B: RE: FSS Issues

[N24HL]

Mike, 
Interesting reading. The part about lost flight plans is true. During the
past month I have filed 7 IFR flight plans, 3 of them were lost. I have
never had a flight plan "lost" before LM took over. This is really annoying!
Each time it has added an extra 45min to an hour to departure. Anyhow, thank
goodness for cell phones, at least I do not have to get out of the plane and
find a phone to call FSS. I am based near the D.C. ADIZ. The lost plans were
in Florida, South Carolina and Maryland, not just plans in the ADIZ. If next
generation air transportation is going to have this level of service, we are
in trouble!

One thing I did learn, don't have FSS look for the "Lost" plan, just re
file. It saves a lot of time.

Henry Lederer
N24HL F33A

-----Original Message-----
From: beech-owners-bounces at beechcraft.org
[mailto:beech-owners-bounces at beechcraft.org] On Behalf Of Mike Caban
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 10:13 AM
To: beech-owners at beechcraft.org
Subject: FSS Issues

Interesting report re LM needing more dough added to their FSS contract!
 
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/865-full.html#195180
 

Lockheed Martin Wants More FSS Money


Lockheed Martin is looking for a 10-percent increase in the fees it's being
paid to take over flight services. According to a report
<http://www.oig.dot.gov/StreamFile?file=/data/pdfdocs/Final_Budget_Statement
_w-508.pdf>  from the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector
General, the company, which was awarded a $1.8 billion contract to assume
the function, says it's owed another $177 million, mostly because the FAA
didn't supply accurate labor cost information. Lockheed Martin's claims are
now being assessed. Meanwhile, the DOT OIG also reported that the FAA has
fined Lockheed Martin $9 million for failure to live up to service and
performance guarantees. Pilots in the Washington, D.C., area have recently
complained that FSS changes have resulted in a sharp increase in dropped
flight plans and that briefers, some of whom were in California, didn't know
the procedures for operations in the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)
that surrounds the capital. The OIG is now preparing a report on FSS
operations that will be released later this month. Most of the OIG report
delivered Thursday dealt with the FAA's funding request for 2008. The OIG
noted the FAA's funding request has been tailored to fit the new
user-fee-based structure being championed by the agency. The OIG doesn't
pass judgment on the user-fee structure, but it does say the agency has
become noticeably better at managing its money, particularly with regard to
large capital projects. It says the agency seems to have curbed the runaway
budgets and slipped schedules that plagued projects, but notes it has
challenges ahead with the Next Generation Air Transportation System and more
mundane projects like an integrated communications system.

Mike
 
N2023W
1965 B55 Baron
SN: TC-971
KDTO
Mailto:mike at michaelcaban.com
www.michaelcaban.com <http://www.michaelcaban.com/>
www.semco-inc.com/aviation-pdfs
http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelcaban/BeechBaronN2023W
 
"The flight is the reason, the destination is only an excuse!"