WXBRIEF - Let's take it's pulse

[Bryan Wood]

We are a large number of active pilots from just about everywhere. Please chime in on this and share recent experiences that you've had with the FSS's. How are they doin'? I keep reading that there are problems, but have only had reasonably good service myself. I'm finding that the horror stories are simply not matching up with the briefings that I'm getting. How about your experiences?

Best,

[dan]

Horrible. I haven't gotten through. Just been on hold and lost patience. Way to make the system SAFE...not.

[N908RV]

on a nice Sunday morning. (Hey I live near the DC ADIZ, gotta constantly check for TFR's even for a local flights).

The wait to get to a human was not so bad, but due to their integration of new systems, well, they clearly aren't ready. The poor briefer apologized at least 4 times because his systems were so slooooowwwww. It took about 10 minutes and I only asked for an abbreviated briefing - surface and winds aloft and TFR's/NOTAMS.

Sounds like they weren't fully tested with their new systems before they deployed. My friend works for FSS, so I'll have to get the updated skinny post deployment. He did say that a lot of old FAA briefers were resisting their assimilation into the Borg, er ah, LM collective. His impression was that older FAA guys are unhappy and in his opinion are often rude to callers. Many were complaining that they would leave once the new system was implemented. These guys are used to the old bureaucratic ways and now have to learn to deal with real corporate America - undoubtedly a bitter pill for them to swallow.

I must say that prior to the most recent downsizing to 19 centers, the newer briefers were fantastic. I almost never had a wait time and the briefers were polite and helpful. That could be because I have a huge FSS in my area - one of the 19 remaining and they were undoubtedly gearing up.

Now, I have wait times too.

[Jekyll]

Lousy. Long holds (3-5 minutes. Trunk switched to FSS in KY vs VT. Lost flight plans. Phone search initiated after closing flight plan.

Not good service in my opinion. Much worse than last year. And to think, WE MAY GET THE HONOR OF BEING CHARGED FOR THIS!

Jekyll

[the_other_dougreeves]

Prior to the "consolidation" of the FTW FSS, it was fine. Hold times have been short, 2-3 minutes.

Since then, I haven't gotten through to a briefer once in three tries. Longest hold time was 15 minutes - I didn't want to give up because I was worried about TFRs and didn't have my laptop handy (YEA WeatherMeister).

[Paul Thomas]

Terrible. Shortest hold time has been over 15 minutes which is not surprising when a "standard briefing" is now a good 15 mins. My last briefing was for a 160 nm flight in south FL, the guy was giving me weather info for the NC and DC because it mattered (???). When I tried to tell him I didn't care about any weather system north of FL, he started to tell me why I should and that it wasn't a system. My last few briefings have been long, but the weather was more complex and they were just giving me a very accurate picture.

I think if they shorten their briefing back to the way the FAA did it, the system will work again.

[osxuser]

I don't use it!

I still call Riverside AFSS directly, which will be open until 5/21, then I will use Hawthorne, which is scheduled to remain open until mid-june. Then I'll say screw that and use DUATS . It's a worthless system in it's current form.

[CraigH@KRPH]

Originally Posted by dan

Horrible. I haven't gotten through. Just been on hold and lost patience. Way to make the system SAFE...not.

Ditto here!

[jcoloccia]

Useless.

It won't let me write just one word so I had to write this sentence too....

[kentb]

Last Sunday I call from the Seattle area and got right through to the briefer.
I didn't even have to listen to a security phone message. I ask for weather and NOTAM info to the Portland area. Got what I needed and 3 minutes later headed to the airport.

This worked well for me. The last time I call was almost one year ago.

Kent