General discussion for aviators

Flight plan hell, Tales of filing an ADIZ flight plan

I filed an ADIZ/FRZ flight plan yesterday that went to the wrong Center.
Not once, not twice, not three times, but four times. It turns out that
even if you file with Leesburg FSS for a DC area ADIZ plan it can be
automatically routed to the wrong facility.

I called Friday evening checked weather, notams TFR’s, etc. and filed
two flight plans. One ADIZ fro the next morning to get from Culpeper to
Frederick, MD and then onto Grimes (8N1). Great place.
www.goldenageair.org The other was for Sunday afternoon Westminster VOR
(EMI) to Hyde Field (W32) where my job is based. Yes you can file for
more than 24 hours in advance. The first flight plan went off without a
hitch. I called Sunday morning to file my work related super secret
flight plans and check on my previously filed flight plan suspicious
that it was already gone. It was still there!

I took off out of Grimes around 12:30 to pick up ADIZ flight plan over
EMI around 13:00. I arrived over EMI at 13:05 and called Potomac
Approach. He could not find the flight plan. I waited a few minutes and
called again. He said it was still not there. I was pissed! I believed
it was lost and landed at Carroll County. I called Leesburg and Asked to
speak to the supervisor. He told me it was there and sent it again. I
took off confident that it was finally there. Upon climbing out I called
Potomac once again and he told me it was not there. By now I was truly
upset. I was going to be late for work. I thought they were screwing
with me. Some of the controllers know my voice since I fly the ADIZ/FRZ
so frequently. Some also do not like me. Improper service results in a
phone call to QA/QC.

Knowing I had a flight plan in the system, I called  Leesburg again on
the air to air. The quality of their transmitter was poor and this added
to the frustration. I finally got the message across and she once again
transmitted the plan. It finally had come through. I was able to finally
get one my way towards Hyde Field with the requisite "remain clear of
Class B and FRZ". Once I landed and parked I called Leesburg and asked
to speak to the supervisor. He recognized my voice and starting
apologizing profusely.

It turns out that the default routing code for Flight plans originating
at Westminster (EMI) is New York center. Huh? EMI is 20 or so miles for
Baltimore? He went on to explain. In order to streamline things New York
center has control of  flights from EMI north, includes EMI. Potomac
hands off directly to New York Center, taking Washington Center out of
the loop. A very short loop for Jets. To get around the flight plan
routing problem Leesburg has to manually change the routing for the
flight plan to make sure it gets to Washington, DC and then on to
Potomac. They failed to do this four times.

I asked him where to send the bill. he said "you can send it here but we
don’t have any money to pay it."
So next time you file from the north over EMI Make you the Briefer
enters the correct routing code so you flight plan is available.

Michelle

Comments (24)




24 Responses to “Flight plan hell, Tales of filing an ADIZ flight plan”

  1. admin says:

    Gees!!  Ok, now how long will it be before the news media blames some
    innocent pilot for filing his flight plan "with the wrong facility"??
    Jim

  2. admin says:

    "Michelle P" <thecatsandiSPAMMeIfYouD…@earthlink.net> wrote in
    message news:dhCAe.8527$aY6.8371@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net

    > It turns out that the default routing code for Flight plans
    > originating at Westminster (EMI) is New York center. …
    > So next time you file from the north over EMI Make you the Briefer
    > enters the correct routing code so you flight plan is available.

    This is a pretty well documented "feature" of the ADIZ.  As soon as I saw
    EMI in your story, I knew what was coming.  :)


    John T
    http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
    http://www.pocketgear.com/products_search.asp?developerid=4415
    Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://spf.pobox.com
    ____________________

  3. admin says:

    Well it was new to me. I usually do not try  to enter from the direction.
    Michelle

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    John T wrote:
    >"Michelle P" <thecatsandiSPAMMeIfYouD…@earthlink.net> wrote in
    >message news:dhCAe.8527$aY6.8371@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net

    >>It turns out that the default routing code for Flight plans
    >>originating at Westminster (EMI) is New York center. …
    >>So next time you file from the north over EMI Make you the Briefer
    >>enters the correct routing code so you flight plan is available.

