I posted this one many moons ago.Has there been any programs/addons developed that add a virtual FSS? I would love to file a flight plan and have the FSS tell me "VFR not recommended".That last bit of advice seems to be ignored by quite a few pilots and they end up in big problems (look at the book "They called it pilot error" by Robert L. Cohn a very good read)I suppose this could be done through online like VATSIM. but I'd like to see a seperate addon. I seem to recall a fellow here working on something like this. Any comments/suggestions?Andy

Hi Andy, No suggestion, but a comment.You're right, there is no "VFR not recommended" comment and it would be nice to see/hear. However, filing a flight plan or not, FS9's ATC will not give VFR clearance for taxi, takeoff or approaches in IFR conditions which is a pretty cool feature. I guess when it's borderline conditions it remains at the pilots discretion. Hopefully, as the pilot, you did your homework.

That is a very cool feature of FS9, I loaded up a flight in the Porter at PANC the other day, filed a VFR plan and then realized I did't have current real world weather, updated and it was like 2 miles vis and ATC would not let me taxi to the active, pretty cool! I sat there and listened to all the other flights announcing IFR plans! LOLRegards, MichaelKDFWhttp://mysite.verizon.net/res052cd/mybannercva1.jpgCalVirAir International VAwww.calvirair.comCougar Mountain Helicopters & Aviationwww.cgrmtnhelos.com

With this "VFR not recommnded" I have a real story to tell.I once was flying (real life) from Concord, CA to Avalon, CA on the island of Catalina. It was an early morning departure in summer. In summer you typically get a lot of morning fog (low stratus) along california coast. I called FSS for weather briefing. It was supposed to be a VFR trip. They gave me briefing and told me VFR not recommended. I knew this was because of the stratus. But after I finished talking to FSS I dialed the Avalon airport direct - they told they have 50 miles visibility with clear skies .. so what happens is that Avaon airport is on a ledge 1500 ft above sea level but the stratus never reaches above 800 ft - the airport was above the clouds but the briefer had no clue about it !! Obviously I flew and it was a perfect flight with no single cloud encounterd on my path ...Michael J.http://www.reality-xp.com/community/nr/rsc/rxp-higher.jpg

Yeah, FS9's atc not giving you clearance is pretty cool, but Michael story is the example I was looking for. Taking off from your home which is good to go, questionable weather enroute or at the destination which would lead to "VFR not recommended" by the FSS guy(or gal). yes, the pilot has to do his homework, but I'm just looking for that added touch of realism :)So while FS9's much improved ATC is very cool, it would be even cooler to have a FSS :)

And Radar Contact does not help in this matter?Rob "Holland&Holland" de Vries http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/Flying.gif"If it fly's, floats, or ######s; it's always cheaper to rent than to buy"

Hmmm, I dunno Rob, never used radar contact. I always thought that it was more for an IFR environment. I'll have to look into it. If you read the stories from NTSB some other books like two of my favorites:"Cross country flying" by R. randall Padfield and"Avoiding common pilot errors- an atc's view" by John Stewartyou'll get some great examples like leaving in a clear blue sky, you saw the channel 6 weather report and it looks like everything is great and all of a sudden an hour and half into your flight your in sudden clouds (and at that point you wished you would of taken the FSS folks advise).I'll look into radar contact. If it offers FSS I'll buy it right now.

I feel that FSS could add this plus many more features to FS. I would love to be able to file via flight planner a VFR flight and then open and close it on FSS within FS. Ms made some nice advancements for IFR flight with more to be added but VFR flights are still in need of some advancements. How nice would it be to file a VFR flight via flight planner and when you pick up flight following the controller hands you off to tower when about to enter your arrival field or when you file an IFR flight plan and cancel you have the option of "would like to cancel IFR and keep the code for flight following". Yep there sure are a lot of things that can be added on the freq to create a more real flight.NP

I remember that ProFlight 2000 had an FSS feature, but I'm not sure if it actually would give the "VFR Not Recommended" warning. I know they would open/close flight plans, provide center frequencies, etc. If you're interested in an FSS style weather briefing, check out the National Weather Services site here: http://aviationweather.gov/std_brief/ This page is orgnaized in a "briefing" type format and gives you similar information to what FSS would, but again, no "VFR Not Recommended".Regards,MarcMarc Gibson