AIM - RAC 1. 1. 3 - Flight Service Station (FSS)

FSSs staffed by FSS specialists are located on some aerodromes across Canada. The
services they may provide are listed below:

(a)        Flight Information Service En Route (FISE): Continuous monitoring of assigned
            frequencies permits pilots the communications access to obtain and pass flight
            information or to report emergencies should the need arise. In addition, the FSS
            relays IFR position reports and ATC clearances in areas where aircraft are
            beyond the communications range of the ATC facility responsible.

(b)        Aerodrome Advisory Service (AAS): The FSS provides advisory information
            consisting of wind, preferred or active runway, time (departures only),
            altimeter, aircraft traffic, ground traffic, and other information to assist pilots to
            execute safe and expeditious departures and arrivals at uncontrolled airports.
            Valid NOTAM, RSC and CRFI information is included in the advisory for a
            period of 12 hr for domestic traffic and 24 hr for international traffic after it has
            been disseminated by means of telecommunication.

    NOTE:     NOTAM, RSC and CRFI information is provided in a pilot briefing for the
                    duration of the valid period or until cancelled.

(c) Remote Aerodrome Advisory Service (RAAS): At aerodromes where the
advisory is provided through RCOs, the service is referred to as a RAAS.
RAAS consists of weather reports, including wind and altimeter settings (from
the METAR or SPECI), the active or preferred runway (if known), field
condition reports, NOTAM, PIREPs, and known aircraft traffic.

NOTES:

1.     It is emphasized that RAAS is a remote service provided from an FSS
        not located in the vicinity of the aerodrome. Since the FSS specialist
        may not have been made aware of all the traffic, pilots are advised to
        remain vigilant when operating at, or in the vicinity of, these
        uncontrolled aerodromes. Receipt of these advisories does not relieve
        the pilot of the responsibility to comply with the procedures established
        for mandatory aerodrome traffic frequency procedures.

2.     Aircraft traffic contained in the AAS and RAAS includes a summary of
        pertinent aircraft that have made their presence known to the FSS
        through direct radio contact, personal or telephone contact (NORDO/
        RONLY operations), estimates, ETAs or other means, and which the
        specialist has determined will affect the aircraft’s safety.

(d) Vehicle Control Service (VCS): The FSS Specialist controls vehicles operating
on the manoeuvring area of airports with a co-located tower and an FSS during
the hours when the tower is closed. This service is also available at airports
without a tower during the operating hours of the FSS. VCS is not available at
sites served by RAAS.

(e) Flight Plan Service: The FSS provides a preflight service that includes the
provision of weather, NOTAM, RSC/CRFI and other information. It accepts
and processes flight plans and flight itineraries. An aviation information display
is also maintained and is easily accessible to pilots. It assists pilots in compiling
all the information essential to planning a safe flight.

(f) Surface Weather Observing Service: The observation, recording, and
dissemination of surface weather data, including specials, is performed by the
FSS for aviation purposes.

(g) Aviation Weather Information Service (AWIS): The FSS provides pertinent
aviation weather information tailored to accommodate pilots at the preflight
and en route stages. The service permits specialists to assist pilots in making
decisions and calculations based on weather determinants.

(h) Aviation Weather Briefing Service (AWBS): This is a fully interpretive
preflight and en route weather briefing service provided toll-free by selected
FSSs in each region. These sites are equipped with a full suite of weather
products, including satellite and radar imagery. Briefers are trained to adapt
meteorological information to fit the needs of all aviation users and to provide
consultation and advice on special weather problems. Flight documentation for
long-range flights is also available, on request. This level of service is
described as W1 in the CFS and WAS.

(i) VFR Alerting Service: The FSS notifies SAR and conducts a communications
search in the event that a VFR flight plan or flight itinerary is not closed within
a specified time, or upon receiving an overdue report for an aircraft.

(j) Aeronautical Broadcast Service: The FSS broadcasts weather and other
information required by pilots to plan and/or complete a flight safely.

(k) Navigation Assistance Service: The FSS provides VDF assistance, at sites
where the system is installed, to aircraft in emergency or potential emergency
situations, or when requested by a pilot. Other navigation assistance may also
be provided, depending on facilities available.

(l) Navigation Aids Monitoring Service: The FSS monitors the status of
navigation aids as assigned, and takes appropriate corrective and notification
action should abnormal operation occur.

(m) NOTAM Service: For designated locations and/or areas assigned to it, the FSS
is the office responsible for co-ordination and dissemination of NOTAM.

(n) PIREPs (Pilot Reports): The FSS collects and distributes pilot reports of
weather and other significant flight information.

(o) Fixed Telecommunications Service: The FSS is connected to fixed
telecommunications networks so that operational and administrative messages
may be exchanged among FSS, other domestic and international aeronautical
agencies, and aircraft in flight.

(p) Domestic Paid Air-Ground Message Service (DPAG): The FSS relays Flight
Regularity Messages between an aircraft and the aircraft operating agency, and
vice versa, when the agency subscribes to the service for an annual cost.

The majority of FSS provide flight information services, 24 hr a day, to the airports
where they are located and to any number of RCOs assigned to them. Advisory
services will also be provided from these FSS at controlled airports when the control
towers are closed.

The wind direction is stated to the nearest 10° and the wind speed to the nearest 5 kt.
Gusts are stated by giving the peak wind speed to the nearest 5 kt.

Aircraft traffic is a summary of known pertinent aircraft that may affect the aircraft’s
safety, preceded by the phrase “TRAFFIC.” In addition, the phrase “NO REPORTED
TRAFFIC,” when there is no known pertinent traffic, is not stated unless traffic is
specifically requested by the pilot.

Ground traffic is a summary of known pertinent vehicles or pedestrians that may affect
the aircraft’s safety, preceded by the word “TRAFFIC.” The phrase “NO REPORTED
TRAFFIC,” when there is no known pertinent traffic, is not stated unless traffic is
specifically requested by the pilot.

If the FSS Specialist becomes aware of a potential conflict, departing aircraft will be
requested to hold short of the active or preferred runway until the conflicting aircraft or
ground traffic is off the runway.

Certain FSSs are equipped with radar displays to aid in the provision of AAS to
aircraft operating within and in the vicinity of a control zone/mandatory frequency
area. (See paragraph RAC 1.5.8)