DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING FSS TELLS YOU?!?!

twincomanche · Post by **twincomanche** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:59 pm

I know you must be thinking...hmmmmm? Well, it all started with a flight to Atlantic City. I cleard customs in Buffalo and then proceeded to do all the other necessary planning for the remainder of our flight. Our plan was to land at Bader Field in AC, which is right in the middle of downtown; very convenient. I told the FSS guy that I heard a rumour, that Bader airport was closed. As FSS and I were both looking at the NOTAMS for that airport, there was no indication that is was closed. I asked him repeatadly, to confirm, and the filed from BUF to Bader airport. The whole time in flight I had an uneasy feeling. Well...I was right. As I was talking to AC approach, he told me that it was closed over 6 months ago. We had an alternate, which was Ocean City, about 10nm to the south. No problem we just headed there. The funny thing is, that before our departure from homebase, I had checked AIRNAV, and it said that the airport was closed. What the hell do you do in this situation?!!?!? A website(not gov't run) was accurate. FSS was totally wrong.
My point being-WHO DO YOU BELIEVE????

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:21 pm

Phone the airport operator if you think there is a discrepancy...

twincomanche · Post by **twincomanche** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:46 pm

I did that, and there was no answer or message implying that the airport was closed. How many people do answer the airport phone.

bigfssguy · Post by **bigfssguy** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:25 pm

We a FSS can only provide you with the information that is provided to us. If you sat there with the FSS while the notam's are on the screen and you still had doubts like someone else said call the airport operator to confirm or ask the FSS to. It's not that you can't trust the FSS, we only pass information that is there to give you. It's not as if he was lying to you or that there is some maniacal plot to make sure you use your alternate?

C-FABH · Post by **C-FABH** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:50 pm

I'm always partial to checking Airnav first and foremost. They have a rather great reputation for accuracy.

Personally, I heard about Bader a few months back.

twincomanche · Post by **twincomanche** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:18 pm

hahahaha...no I understand that they can only tell you what info that is provided to them, but my point being, that we pay for NAVCANADA now, being a aircraft owner myself, then this is what BS service I get (NOTHING AGAINST FSS)

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:58 pm

What does Navcanada have to do with it? I thought this was Atlantic City?

invertedattitude · Post by **invertedattitude** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:36 pm

What the hell?

Is this Canada or the US you're talking about?

Something else, you payed for TC before NavCanada, it was called taxes instead of a service fee....

Don't knock NavCanada for an FAA problem.

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:28 pm

I especially like this part...

twincomanche wrote:I did that, and there was no answer or message implying that the airport was closed. How many people do answer the airport phone.

"Well, we called 'em and there ain't no answer. But there ain't no one tellin' us not to go either... hell who answers those airport phones anyway... gas 'er up an' we'll fly down anyway and have a looksee..."

And you're trying to blame it on FSS...

lilfssister · Post by **lilfssister** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:54 pm

I think AMERICAN FSS are in transition from FAA to the new contractor Lockheed Martin right now, as well. Whether that had anything to do with it, who knows?

the_professor · Post by **the_professor** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:05 pm

twincomanche wrote:hahahaha...no I understand that they can only tell you what info that is provided to them, but my point being, that we pay for NAVCANADA now, being a aircraft owner myself, then this is what BS service I get (NOTHING AGAINST FSS)

Sometimes I'm surprised that some pilots don't blame Nav Canada for delays in the health care system, or if their eggs get overcooked at the local diner.

Some people are simply ignorant morons who have no idea about which agencies are responsible for which fees and/or services.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:57 pm

Some people are simply ignorant morons who have no idea about which agencies are responsible for which fees and/or services.

Professor are you suggesting that some " PILOTS " are morons?

If so that means there is not a moron filter during the licenseing process to cull them.