# Presentation: 699249

## FAA Alaska Flight Service Stations

**2008 Customer Satisfaction Survey Results **
**& **
**Flight Service Modernization Status**

## Flight Services - Today

- 17 Federal Facilities in Alaska
- 200 people
- $26 million budget
- 1.3 million operations yearly
- We are here to serve you and help ensure informed go/no go decisions as well as safety of flight in all phases.** **

## Survey 

**The survey was created to get input on how the users rate various services we provide.**
**We also asked for input on:**
- Desires for locating FSS’s and future siting of Remote Communications Outlets (RCO’s).
- New Technology.
- What works best for your needs (AFSS/FSS)?
- Your comments.
**We will use the input to improve services. **

## How We Rated  

## How We Rated  

**On 1-10 scale with 10 the highest:**
- Pilot Briefing 9.0
- Inflight Radio 8.61
- Airport Advisory Service 8.93
- TIBS Recordings 8.17
- NOTAM Dissemination 7.21
- FSS ATIS/AFIS 7.95
- SVFR Operations 8.78
- PIREP Processing 8.56
- Flight Plan Processing 9.0

## How We Rated 

**On 1-10 scale with 10 the highest **
- Phone call wait times 8.29
- Radio call wait times 8.66
- Specialist Courtesy 9.25
- Specialist Speech Quality 9.11
- Specialist Knowledge 8.96
- Product Interpretation 8.55
- Message Relaying 9.20
- NEXRAD Interpretation 8.71
- WX Cam Interpretation 8.72
- Other Services 8.6
- Average of All Services:  8.62

## User Input 

**Other Suggested FSS Locations/Number of Responses**
- 	Bettles/40		Kodiak/42
- 	Galena/53		Merrill Field/98
-    Tanana/15		Gulkana/77
- 	King Salmon/69	Valdez/41
- 	Bethel/54		Cordova/54
- 	Unalaska/16		Yakutat/43

## User Input 

**Which type of Station in Alaska best meets your needs (AFSS or FSS)?  Why...**
- AFSS/14
- FSS/181
**If a customizable weather briefing packet became available, how would you like to receive this information?**
- Log on to website with exclusive account/138
- Sent to your email address at specified times/45

## User Input 

**In order to modernize Flight Services in Alaska, what types of new technology and/or other functions would you add?**
- -More Weather Cameras!/Controllable Views
- -More ASOS/Wx Reporting
- 	Tok
- 	Matanuska Glacier
- -Auto-mail NOTAMS
- -ADS-B
- -DF Ketchikan
- -Broadcast Improvements (Customizable)

## User Input 

**In order to modernize Flight Services in Alaska, what types of new technology and/or other functions would you add? **_**Continued:**_
- -Kiosks
- -X-M/Sirius satellite weather
- -Electronic Flight Plan submission/acknowledgement
- -Reliable communications in remote areas/better coverage
- -Collision avoidance
- -Broader flight following
- -More consistent weather reporting from A-Paids
- -GPS tracking

## User Input 

**In order to modernize Flight Services in Alaska, what types of new technology and/or other functions would you add? **_**Continued:**_
- -More ATIS.
- -More personnel instead of technology.
- -Wireless access to wx sites and webcams on PDA’s, smart phones, etc.
- -Maintain DF’s

## User Input 

**AFSS or FSS which works best for you? (Question may have been misinterpreted to imply recorded/automated text to voice).**
- AFSS
- -Both have their place.
- -We call AFSS from Outside.
- -Trend Analysis.
- FSS
- -Local Area/Condition/Wx Pattern Knowledge.
- -View and Interpretation of changing weather.
- -Human Contact/Answer questions.
- -Less chance of lost flight plan.

## User Input 

**AFSS or FSS which works best for you? **_**Continued.**_
- FSS
- -Less useless information.
- -SVFR operations more efficient.
- -Special Requests allowed.

