When was the last time the flight service was contacted on the radio? It is clear that it often happens, to the extent that FAA is studying a plan to stop the Flight Station Frequency Network (FSS) network frequencies through the neighboring United States – with the exception of those working in Alaska.
Air service stations (FSS), consulting service on board, were created in the 1980s, and according to FAA, the 936 infrastructure has been “small or non -amendments since then.” FSS is still found throughout the United States, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Generations of student pilots have learned to find the right frequency on VFR clips and used them to open their flight plans – and they are still using today, with the help of “122.2 memory will open the flight plan for you”.
According to the Angolan Armed Forces notification of the intention, “in the mid -eighties of the last century, the airline service received 22,000 service requests per day through this network, while today they receive less than 300 per day.”
The agency noted that 40 years ago, there were 350 flight service stations with more than 3000 employees. Today there are two with less than 200 aviation specialists.
Since mobile cockpit technology, such as EFBS, has turned into pilots to other sources to acquire information and provide flight plans. Therefore, the number of pilots using the radio -based FSS fell, and according to FAA, “there was no effect on safety.”
The agency’s notification states that the cost of maintaining FSS exceeds its use, a problem that it monitors for years. A 2016 study on the use of FSS noted that a large number of FSS frequencies were rarely used, overlapping or duplicated.
It was also noted that the communications outlets are often associated with a remote (RCOS) and FSS frequencies to navigational means such as vors. Since 2016, FAA has been slowly closed unstable frequencies to provide maintenance costs of $ 2.5 million annually, which is paid for American taxpayers.
Operation stop plan
After publishing the final base, FAA plans to turn off all the remaining RCO 936 in the continental United States, RCOS was found on the FAA website on the web and can be divided into RCOS that can be used by aircraft to connect to the airline by transporting it and receiving a common or separate frequency, for example, 122.2, 122.5, etc.
The remaining 172 frequencies are placed with a subscriber with vors. Petroleums can contact flying service by sending on a frequency (usually 122.1) and receiving on the appropriate VOR frequency.
The Federal Aviation Administration noted that after the RCOS is off, aviation service will not provide consulting services on the plane in the continental United States, however, all emergency frequencies will continue with air traffic control facilities.
Let Faa know what your opinion is
FAA is concerned with comments related to the remaining 936 RCOS off.
“We welcome users to include comments related to any other aspect of your experience with aviation service,” the agency says.
FAA will submit all the comments you receive in Dockket, as well as a report that summarizes every public connection with the agency’s employees related to this procedure.
FAA will look at all the comments you receive on or before the closing date of the comments. You will look at the comments submitted after the suspension period is closed if it can be done without incurring expenses or delay. The agency may change this notice in light of the comments it receives.
The deadline for comments is May 27.