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Thread: FSS at Oshkosh this year?

  1. #1

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    Question FSS at Oshkosh this year?

    Has anyone heard if FSS will be at the show this year? Due to the Federal budget sequestration, if the FAA was holding back on staffing ATC, I'm sure that FSS staff was also cut. Having FSS on the field for weather briefings is just as important as having ATC working.

  2. #2
    Joe Delene's Avatar
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    No I'm not discounting a real briefing, but with some wi-fi & a smart phone or computer most can be done on our own. There are many sites, apps, links & the rest to check things out, Notams too.

    Yes, I have called & visited a few times in recent times, for the most part I go to my favorite apps & sites. I hope they come though.

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    steve's Avatar
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    The FSS briefers are Lockheed-Martin employees not FAA.

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by steve View Post
    The FSS briefers are Lockheed-Martin employees not FAA.
    True, but the FAA pays for L-M to send them.

    Ever since L-M has had the FSS contract, there are four events that were "grandfathered" and automatically covered for a remote FSS operation: Oshkosh, Sun 'n' Fun, Albuquerque Balloon Festival, and the Copperstate Fly-In. Many other events had an FSS presence, of course, but they had to apply annually, provide justification, and if selected they were covered out of a separate budget.

    I'm the air ops guy for Copperstate, and here's the text of the message I received in April from the FAA Ops specialist in charge of remote FSS deployment:

    "I am sorry to inform you that the FAA will not be able to support your event this year do to limited funding."


    I suspect that the folks at Oshkosh received the same message, although it's possible that their much higher volume and worse weather spared them.
    Last edited by flibmeister; 06-26-2013 at 12:17 AM.

  5. #5

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    FSS at Oshkosh this year?

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Delene View Post
    No I'm not discounting a real briefing, but with some wi-fi & a smart phone or computer most can be done on our own. There are many sites, apps, links & the rest to check things out, Notams too. Yes, I have called & visited a few times in recent times, for the most part I go to my favorite apps & sites. I hope they come though.
    OK that's fine for folks that have those "toys"; I'm too cheap to buy the most current technology, especially when I just don't have a real need for them. I do have a cell, but it's one of those dumb phones. Most of the time the phone is turned off or not with me.

    Since when must I be talking to someone at any given moment? I frankly don’t have that much to say most of the time anyway

    We are on our own, thanks Washington!

    I guess I'm turning into a grumpy old guy!

  6. #6

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    Are you sure this is still the case? A lot changed between April and now and I'm pretty sure the FAA was given the blank check to rob the airport improvement fund not only for ATC but for whatever else they wanted to pay for (except for sending controllers to Oshkosh )

    Quote Originally Posted by flibmeister View Post
    True, but the FAA pays for L-M to send them.

    Ever since L-M has had the FSS contract, there are four events that were "grandfathered" and automatically covered for a remote FSS operation: Oshkosh, Sun 'n' Fun, Albuquerque Balloon Festival, and the Copperstate Fly-In. Many other events had an FSS presence, of course, but they had to apply annually, provide justification, and if selected they were covered out of a separate budget.

    I'm the air ops guy for Copperstate, and here's the text of the message I received in April from the FAA Ops specialist in charge of remote FSS deployment:

    "I am sorry to inform you that the FAA will not be able to support your event this year do to limited funding."


    I suspect that the folks at Oshkosh received the same message, although it's possible that their much higher volume and worse weather spared them.

  7. #7
    Chris In Marshfield's Avatar
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    One might argue that if you have a need to get current weather, and right now, and you need it often, then you have a real need for one of these devices.

    In today's information age, there's almost nothing that you don't have access to in an electronic format. If you need it, it's there.

    The world's a-changing. Sometimes you have to make the leap if you choose to keep up with it. Just sayin'

    ~Chris
    Christopher Owens (EAA #808438, VAA #723276)
    Germantown, WI
    Bearhawk Plans #991, Bearhawk Patrol Plans #P313

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris In Marshfield View Post
    One might argue that if you have a need to get current weather, and right now, and you need it often, then you have a real need for one of these devices.

    In today's information age, there's almost nothing that you don't have access to in an electronic format. If you need it, it's there.

    The world's a-changing. Sometimes you have to make the leap if you choose to keep up with it. Just sayin'

    ~Chris
    I've got a nice home computer, but nothing portable. Can’t see spending $$ for a once a year need. Also having FSS on the field giving you a detailed narrative on the general weather systems is also good for planning the departure. It’s the longest trip that I usually do each year.
    Again, it not to say that I can’t adapt and get the brief over the phone, but again what other place and time do you have 100’s of pilots all making plans for their longest X-country of the year? It’s just indicative of the downward spiral that GA has been in for the past 20 years. Pay more and getting less and less.

  9. #9
    MEdwards's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lkorona View Post
    OK that's fine for folks that have those "toys"; I'm too cheap to buy the most current technology, especially when I just don't have a real need for them.*I do have a cell, but it's one of those dumb phones. Most of the time the phone is turned off or not with me.
    At least last year there were still a few pay phones on the grounds, and 1-800-WXBRIEF, a toll-free call, works fine, though you may have to tell a briefer in Nevada someplace where Oshkosh is.

  10. #10
    Joe Delene's Avatar
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    I think many pilots would be glad to lend some 'device time' to allow one to check wx, notams & the rest. If one is so inclined you could also make your way to one of the FBOs on the North side of the field to use their wx computer. Most of us pilots have somewhat a handle on wx without even checking. What I mean is, we know when the nasty low pressure system is due to move in & adjust accordingly. As was mentioned, you can always call the distant briefer & do it long distance. I think I would just call the 800 number.

    I'm only about 89 miles from RIPON, so I don't have a long way to go.

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