Reporter had difficulty in obtaining WX and briefing from automatic FSS stations nearby. Called dist...

Attributes
ACN	139734
Time
Date	199003
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	139734
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Problem: not enough WX reporting (FSS) stations, and what does exist is being dismantled. ATC hangar, I called atl FSS. Message said I would be answered in order I called. 15 mins later no acknowledgement. I called mcn FSS--same message. Finally I called jax FSS long distance, filed and got out of atl. What is going to happen when jax is closed? These consolidated FSS are not doing the job. They are simply discouraging the not-so-experience pilots from using the system--or causing the very experienced to use tricks (air filing IMC and such). Our system isn't getting better, it's getting dangerous, and it doesn't have to. Most people won't talk to a phone answering machine, much less a computer. Put back chs FSS, sav FSS--stop the dismantling of our FSS. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states, 'the few times I have been able to get a briefing from an automated FSS it has been very unsatisfactory. I am accustomed to receiving answers to specific questions. A blanket WX forecast does not provide comfort for me. It seems the more FSS stations that close the harder it is to get the remaining FSS to answer the phone.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER HAD DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING WX AND BRIEFING FROM AUTO FSS STATIONS NEARBY. CALLED DISTANT FSS LONG DISTANCE. REPORTER OBJECTS TO AUTOMATED SYSTEM. LIKES TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHERE HE CAN ASK QUESTIONS.

Narrative: PROB: NOT ENOUGH WX RPTING (FSS) STATIONS, AND WHAT DOES EXIST IS BEING DISMANTLED. ATC HANGAR, I CALLED ATL FSS. MESSAGE SAID I WOULD BE ANSWERED IN ORDER I CALLED. 15 MINS LATER NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. I CALLED MCN FSS--SAME MESSAGE. FINALLY I CALLED JAX FSS LONG DISTANCE, FILED AND GOT OUT OF ATL. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN JAX IS CLOSED? THESE CONSOLIDATED FSS ARE NOT DOING THE JOB. THEY ARE SIMPLY DISCOURAGING THE NOT-SO-EXPERIENCE PLTS FROM USING THE SYS--OR CAUSING THE VERY EXPERIENCED TO USE TRICKS (AIR FILING IMC AND SUCH). OUR SYS ISN'T GETTING BETTER, IT'S GETTING DANGEROUS, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO. MOST PEOPLE WON'T TALK TO A PHONE ANSWERING MACHINE, MUCH LESS A COMPUTER. PUT BACK CHS FSS, SAV FSS--STOP THE DISMANTLING OF OUR FSS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES, 'THE FEW TIMES I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A BRIEFING FROM AN AUTOMATED FSS IT HAS BEEN VERY UNSATISFACTORY. I AM ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVING ANSWERS TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. A BLANKET WX FORECAST DOES NOT PROVIDE COMFORT FOR ME. IT SEEMS THE MORE FSS STATIONS THAT CLOSE THE HARDER IT IS TO GET THE REMAINING FSS TO ANSWER THE PHONE.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Reporter had difficulty in obtaining WX and briefing from automatic FSS stations nearby. Called distant FSS long distance. Reporter objects to automated system. Likes to talk to someone where he can ask questions.