FOUR Ways to Contact Flight Service Station

(FSS)
(November 2005)

1. TELEPHONE
Call FSS on a direct landline at 1-800-992-7433 OR
1-800-WX-BRIEF. You can use a cell phone to call but even using
the 1-800-992-7433 number you MAY reach a FSS in another state
depending on your location and the antenna location. If you use a cell
phone you may need the exact phone number of the FSS you are
trying to reach to close your flight plan on the way home because you
forgot to close it out before! You can find the particular FSS phone
number in the “green book” or Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD) from
the FSS and DOT or in AOPA’s Airport Directory they publish each
year. (In a situation where an airplane had complete electrical failure,
the pilot used a cell phone to contact FSS in the air to let them know
the pilot’s intentions, that there had been a complete electrical failure
although they were not declaring an emergency at that time, and
updated the change of destination and the estimated time to the new
destination plus extended the ETA on the filed VFR flight plan and
requested and received updated landing weather information.
Sometimes you do what you have to do.)
2. RCO (Single Frequency) or Remote Communications Outlet
This is a SINGLE frequency used for two-way communication
directly to the individual located within the FSS. This frequency can
be found on the Sectional Chart, in the A/FD, in the AOPA Airport
Directory and on the state published Airport Diagram like in the
Minnesota Airport Directory. You contact FSS on the frequency
indicated for that particular airport. (See the Sectional Chart example
and Minnesota Airport Directory example for MML and MKT
airports).
3. RCO (Transmit/Receive on VOR) or Remote Communications
Outlet
In this situation you will use both the VHF Comm and VHF Nav
radios to converse with FSS. Looking at the Airport Diagram for
Mankato Regional Airport MKT(an attached page in this section) you
see that the RCO frequency is 122.1R and 110.8T for Princeton FSS.
What this means is that the PILOT will transmit from the airplane on
frequency 122.1 and FSS will receive on 122.1. When FSS transmits,
 they will transmit on the VOR frequency of 110.8 and the PILOT
will receive the message by listening to the VOR frequency. In order
to keep this simple and easily understood, the T and R are made in
reference to the FSS briefer’s seat and NOT the pilot’s seat in the
airplane. Also, remember, as pilots, we cannot transmit over the VOR
frequency ever but we can receive over the VOR just like when we
get the AWOS weather over the VOR. Remember to turn up the
volume on BOTH radios when you use this method to contact FSS.
4. GCO or Ground Communication Outlet
This is a new method to use to contact FSS. It is a more economical
system to operate and the use of GCOs will increase in the future.
(See the attached copy of the brochure explaining the use of the
GCO.) The definition from the A/FD states thus: GCO—Ground
Communication Outlet—An unstaffed, remotely controlled,
ground/ground communication facility. Pilots at uncontrolled airports
may contact ATC and FSS via VHF to a telephone connection to
obtain an instrument clearance or close a VFR or IFR flight plan.
They may also get an updated weather briefing prior to takeoff. Pilots
will use four “key clicks” on the VHF radio to contact the appropriate
ATC facility or six “key clicks” to contact the FSS. The GCO system
is intended to be used only on the ground. All GCOs use the same
frequency, which is 121.725. When you set 121.725 in the VHF
Comm radio and “key click” SIX times for FSS you will hear it dial
through just like placing a telephone call. You may get through or you
may not get through on the first or second try, depending on how busy
the line is at the FSS. Once through to FSS, the FSS briefer will talk
to the pilot like he is talking on the telephone, which he/she is actually
doing. The pilot is required to use standard radio procedures so then
you would talk to FSS just like you would on a VHF frequency, which
you are doing at that time. Remember, once you are connected to FSS,
if the GCO frequency is NOT used for a minute, it will automatically
disconnect. So if you are conversing with FSS make sure you key the
mike in the airplane at least ONCE every minute to keep the
connection. Remember, “click six for Service.”