    >This is a pretty well documented "feature" of the ADIZ.  As soon as I saw
    >EMI in your story, I knew what was coming.  :)

  4. admin says:

    John T wrote:
    > "Michelle P" <thecatsandiSPAMMeIfYouD…@earthlink.net> wrote in
    > message news:dhCAe.8527$aY6.8371@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net

    > > It turns out that the default routing code for Flight plans
    > > originating at Westminster (EMI) is New York center. …
    > > So next time you file from the north over EMI Make you the Briefer
    > > enters the correct routing code so you flight plan is available.

    > This is a pretty well documented "feature" of the ADIZ.  As soon as I saw
    > EMI in your story, I knew what was coming.  :)

    Take Amtrak next time and stop bothering the Federal employees, jeez
    how many Orville Wrights do they have to be interrupted by?

    JG

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > —
    > John T
    > http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
    > http://www.pocketgear.com/products_search.asp?developerid=4415
    > Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://spf.pobox.com
    > ____________________

  5. admin says:

    On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 22:20:57 GMT, Michelle P
    <thecatsandiSPAMMeIfYouD…@earthlink.net> wrote in
    <dhCAe.8527$aY6.8…@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net>::

    >I filed an ADIZ/FRZ flight plan yesterday that went to the wrong Center.
    >Not once, not twice, not three times, but four times.

    Don’t you feel a lot safer from terrorism?  :-)

  6. admin says:

    "John T" <j…@his.isp> wrote in message

    news:42d306c9$0$22329$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com…

    >> It turns out that the default routing code for Flight plans
    >> originating at Westminster (EMI) is New York center. …
    >> [...]

    > This is a pretty well documented "feature" of the ADIZ.

    Documented where?  I realize that pilots are required to be familiar with
    "all available information", but in reality there is a practical limit to
    just how much research a pilot is expected to do prior to takeoff.

  7. admin says:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    Michelle P wrote:
    > Well it was new to me. I usually do not try  to enter from the direction.
    > Michelle

    > John T wrote:

    >> "Michelle P" <thecatsandiSPAMMeIfYouD…@earthlink.net> wrote in
    >> message news:dhCAe.8527$aY6.8371@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net

    >>> It turns out that the default routing code for Flight plans
    >>> originating at Westminster (EMI) is New York center. …
    >>> So next time you file from the north over EMI Make you the Briefer
    >>> enters the correct routing code so you flight plan is available.

    >> This is a pretty well documented "feature" of the ADIZ.  As soon as I
    >> saw EMI in your story, I knew what was coming.  :)

    This would explain what happened to me returning from New York over
    Memorial day.  I had filed with leeburgs and when I got near Golda
    called up and they had no record of it. Filed from the air and it still
    took a long while for them to get it.  probable cost me 1/2 hours of
    cirling to get back in.

    john

  8. admin says:

    I’ve never understood why ALL flight plans can’t be available to ALL
    FFS’s, Centers, Approaches and even Flightwatches. Type in an N number
    and you get all unexpired flight plans for that N number out of one
    central database.

    This would stop this "what FSS did you file with" question.

    Although there might be some way to use this to your advantage.

  9. admin says:

    EMI is in New York Center’s airspace.  DMW (which is north of EMI) is in
    ZDC’s airspace.  Have your briefer file DMW instead of EMI, and you’ll be
    ok.

    Les

    "Michelle P" <thecatsandiSPAMMeIfYouD…@earthlink.net> wrote in message

    news:dhCAe.8527$aY6.8371@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    >I filed an ADIZ/FRZ flight plan yesterday that went to the wrong Center.
    >Not once, not twice, not three times, but four times. It turns out that
    >even if you file with Leesburg FSS for a DC area ADIZ plan it can be
    >automatically routed to the wrong facility.

    > I called Friday evening checked weather, notams TFR’s, etc. and filed two
    > flight plans. One ADIZ fro the next morning to get from Culpeper to
    > Frederick, MD and then onto Grimes (8N1). Great place.
    > http://www.goldenageair.org The other was for Sunday afternoon Westminster VOR
    > (EMI) to Hyde Field (W32) where my job is based. Yes you can file for more
    > than 24 hours in advance. The first flight plan went off without a hitch.
    > I called Sunday morning to file my work related super secret flight plans
    > and check on my previously filed flight plan suspicious that it was
    > already gone. It was still there!

