The International Cessna^® 170 Association

PilotMikeTX wrote:See my thread here on FSS: http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... f=5&t=6470

122.0 is Flight Watch, which reading your post again, I think that's probably what you meant. Anyway, Flight Watch (officially, EnRoute Flight Advisory Service-EFAS) is located with an FSS, but not all FSS have an EFAS, and there are more FSS RCOs than EFAS RCOs, if that makes sense. So if you cannot contact Flight Watch on 122.0, you will probably have better luck trying to contact the FSS on one of their dedicated frequencies.

Also, 122.0 is not used for opening or closing flight plans.

Must be my communication skills are lackiing again , roger on the above and you are correct on everything stated above. However what I wanted to portray is when I get in the spot where the 3 different FSS freq's didn't seem to work I'm going to try 122.0 and find out if they are with FSS and are together. I travel that area often and would like to find out if it is a dead area of coverage or a repeater problem etc etc. The few times that I have made contact, I think it must be getting transfered via repeater because it has been someone with a southern accent(not saying that's bad, just unusual for the middle of S.D.). I have noticed the briefer on the phone, is the same guy as when I call on the radio on the FSS freq and the same guy on 122.0 (Flight watch) at the priceton mn area so they must all be together. I don't fly much over 2 1/2 hours away from KPQN but I can get into 4 different FSS areas and I'm trying to figure out why some are really good and some not so good. I can get in to spots in the hill of S.d. and Ne. where the ranch houses are 10+ miles apart. Would be nice to know if some one would hear me when I key the mike.

W.

Here is Princeton's FSS information:

FSS 3 Letter ID: PNM
FSS Name: PRINC
Information Update Date: 01 MAR 2000
Associated Airport Site Number: PNM
Airport Name: PRINCETON MUNI
Airport State: MINNESOTA
Airport Latitude: 45-33-35.524N
Airport Longitude: 093-36-29.578W
Facility Type: AFSS
Facility ID/Voice Call: PRINCETON
FSS Owners Code: FAA
FSS Owners Name: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMIN
Operators Code: FAA
Primary Frequencies Used: 121.5 122.2 122.O 255.4
Hours of Operation: 24
Status of Facility: OPERATIONAL-IFR
Weather Radar Available: Y
Enroute Flight Advisory: YES
Flight Watch Hours: 0600-2200
PNM Telephone Number: 763-389-5880
Remarks: 1 VHF DF AVBL FOR HAYWARD WI LCTD LAT 46-01-11N/LONG 091-27-05W.5F2 VHF DF AVBL FOR BEMIDJI-BELTRAMI CO ARPT LCTD LAT 47-30-00.3N/LONG 094-56-00.0W.5F3 VHF/DF AVBL FOR BRAINERD-CROW WING CO/WALTER F. WIELAND FLD LCTD LAT 46-23-43.9N LONG 094-08-18.3W.5

They are the Flight Watch station for the Dakotas and most of the great lakes area. The Flight Watch RCOs are located in AXN,GFK, MOT, JMS, DIK ( ), ABR, PIR, HON, ONL, FSD,FRM,SUX ( ), GRI, OMA, FGT, EAU, GRB, MQT, DLH

Whew!

Here is Huron's info:

FSS 3 Letter ID: HON
FSS Name: HURON
Information Update Date: 05 AUG 2002
Associated Airport Site Number: HON
Airport Name: HURON REGIONAL
Airport State: SOUTH DAKOTA
Airport Latitude: 44-23-06.722N
Airport Longitude: 098-13-42.753W
Facility Type: AFSS
Facility ID/Voice Call: HURON
FSS Owners Code: FAA
FSS Owners Name: FAA
Operators Code: FAA
Primary Frequencies Used: 121.5 122.1R 122.2 122.6 243.0 255.4
Hours of Operation: 24
Status of Facility: OPERATIONAL-IFR
Weather Radar Available: N
Enroute Flight Advisory: NO
HON Telephone Number: 605-352-3806
Remarks: 1 DF OTS INDEFLY.5F

They are not a flight watch station.

And Fort Dodge...also not a flight watch station.

FSS 3 Letter ID: FOD
FSS Name: FORT
Information Update Date: 04 MAR 1998
Associated Airport Site Number: FOD
Airport Name: FORT DODGE REGIONAL
Airport State: IOWA
Airport Latitude: 42-33-05.242N
Airport Longitude: 094-11-33.184W
Facility Type: AFSS
Facility ID/Voice Call: FORT DODGE
FSS Owners Code: FAA
FSS Owners Name: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMIN
Operators Code: FAA
Primary Frequencies Used: 121.5 122.2 122.3 243.0 255.4
Hours of Operation: 24
Status of Facility: OPERATIONAL-IFR
Weather Radar Available: Y
Enroute Flight Advisory: NO
FOD Telephone Number: 515-955-8114
Remarks: 1 VHF/DF AVBL FOR LAMONI IA LCTD AT LAT 40-35-42NLONG 093-57-44.12W.5F2 VHF/DF AVBL FOR BURLINGTON IA LCTD AT LAT 40-46-42.14N LONG 091-07-33.52W.5F5 VHF/DF FOR LAMONI IA OTS INDEFLY.5F6 VHF/DF FOR BURLINGTON IA OTS INDEFLY.5F

Looking at the chart, it looks like you're right in the moose knuckle of Princeton, Fort Dodge and Huron. It also looks like there is a LOT of uncontrolled airports with approaches. It's possible the FSS folks spend a lot of time on the phone with the center coordinating IFR departures. I know they were pretty understaffed when the FAA was running the show, and I haven't heard a lot of good things about them since Lockheed Martin took over.

Thanks Mike

...............I've eaten pig hocks.................... but what the heck is a moose knuckle................

W.

I was hoping to find some sort of geographical boundries of the FSS's, but I couldn't even find a map of them. I have a map of the Flight Watch stations (it's on the back of the A/FD).

As for the moose knuckle, well you'll just have to google that. And don't say I didn't warn you.

W.J.Langholz wrote:[..., I think it must be getting transfered via repeater because it has been someone with a southern accent(not saying that's bad, just unusual for the middle of S.D.)....W.

I know what you mean. I was in Home Depot yesterday and overheard a Depot docent explaining to a young housewife how to raise, harvest and prepare turnip greens in a Brooklyn accent.! (This post also does double-duty as the vocabulary lesson today.)

When you are away from contact of Flight Service, it's a good reason to carry a personal beacon on your self if you have to vacate the aircraft. I have one for all purposes, hunting, riding cycle or atv.

John

John

Thanks for the reply. I think I will start a new post on PLB's let's see what we can come up with

W.

n3833v wrote:When you are away from contact of Flight Service, it's a good reason to carry a personal beacon on your self if you have to vacate the aircraft. I have one for all purposes, hunting, riding cycle or atv.

John

Ol' Gar has a pesonal beacon. It's the smell. His incredible, identifiable, SMELL.
Even his dog breathes thru her mouth when he's around!