AOPA is asking pilots to continue reporting their experiences with Lockheed Martin’s Flight Service Station (FSS) system, noting that the this feedback provides an important cross-check on the data supplied by Lockheed to the FAA and other overseers. “On a day when Lockheed Martin reported that the longest hold time for the entire system was four minutes, we had a member report of a 20-minute hold,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer. “And their system averages seem to be much better than what our members say are their real-time experiences. We encouraged the [Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General] to resolve that apparent discrepancy.” Boyer said the OIG will receive a copy of every complaint that pilots send to AOPA. FSS performance data can determine whether or not Lockheed Martin qualifies for cash bonuses from the FAA. If performance continues to be poor, the company could lose again in the next quarter. “Millions of extra dollars are a powerful motivator for getting things right,” AOPA said.
AOPA Urges Pilots To Report FSS Problems
Key Takeaways:
- AOPA is urging pilots to continue reporting their Flight Service Station (FSS) experiences to provide an independent cross-check against data supplied by Lockheed Martin.
- There's a significant discrepancy between Lockheed Martin's reported FSS performance metrics (e.g., short hold times) and pilots' real-time experiences, which often include much longer waits.
- AOPA is bringing these pilot complaints and the data discrepancy to the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General, as FSS performance directly impacts Lockheed Martin's eligibility for FAA bonuses or penalties.
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