How Should Contact Be Established With A Flight Watch Station And What Service Would Be Expected

Subscriber question:

"I notwithstanding like contacting Flight Service Stations for in-flight weather or flight planning. Only I never understood what to do when there's an 'R' listed past the frequency. A quick review would be helpful." - Kevin West.

John:

"Flight Service Stations (FSS) provide a diverseness of services including pilot briefings, weather observations, airplane pilot reports, flight plan processing, search and rescue services, aid to lost aircraft and aircraft in emergencies.

Usually, you would communicate with Flight Service through the frequencies shown on the sectional nautical chart. The Flight Service frequencies are listed in a box above certain VOR stations. The near common frequencies are 122.ii, 122.four, or 122.6. Also, near GPS (or iPad apps similar ForeFlight) have a list of the nearest Flying Service frequencies.

At times because of the shipping altitude or distance from the station, you may non exist able to receive and transmit on the same frequency. To increase reception range, some Flying Service Stations are also able to transmit over VORs and other Navaids. The notation R shown after the frequency indicates Receive capability (i.e. 122.1R). This means that the FSS can receive on 122.1 and transmit over the VOR frequency.

Yous demand to configure your shipping radio and sound console properly to apply this characteristic. Beginning, tune your Com radio to 122.1. And so tune the Nav radio to the VOR you wish to use. Select both the Nav and the Com audio through your sound panel. You may also have to select vocalisation on your Nav radio.

On your initial call to the FSS, make sure you state the frequencies that you are transmitting and receiving on. The FSS specialist may be monitoring multiple frequencies.

For example, you would phone call Rancho Murieta Radio, Cessna One 2 3 Alpha, transmitting 122.one, listening Redding VOR, over."

Practise yous utilise Flight Service in-flight for assistance?

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