Let me try to answer some questions: Checking with FSS: - If I am in the pattern , I don't call FSS. - If it's a local flight I get an abbreviated briefing. - If it's a cross country I check the "area forecast" that most pilots decline or don't listen. My preflight weather briefing involves Internet, DUATS and THEN talking to FSS. Most of the times DUATS or any other PC involved the information is not that reliable. One of the things that I really like to see is PIREPs, as icing is a major concern in SEA area in the winter time. There is no better way than talking to a live briefer , over the phone that is. I went into an FSS only once in my life. That was in Leesburg, (KJYO) and that felt awkward. I don't have a problem with talking to them over the phone, as a matter of fact it's more convenient. But if the FSSs diminish, or go private there will be some problems in terms of different FSSs talking to each other. I don't know if you know but there are still problems in terms of flight plan availability between the FSSs already. More than once, I wasn't able to close my VFR flight plan that I had filed with SEA FSS when I was down in Oregon, because McWinville (sp?) FSS didn't have my flight plan. As far as AOPA, I have a sour memory of them treating me like crap when Department of Homeland Security decided to stop training green card holding pilots (We covered this before, so no need to do it again) but overall they are here to protect the aviation in general, and general aviation in particular. At this point, general aviation is struggling pretty bad with increased cost of rentals because of crazy insurance rates. I was able to rent a Piper Arrow for $70 5 years ago, and now the same bird is $115. The point that I am trying to make it is that if we have privatized ATC that will involve user fees all the flight schools, all that recreational flying will be kissed good-bye for ever. We will be like Europe that only airlines will be able to train pilots, and only few rich will be able to benefit from general aviation.. We don't want that to happen.. Have a good weekend, BAHA FAN of being able to fly. _____ From: Allan9 [mailto:exatc@xxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 10:27 AM To: The Airline List; Bahadir Acuner Subject: Re: Tripling of Capacity for Air Traffic ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bahadir Acuner" < <mailto:bahadiracuner@xxxxxxxxx> bahadiracuner@xxxxxxxxx> To: < <mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 10:44 PM Subject: Re: Tripling of Capacity for Air Traffic > Bush administration has a lot of "cutting and outsourcing" plans in the > works for FAA. One of the things they were/are planning to do is to close > most of the flight service stations. They are claiming that internet, online > resources and DUATS will be a nice and less costly replacement for that. > None of them being stuck in an airport with no facilities except a phone, I > can assure you that this will cause more and more pilots leaving with no > preflight briefings before their flights. Just out of curiousity if I read what you say correctly, what airport still has a co-located FSS? If you have to brief by phone, does it matter where the briefer is located? What percentage of your flights do you contact an FSS before departing? Not having flown recently I cannot speak about current effectiveness of the FSS's. > > On top of that they are arguing that ATC controllers should and can be > outsourced. AOPA has been fighting this left and right. Isn't AOPA's iron in the fire more about the potential to have to pay for ATC services rather than safety? I must apologize at not having kept up on the list of potential contract towers. But I don't recall anything other than what was referred to as a Level I VFR tower on the list. The safety level has not been compromised (as far as I know) at any of thepreviously contracted towers. > > I guess by not investing in the infrastructure that needs work, they are > going to make the system less reliable. You can only look at the computer > problems that ZJAX went through last week. Once again I must plead being uninformed. What happened to Jacksonville Center's radar? Was it the radar or automation? > While they are spending like crazy in unnecessary things like rebuilding > Iraq, I guess cutting FAA's budget will make more sense.. Baha, I am not necessarily a fan of privatization but I like to consider myself a realist. Al > > BAHA > Fan of FAA and the great people in there.. > > -----Original Message----- > From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of RWM > Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 7:27 PM > To: <mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: Re: Tripling of Capacity for Air Traffic > > ATC facilities and equipment cut by 16% but where's the confusion? > > "Smoke and mirrors" is far less costly than tangible improvement. > > > "Herman R. Silbiger" wrote: > > > > To make this possible I read a news report that a 17% cut in funds for > > the FAA is being proposed.. > > > > > > > >Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 09:54:34 -0500 > > >From: Bill Hough < <mailto:psa188@xxxxxxxx> psa188@xxxxxxxx> > > >Subject: NYTimes.com Article: Tripling of Capacity for Air Traffic Is > Sought > > > > > > > > >Tripling of Capacity for Air Traffic Is Sought > > > > > >January 28, 2004 > > > By MATTHEW L. WALD > > > > > >WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 - The secretary of transportation > > >called Tuesday for tripling the air traffic capacity of the > > >United States in the next 15 to 20 years to make room for > > >more jet taxis, private jets, airliner traffic and the use > > >of unmanned aerial vehicles. > > > > > >The secretary, Norman Y. Mineta, said that air travel was > > >recovering from the terrorist attacks of 2001 because of > > >improved security and a rebounding economy and that new > > >runways, control towers, air traffic computers and other > > >improvements were being added. But, Mr. Mineta said, "the > > >changes that are coming are too big, too fundamental for > > >incremental adaptations of the infrastructure." > > > > > > <Snip> >