## User Input 

**Desired Future Siting of RCO’s (Not all inclusive)**
- 	-Arctic Village (submitted) and Savoonga
- 	-Ruby
- 	-McCarthy (submitted)
- 	-Ketchikan area (Rudyard Bay, S. Prince of Wales, N end of Revillagedo Is., Bell Island.
- 	-Whittier, Prince William Sound
- 	-Chenega
- 	-Crooked Creek
- 	-White Mountains, Yukon Charlie

## User Input 

**Desired Future Siting of RCO’s (Not all inclusive).**
- South and West of McGrath
- Watana Lake
- Lower Yukon (Anvik, Holy Cross)
- Atkasuk
- Glenallen/Copper Center/Farewell?
- Red Dog Area
- Emmonak
- Cape Spencer
- Brevig and Teller (funded by SBS office)
- Hayes River

## User Input 

**Desired Future Siting of RCO’s (Not all inclusive).**
- Montague Island
- Puntilla
- Sheep Mountain
- Beluga/Tyonek
- Port Alsworth
- Rainy Pass
- Skwentna (funded)
- Kobuk, Kiana
- Nikolski
- Umiat

## User Input 

**Future Siting of RCO’s (Not all inclusive).**
- Shuyak Island
- Nulato Hills
- Wales, Golovin, Deering, Holy Cross
- Kisarilik Lakes.
- -	Fix current ones first.
- Seward/Eagle need fixed.

## User Input 

**General Comments:**
- Kudos to several specific facilities including:
- 		Ketchikan, Palmer, Kenai, Talkeetna, 	Kotzebue, Dillingham, Iliamna, Nome, Sitka, 	Homer, Juneau
- Radio Coverage, quality, content of com +/-.  Only links, safety issue for flight plans.
- Local area knowledge/trend analysis/quality of briefings +/-.
- AWOS/ASOS reliability.
- Contacts for service from Outside.

## Survey 

- For 2009 we anticipate survey notification to all active Alaska pilots.
- We appreciate the input in 2008 and look forward to continuing the dialogue.
- Next subject..............

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

- This is a continuous process.
- -	We have just commissioned the new Nome FSS.
- Last year the new Kotzebue FSS was commissioned.

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

- -Cooperative ventures between FAA, State DOT and National Weather Service.
- We anticipate new FSS at Cold Bay in Spring 2009 in leased Aleutians East Borough space.
- Homer, Dillingham and Sitka FSS upgrades are planned.
- We are installing Digital “SAWS” wind instruments.

## The old and the new at Nome 

## The new, temporary and old at Cold Bay 

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

- We also have relatively new facilities in Talkeetna, McGrath, Iliamna, Deadhorse and Northway.
- New RCO installations are funded for:
- 	Skwentna
- 	Girdwood
- 	Ruby
- 	King Cove
- 	Yukon River Bridge
- 	Chignik

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

- Future Flight Services requested RCO sites:
- 	McCarthy
- 	Anaktuvuk Pass
- 	Arctic Village
- 	Galbraith Lake
- 	Central

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

- AFIS
- We have expanded Flight Services ATIS information to many locations where we provide local airport advisory service and now call it AFIS (Automated Flight Information Service).
- In FY-09 we will complete the AFIS installs with the last at Barrow.  The Dillingham system will be upgraded with the AWOS interface.
- 10 AFIS Facilities:  BRW, HOM, ILI, KTN, OTZ, OME, SCC, SIT, DLG, TKA.

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

- Automation System/Voice Switch
- In 2007 we transitioned from our old Flight Services briefing and data telecommunications platforms to the OASIS automation system at all facilities.
- This was a tremendous improvement in automation of weather information, flight data capabilities and  graphical displays.
- OASIS is contractually limited to 2010.  We continue to develop future automation requirements for improved service delivery and safety assurance.

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

|             AFSS OASIS Briefing Position  |
| --- |

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

- Some Future Modernization Elements:
- Kiosks for remote self briefing and flight plan filing at locations accessible to pilots.
- Expanded Automated Flight Following (AFF) SAR.
- ADS-B Flight Plan Tracking for SAR and enhanced local airport advisories.
- Web Portal to Alaska Flight Services Global database.
- Delta Briefings.  No repeated information/new info highlighted for delivery to pilot.
- Email notifications of wx and NOTAM changes.
- Electronic Strip Bays at FSS’s.

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

- Automation System/Voice Switch _Continued:_
- We are targeting the initial phase of our new automation system to be in place in early 2010.
- We also need a new voice switch to handle increased number of RCO’s and provide agility in managing the radio calls.  (Un-gang Frequencies).
- The new voice switch will be an Alaskan solution planned for acquisition in 2011.

## Alaska Flight Service Modernization 

- Summary:  We are improving our infrastructure and automation to better meet your needs and soliciting your input with safety and efficiency our most critical priorities.
- Please respond to our next user survey or contact us at any time with questions or concerns.
- Visit our web site at:  _[www.alaska.faa.gov/at](http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at)_
- Thanks!
- _[Marshall.G.Severson@faa.gov](mailto:Marshall.G.Severson@faa.gov)_
- 907-271-5464