    > I took off out of Grimes around 12:30 to pick up ADIZ flight plan over EMI
    > around 13:00. I arrived over EMI at 13:05 and called Potomac Approach. He
    > could not find the flight plan. I waited a few minutes and called again.
    > He said it was still not there. I was pissed! I believed it was lost and
    > landed at Carroll County. I called Leesburg and Asked to speak to the
    > supervisor. He told me it was there and sent it again. I took off
    > confident that it was finally there. Upon climbing out I called Potomac
    > once again and he told me it was not there. By now I was truly upset. I
    > was going to be late for work. I thought they were screwing with me. Some
    > of the controllers know my voice since I fly the ADIZ/FRZ so frequently.
    > Some also do not like me. Improper service results in a phone call to
    > QA/QC.

    > Knowing I had a flight plan in the system, I called  Leesburg again on the
    > air to air. The quality of their transmitter was poor and this added to
    > the frustration. I finally got the message across and she once again
    > transmitted the plan. It finally had come through. I was able to finally
    > get one my way towards Hyde Field with the requisite "remain clear of
    > Class B and FRZ". Once I landed and parked I called Leesburg and asked to
    > speak to the supervisor. He recognized my voice and starting apologizing
    > profusely.

    > It turns out that the default routing code for Flight plans originating at
    > Westminster (EMI) is New York center. Huh? EMI is 20 or so miles for
    > Baltimore? He went on to explain. In order to streamline things New York
    > center has control of  flights from EMI north, includes EMI. Potomac hands
    > off directly to New York Center, taking Washington Center out of the loop.
    > A very short loop for Jets. To get around the flight plan routing problem
    > Leesburg has to manually change the routing for the flight plan to make
    > sure it gets to Washington, DC and then on to Potomac. They failed to do
    > this four times.

    > I asked him where to send the bill. he said "you can send it here but we
    > don’t have any money to pay it."
    > So next time you file from the north over EMI Make you the Briefer enters
    > the correct routing code so you flight plan is available.

    > Michelle

  10. admin says:

    "Peter Duniho" <NpOeStPe…@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> wrote in message

    news:11d69286c38jufb@corp.supernews.com

    > Documented where?

    There is no official documentation I know of.  I only know of this feature
    from the published experiences of pilots on local mail lists and
    discussions.

    I do agree with your point, though.  It’s stuff like this that makes
    transient flying in the ADIZ a bit risky.  It may help for folks travelling
    to the area to bookmark this link:

    http://www.dcpilots.org

    It has a searchable archive, but I admit unless you knew what you were
    looking for, stuff like the EMI->ZNY link would be hard to discover.


    John T
    http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
    http://www.pocketgear.com/products_search.asp?developerid=4415
    Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://spf.pobox.com
    ____________________

  11. admin says:

    Since I was going into the FRZ I could not air file. I have to call on
    the phone. That is why I landed.
    Michelle

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    John Theune wrote:
    > Michelle P wrote:

    >> Well it was new to me. I usually do not try  to enter from the
    >> direction.
    >> Michelle

    >> John T wrote:

    >>> "Michelle P" <thecatsandiSPAMMeIfYouD…@earthlink.net> wrote in
    >>> message news:dhCAe.8527$aY6.8371@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net

    >>>> It turns out that the default routing code for Flight plans
    >>>> originating at Westminster (EMI) is New York center. …
    >>>> So next time you file from the north over EMI Make you the Briefer
    >>>> enters the correct routing code so you flight plan is available.

    >>> This is a pretty well documented "feature" of the ADIZ.  As soon as
    >>> I saw EMI in your story, I knew what was coming.  :)

    > This would explain what happened to me returning from New York over
    > Memorial day.  I had filed with leeburgs and when I got near Golda
    > called up and they had no record of it. Filed from the air and it
    > still took a long while for them to get it.  probable cost me 1/2
    > hours of cirling to get back in.

    > john

  12. admin says:

    It is a hiarcical (sp?) structure not an flat one. It cannot get from
    one FSS to another without a request.
    Michelle

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    Doug wrote:
    >I’ve never understood why ALL flight plans can’t be available to ALL
    >FFS’s, Centers, Approaches and even Flightwatches. Type in an N number
    >and you get all unexpired flight plans for that N number out of one
    >central database.

    >This would stop this "what FSS did you file with" question.

    >Although there might be some way to use this to your advantage.

