Flight Service Stations
Flight Service Stations (FSSs) are air traffic facilities which provide services beyond traffic flow to pilots.
Introduction to Flight Service Stations
- Flight Service Stations are air traffic facilities that use communications and information systems to provide pilot briefings, flight-plan services, en route advisories, and emergency assistance.
- In Alaska this service is provided entirely by the FAA
- Flight service for the lower 48, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico is provided through a contract currently held by Leidos
- Flight Service Stations (FSSs) are air traffic facilities which provide pilot briefings, flight plan processing, en route flight advisories, search and rescue services, and assistance to lost aircraft and aircraft in emergency situations
- FSSs also relay ATC clearances, process Notices to Airmen, and broadcast aviation weather and aeronautical information
- Reinforce your understanding of Flight Service Stations by completing the knowledge quiz and interactive scenario, comparing your performance with the applicable Airman Certification Standards, and reviewing the topic summary before moving on.
Flight Service Stations Key Highlights
- Flight Service Stations (FSS) provide pilots with weather information, flight planning assistance, and aeronautical support services.
- FSS specialists assist pilots with preflight briefings, NOTAM information, route planning, and operational advisories.
- Pilots may open, close, and modify flight plans through Flight Service during visual and instrument flight operations.
- Inflight services provided by FSS include weather updates, pilot reports (PIREPs), emergency assistance, and communication support.
- Flight Service specialists can relay ATC clearances and communication when direct contact with air traffic control is unavailable.
- Remote communications outlets (RCOs) and VOR outlets (VORs) help pilots access Flight Service from airborne locations.
- Flight Service plays an important role in search and rescue operations when aircraft become overdue or communication is lost.
- Pilots should obtain complete weather briefings and operational information before departure to support safe decision-making.
- Modern Flight Service systems integrate digital weather products, online flight planning tools, and electronic briefing services.
- Understanding Flight Service operations improves preflight preparation, inflight support, and overall aviation safety.
Automated - Flight Service Station (AFSS)
- Transitioned from a government service to a contractor, Leidos.
- 122.2/255.4 "radio"
- If in doubt, 122.2 MHz is assigned to the majority of Flight Service Stations as a common en route simplex frequency.
- Flight Service does not perform the control functions of a tower or radar facility; it may relay an ATC clearance but does not independently issue the clearance.
- Provides pilot briefings regarding current weather and possible hazards along a route of flight
- Provides pre-flight, in-flight, and operational services, 24-7
- For the conterminous United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico: 1-800-WX-BRIEF (1-800-992-7433).
- For Alaska: 1-833-AK-BRIEF (1-833-252-7433).
- Frequencies can be located in the Chart Supplement U.S. or on IFR en-route charts and sectionals.
- Because a flight service station may cover a large area, one or more remote communications outlets (RCOs) may extend radio access to the facility.
- An RCO may be located by itself or with a VHF omni-directional range (VOR).
- Stores flight plans
- Supports search-and-rescue action when an activated VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight plan becomes overdue.
- Processes flight plans, including filing, activation, amendment, and closure. An activated flight plan is not an ATC clearance or automatic traffic-separation service.
- Most automated FSS have direction-finding (DF) steering capabilities
- En-Route communications
- Provides weather updates
- Solicits PIREPs
Alaska FSS
- In Alaska, designated FSSs also take weather observations, and provide Airport Advisory Services (AAS)
- Alaska FSSs may also provide Automatic Flight Information Service (AFIS), as well
Leidos Flight Services
- Services can be accessed through their website https://www.1800wxbrief.com or over the phone at 1-800-992-7433 (1-800-WX-BRIEF).
Flight Services
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Preflight Services:
- Under § 91.103, the pilot in command must become familiar with all available information concerning the flight. A regulatory-compliant self-briefing may be conducted without telephoning Flight Service, but Flight Service remains an authoritative briefing and consultative resource.
- Flight Service offers three basic preflight briefing packages:
- Standard: a comprehensive briefing, ordinarily obtained within six hours of the estimated departure time when the pilot has not already received the needed briefing information.
- Abbreviated: an update to a previous briefing or a request for specified information; the pilot should identify the time and source of the earlier information.
- Outlook: an early-planning briefing for a departure six hours or more away; obtain updated standard or abbreviated information closer to departure.
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Inflight Services:
- Information provided can help pilots maintain awareness of current and forecast weather, pilot reports, and the status of the National Airspace System. The pilot remains responsible for interpreting the information and making the operational decision.
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Operational Services:
- This includes processing NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) information, providing VFR search-and-rescue services, processing flight plans, and relaying ATC clearances when appropriate.
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Easy/Activate, Close:
- The EasyActivate™ and EasyClose™ service will send messages to the Text Message Phone Numbers and Email Addresses you select below, with links for fast flight plan activation and closure
- Messages are sent:
- 30 minutes before proposed departure time with a link to Activate your flight plan
- 30 minutes before Estimated Time of Arrival with a link to Close your flight plan
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Emergency Services:
- This includes search and rescue operations
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Special Services:
Flight Plan Services
- To obtain maximum benefits from the flight plan program, flight plans should be filed directly with the nearest FSS. For your convenience, FSSs provide aeronautical and meteorological briefings while accepting flight plans
- Radio may be used to file if no other means are available
Operation Rain Check
- Operation Rain Check is a pilot-controller outreach program managed by local air traffic control (ATC) facilities.
- The program familiarizes pilots and aspiring pilots with air traffic control functions, responsibilities, services, and safety procedures.
- Contact the local facility in advance because participation depends on facility resources, approval, and security requirements.
Flight Service Stations Interactive Scenario
The Busy-Frequency Flight Service Stations Flight
Follow one developing flight from briefing through debrief. Each decision applies Flight Service Stations knowledge to changing conditions, workload, and operational risk. Abbreviations used in this scenario: Pilot in Command (PIC).
Decision 1
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Scenario Complete
Flight Service Stations Knowledge Check
Choose the knowledge check that matches your current training for Flight Service Stations.
Private Pilot
PPL knowledge check
Core Knowledge Review
Review foundational knowledge, key concepts, and practical considerations. Topic: Flight Service Stations.
- Immediate feedback
- Answer explanations
- Account progress tracking
Commercial Pilot
CPL knowledge check
Advanced Application
Apply knowledge to advanced operations, risk management, and aeronautical decision-making. Topic: Flight Service Stations.
- Immediate feedback
- Answer explanations
- Account progress tracking
Why Take a Quiz?
Quizzes reinforce key concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for real-world decisions. Quiz material is representative of the information provided here and is not based on or sourced from the Federal Aviation Administration test bank.
Flight Service Stations Conclusion
- Additional inflight support is available through Flight Information Systems augment, but are not intended to replace traditional pilot and controller/flight service specialist/aircraft dispatcher preflight briefings or inflight voice communications
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Flight Service Stations References
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Pilot/Controller Glossary.
- Aeronautical Information Manual (4-1-3) Flight Service Stations.
- Aeronautical Information Manual (4-1-7) Operation Raincheck.
- FAA Order JO 7210.3, Paragraph 4-2-2, Pilot Education.
- FAA Order 1600.69, FAA Facility Security Management Program