Narrative:

C550 IFR northbound to fok. Tower is closed. No remote frequency on ground. Clear aircraft for approach; terminate radar and switch to advisory frequency with instructions to cancel on the ground with new york FSS. 20+ mins have elapsed and I'm starting to get concerned that I might have to initiate search and rescue operations when ZBW calls to relay the message that the aircraft was safe and canceling flight plan. I ask ZBW controller why he was relaying the message; and controller responded; 'because flight service didn't know who to call.' I was unable to raise FSS on the landline despite repeated calls (between XA00-XB00). This was not the first time I've had problems dealing with FSS on very basic yet safety critical issues since the presentation of FSS. These kinds of fundamental lapses in procedures and apparent lack of knowledge of regulations; SOP's; and LOA's are becoming more and more commonplace with not only FSS but privatized control towers as well. As the FAA pushes our (new york TRACON) operational staffing ever lower (far below any conceivably safe limit); the lack of training and inadequate staffing at these privatized facilities is seriously compromising safety at a systemic level. Something is going to go wrong and the system is going to fail.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: N90 CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING IAFSS PERFORMANCE SINCE THE FUNCTION WAS CONTRACTED OUT AND ADDS COMMENTS REGARDING FAA POLICY.

Narrative: C550 IFR NBOUND TO FOK. TWR IS CLOSED. NO REMOTE FREQ ON GND. CLR ACFT FOR APCH; TERMINATE RADAR AND SWITCH TO ADVISORY FREQ WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO CANCEL ON THE GND WITH NEW YORK FSS. 20+ MINS HAVE ELAPSED AND I'M STARTING TO GET CONCERNED THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO INITIATE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPS WHEN ZBW CALLS TO RELAY THE MESSAGE THAT THE ACFT WAS SAFE AND CANCELING FLT PLAN. I ASK ZBW CTLR WHY HE WAS RELAYING THE MESSAGE; AND CTLR RESPONDED; 'BECAUSE FLT SVC DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO CALL.' I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE FSS ON THE LANDLINE DESPITE REPEATED CALLS (BTWN XA00-XB00). THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD PROBS DEALING WITH FSS ON VERY BASIC YET SAFETY CRITICAL ISSUES SINCE THE PRESENTATION OF FSS. THESE KINDS OF FUNDAMENTAL LAPSES IN PROCS AND APPARENT LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF REGS; SOP'S; AND LOA'S ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMONPLACE WITH NOT ONLY FSS BUT PRIVATIZED CTL TWRS AS WELL. AS THE FAA PUSHES OUR (NEW YORK TRACON) OPERATIONAL STAFFING EVER LOWER (FAR BELOW ANY CONCEIVABLY SAFE LIMIT); THE LACK OF TRAINING AND INADEQUATE STAFFING AT THESE PRIVATIZED FACILITIES IS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISING SAFETY AT A SYSTEMIC LEVEL. SOMETHING IS GOING TO GO WRONG AND THE SYS IS GOING TO FAIL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.