  13. admin says:

    Because the FSS Commodore C64 computers only have 64K of memory. They won’t
    all fit.

    "Doug" <anothern…@access4less.net> wrote in message

    news:1121137020.634584.273390@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > I’ve never understood why ALL flight plans can’t be available to ALL
    > FFS’s, Centers, Approaches and even Flightwatches. Type in an N number
    > and you get all unexpired flight plans for that N number out of one
    > central database.

    > This would stop this "what FSS did you file with" question.

    > Although there might be some way to use this to your advantage.

  14. admin says:

    Michelle, when I visit the area I’ll be sure to hire you to file the
    flight plans and ride shotgun…
    jeez, what a nightmare…

    denny

  15. admin says:

    On 11 Jul 2005 17:20:31 -0700, jgrov…@hotmail.com wrote:

    >Take Amtrak next time and stop bothering the Federal employees, jeez
    >how many Orville Wrights do they have to be interrupted by?

    >JG

    As if Orville was wrong.

    Isn’t Amtrak owned by the Federal Government?  The Post Office?

    Mike Weller

  16. admin says:

    I am guessing that the best solution is to request the ATC facility
    Watch Desk telephone number from the briefer you file your flight plan
    with and then call the watch desk from the ramp prior to engine start
    and verify with the ATC facility that they do indeed have your flight plan.

  17. admin says:

    john smith wrote:
    > I am guessing that the best solution is to request the ATC facility
    > Watch Desk telephone number from the briefer you file your flight plan
    > with and then call the watch desk from the ramp prior to engine start
    > and verify with the ATC facility that they do indeed have your flight plan.

    Oh boy, personnel have to drop what they’re doing and answer all these
    calls.
    They have enough problems just tracking and reporting hijacked
    airliners.

    JG

  18. admin says:

    > john smith wrote:
    >>I am guessing that the best solution is to request the ATC facility
    >>Watch Desk telephone number from the briefer you file your flight plan
    >>with and then call the watch desk from the ramp prior to engine start
    >>and verify with the ATC facility that they do indeed have your flight plan.
    jgrov…@hotmail.com wrote:
    > Oh boy, personnel have to drop what they’re doing and answer all these
    > calls.

    It’s their job!

  19. admin says:

    When I am flying out of or into the FRZ Directly I do call and get a
    code before leaving the ground.
    I was 40 minutes from my entry point and the approach control does not
    have the flight plan until about 20 minutes before. I believed calling
    FSS and verifying the existence would be ok since once they have been
    filed and verified I have had only a couple of flight plans lost.
    Michelle

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    john smith wrote:
    > I am guessing that the best solution is to request the ATC facility
    > Watch Desk telephone number from the briefer you file your flight plan
    > with and then call the watch desk from the ramp prior to engine start
    > and verify with the ATC facility that they do indeed have your flight
    > plan.

  20. admin says:

    On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 13:11:46 GMT, "Steve Foley"

    <steve.fo…@DELETE.att.net> wrote:
    >Because the FSS Commodore C64 computers only have 64K of memory. They won’t
    >all fit.

    I thought they were 16K Timex/Sinclair ZX81′s?

  21. admin says:

    ATP/Comm how much for the service?
    Lunch?
    Michelle

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    Denny wrote:
    >Michelle, when I visit the area I’ll be sure to hire you to file the
    >flight plans and ride shotgun…
    >jeez, what a nightmare…

    >denny

  22. admin says:

    > I thought they were 16K Timex/Sinclair ZX81′s?

    Ah yes, Sinclair.  I remember working with a Sinclair Scientific
    calculator – it reported the sine of 90 degrees as being 0.0000002315 or
    something like that.

    Jose

    Nothing takes longer than a shortcut.
    for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

  23. admin says:

    Jose wrote:
    > Ah yes, Sinclair.  I remember working with a Sinclair Scientific
    > calculator – it reported the sine of 90 degrees as being 0.0000002315 or
    > something like that.

    Intel inside?

    Stefan

  24. admin says:

    Zilog.

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    Stefan wrote:
    > Jose wrote:

    >> Ah yes, Sinclair.  I remember working with a Sinclair Scientific
    >> calculator – it reported the sine of 90 degrees as being 0.0000002315
    >> or something like that.

    > Intel inside?

    > Stefan

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