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United States Pilots Association |
In a phone call from AOPA’s President Phil Boyer to USPA Executive Director Jan Hoynacki this afternoon, USPA was given advance information that the successful bidder in the government’s bidding process (A-76 Study) to operate the 58 FSSs in the continental U.S. was awarded to Lockheed Martin. Boyer said the announcement will appear shortly on the AOPA website (www.aopa.org).
Understanding the concern FSS employees have over the change and how it will affect their jobs, Boyer said it is important that USPA/AOPA members know that the current FSS service will not change immediately. “But when it does change, it will get better, with high standards for quality flight briefing services and new performance metrics. Just as important, no user fees are in the FSS future, and the government will keep responsibility for operating the system.” Furthermore, current FSS employees will be given preferential status for the new positions.
Boyer wanted USPA members to know that this change was necessary since the cost of the FSSs is $600 million, while the fuel tax income generated is only $60 million. Drop-in briefings are down to around 2%, and nearly 100% of the users are GA—you and me. The plan is to reduce the cost of FSS services by half, with no user fees, much like non-federal towers, and to increase the use of new technology for more efficient operations.
In addition to Lockheed Martin, other bidders included the FAA employees, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and DUATS-contractor Computer Sciences Corporation. According to AOPA, “…there will be changes. Many automated flight service stations may be consolidated, for example. And walk-in briefings will likely become a thing of the past. This change isn’t privatization, because the government retains responsibility and control. But it is a way of rationalizing and modernizing a hopelessly outdated, costly, and inefficient system.”
Nearly all USPA members are also AOPA members, and we appreciate the heads up provided by Boyer. We hope this effort to preserve FSS services and no user fees is totally successful, as thorough pre-flight briefings are vital to safe flight.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association