If you're like me I will use Fast File about 99% of the time because there's no need to file ahead of time if 1) the wx is really poor or, 2) the plane is not ready or, 3) the pilot/passengers are not ready. So I try and stay ahead of any changes with Leidos and Flight Service. Here's the latest:
Changes Coming to Flight Service
April 29, 2020
In the coming months, Leidos Flight Service (LFS) will be making some changes to our phone system and providing you additional services and capabilities when you need to call.
In December of 2019, Leidos was awarded a follow-on contract to help the FAA achieve its vision to transform and modernize the delivery of flight briefing services by reducing program costs, providing technology enhancements, and by engaging the broader general aviation community. Over the past several years, more and more pilots are migrating to mobile applications and online resources to receive regulatory compliant briefings, and no longer relying on human-in-the-loop interaction except in rare situations. AOPA, Leidos and the FAA recognize this shift in interaction and are working together to update messaging and guidance on self-briefing without the need to contact a Flight Service specialist.
Leidos Flight Service has provided web services online for a number of years, along with integrating those services with a large number of commercial providers. Starting in May and deploying throughout the summer, Leidos will be deploying new capabilities when choosing to engage with a specialist. These capabilities interact with their online services to allow specialists to provide quicker, more streamlined services and allow the phone system to help perform some simple actions for you when you call from a phone number contained in a registered profile.
Phone System Changes
Starting in May, callers to 1-800-WXBRIEF will hear new messaging and menu options when calling.
LFS will identify any 1800wxbrief.com profiles associated with the number you are calling from and take action based on that information. If the phone system is unable to locate your phone number or it is listed with multiple profiles (FBO, Flight School, Flying Club Phone) it will provide you the opportunity to enter a unique number (Cell Phone, Home Phone) that is associated with your profile. Pilots are encouraged to only list uniquely identifiable phone numbers in their 1800wxbrief.com profile, such as a cell phone, so the system can recognize you, uniquely, when contacting LFS.
Whether using 1800wxbrief.com or a commercial provider that links to your 1800wxbrief.com profile for your initial preflight planning and weather briefing, those actions will increase your priority in the phone system and allow you to speak to a specialist sooner. Pilots are encouraged to sign up for a 1800wxbrief.com profile and perform self-service actions before they call such as performing a standard briefing, filing a flight plan or reviewing the graphical checklist on their interactive map via http://www.1800wxbrief.com.
Opt-Out from Required Statements
Pilots will soon be able to opt-out of certain required statements from a specialist briefing. Starting in May, pilots may select Required Statements Opt-Out from the account menu when logged into 1800wxbrief.com. Opting out of all these statements will notify the specialist that you are familiar with and aware of the requirements and they will not be required to provide during your next call.
Update Briefing
Have you ever called a specialist and requested an update to a previous briefing? To the extent possible, specialists attempted to provide this service but their ability to see exactly what briefing information has changed was a challenge. Specialists had to base the update briefing solely on the understanding of weather product update times and this typically resulted in another standard brief or abbreviated brief depending on the information you needed.
Starting in May , specialists will have the ability to view an actual update briefing and can provide exactly what information has changed since your last standard weather brief obtained using 1800wxbrief.com, with a specialist or with a commercial provider that links your activity with your 1800wxbrief.com account. This will allow pilots to get the information that may have changed more efficiently versus repeating unnecessary information.
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