DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
NEW YORK AUTOMATED INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SERVICE STATION
150 ARRIVAL AVENUE
LONG ISLAND MACARTHUR AIRPORT
RONKONKOMA, NEW YORK 11779
AFSS EASTERN REGION TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
The past decade has seen dramatic change and growth within the Air Traffic system. The Flight Service option has not been immune to this change and growth. The system is constantly striving to keep up with the greater use and demand from the user. The latest step has been the inception of a Traffic Management Program (TMP).
The TMP, which came into effect in January of 1993, enables the Flight Service system throughout the Eastern Region to operate with minimal delays to pilots calling 1-800-WX-BRIEF. This system consists of the following AFSSs: ISP-Islip, BUF-Buffalo, AOO-Altoona, IPT-Williamsport, MIV-Millville, DCA-Leesburg, and EKN-Elkins.
For example, if you are in Southeastern New York you would normally receive ISP AIFSS when you dial into the 1-800 system. However, if ISP is encountering delays we could transfer our in-coming calls. IPT AFSS might answer your call, even if you called from Poughkeepsie. This transfer works because of the standardization of equipment and procedures throughout the AFSS system. Consequently, IPT AFSS will be able to provide you with all of your needed information; however, LOCAL NOTAM information may be incomplete. Update with the appropriate AFSS/FSS. During catastrophic failures, calls can be transferred to any AFSS in the U.S.
An example of the success of the TMP is a comparison of delays to the 1-800-WX-BRIEF calls for the summers of 1992 and 1993. The average delays dropped from 30.6 seconds to 16.7 seconds.
One thing to be aware of is that each AFSS provides an individualized Telephone Information Briefing Service (TIBS) menu. This means that if you are calling for recording 301 (Local Long Island and NYC Weather) and your call is transferred from ISP AIFSS to IPT AFSS you will be able to access recording 301 but it will not contain the weather you expect. The best way to prevent this is to be sure that you listen to the initial greeting when your call is connected. Each AFSS is identified in the initial greeting. For example, when calling ISP AIFSS the recording states, "Welcome to the New York Automated International Flight Service Station..." Remember, for the ISP AIFSS TIBS you can always call (516) 737-1000.
Your delays can decrease even further by planning your calls. There are times when you can expect heavy traffic in the AFSS system. The most likely times for periods of heavy traffic coincides with the issuance of our weather products. For example, we receive a new forecast each evening. This is an excellent tool to prepare for a flight the next morning. Since many pilots are aware of this, they call exactly on the hour to get the latest forecast. This influx of calls, while lasting only for a short period, may cause delays in the system. Another rush time is on bad weather days (MVFR/IFR) when pilots call up exactly on the hour to get the latest surface observations to see the weather trend. In both examples if pilots waited until 20 minutes after the hour they would find the delay times at a minimum.