

I am very familiar with how this all works. I was also drowning in the
rain and the WX-BRIEF number was what I had handy. I have used this
before, from half-way across the country. I have never had any trouble
with them simply forwarding the closure.

This guy was unable to do so because he could find no record of a big chunk
of Texas existing. He couldn't find either airport. He couldn't find what
sector to call. He claimed that his records showed that neither airport
designator existed. [He did speculate that he might be having "equipment
problems."]

-----------------------------------------------
James M. Knox
TriSoft ph 512-385-0316
1109-A Shady Lane fax 512-366-4331
Austin, Tx 78721
-----------------------------------------------

James M. Knox wrote:
"Chip Jones" wrote in
k.net:

Why can't the FS Specialist use the same resources I would have to
use to figure it out?

He can and he will.


Actually, in this case it was "He would, but he couldn't."

I am very familiar with how this all works. I was also drowning in the
rain and the WX-BRIEF number was what I had handy. I have used this
before, from half-way across the country. I have never had any trouble
with them simply forwarding the closure.

The fact that FSS maintains a single 800 number for use countrywide leads to the
expectation that we are dealing with a monolithic FSS. I would guess that was
the image somebody wanted to project when they decided to provide a single
access number. That is, of course, the way it "should" work, anyway.

Remove SHIRT to reply directly.

Dave

"James M. Knox" wrote:
This guy was unable to do so because he could find no record of a big chunk
of Texas existing.

He was right. A big chunk of Texas doesn't exist. Why do you think all
those Texas politicians keep camping out in Oklahoma? They're just
looking for a place to be.

East Texas is actually in Pennsylvania.

"James M. Knox" wrote in message
...
"Chip Jones" wrote in
k.net:
Why can't the FS Specialist use the same resources I would have to
use to figure it out?

He can and he will.

Actually, in this case it was "He would, but he couldn't."

In my opinion, he could but he wouldn't. All he had to do was what you
ultimately did, except it would have been far easier for him to do it than
for you to do it. Plus it's his job... There are what, 2 ARTCC's in Texas
and maybe four or five FSS? All he has to do is call either ZFW or ZHU (or
both) at the ARTCC 24 hour watch desk number and relay that your call sign
has cancelled IFR and *poof* he's done. The ARTCC can take it from there
regardless of what sector was working you and regardless of where you
landed, even if you landed somewhere other than a designated airport. This
stuff works the same way in every ARTCC in America.


I am very familiar with how this all works. I was also drowning in the
rain and the WX-BRIEF number was what I had handy. I have used this
before, from half-way across the country. I have never had any trouble
with them simply forwarding the closure.

To prevent this from happening again, simply regurgitate the last ATC
facility you worked with, or the last ARTCC (which actually owns the
airspace and delegates it to towers and tracons). When the moron tells you
that you have landed in the Twighlight Zone, Longview isn't an airport, and
half of Texas doesn't exist, tell him to call the ZFW watch desk and cancel
your IFR. He has the number- every ARTCC in the country is listed in any
AFD under "Key Air Traffic Facilities". It's even in the Alaska Supplement.


This guy was unable to do so because he could find no record of a big
chunk
of Texas existing. He couldn't find either airport. He couldn't find
what
sector to call. He claimed that his records showed that neither airport
designator existed. [He did speculate that he might be having "equipment
problems."]


LOL. I can't imagine that a Texas FSS couldn't figure out how to call one
of the two Texas ARTCC's. He had probably just discovered that AOPA
supported privatizing his line of business because DUATS does a better job
for less money.

Chip, ZTL

"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...
"James M. Knox" wrote:
This guy was unable to do so because he could find no record of a big
chunk
of Texas existing.

He was right. A big chunk of Texas doesn't exist. Why do you think all
those Texas politicians keep camping out in Oklahoma? They're just
looking for a place to be.

The trees around the OKC airport all bend noticably to the south. I asked a
native there why this was so, and she said it's because "Texas Sucks." :-)
[Her words, Texicans, her words alone...]


East Texas is actually in Pennsylvania.

And Eastern Texas is actually just the natural manifest extension of the
Free and Sovereign State of South Carolina.

Chip, ZTL