Comments on: "VFR not recommended" not recommended

By: david

david — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 12:20:32 +0000

Paul’s been flying for a while (and is based in the U.S. right now). In Ottawa, before the Quebec FIC took over, I think that pilots used to call the Gatineau FSS for briefings. In Oshawa, before the London FIC took over, I assume that pilots used to call the Buttonville FSS, but I never flew into Oshawa.

By: FSS

FSS — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 07:51:39 +0000

As for the phrase VFNR in Canada, It was always used as a “cover your ass” for the specialist and Nav Canada. However, NavCan realized that if us as briefers were saying VFNR in 9 out of 10 briefings, but the 1 where it wasn’t said, but should have (based on the subjective requirements) resulted in an accident, there could be a whole world of liability. Thus the phrase has been dropped. As a specialist, I believe the phrase for the most part, was most beneficial low time pilots with poor weather knowledge or english as a second language. Would get there attention immediately.
As far as I know, the FSS in the states have a reputation for using VFNR even if one station out of ten along the route was reporting CB’s with all the rest being CAVU.
Out of curiosity with a question to Paul Tomblin, who do you call for a briefing in Oshawa or Ottawa? You mean London?

By: Paul Tomblin

Paul Tomblin — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 17:55:20 +0000

The problem with “VFNR” is that it was applied so inconstently even within the same FSS, at least in the US. There was one briefer who frequently said “VFNR” at the beginning of a briefing for a local flight, even though the ceiling was going to stay above 5,000 feet for several hours. Another would not say it even with ceilings at 2,500 and rain.

I don’t know if my experiences are typical, but I’ve found calling weather briefers in both Oshawa and Ottawa that they are *far* more forthcoming with information that isn’t in the standard briefing. They’d tell me what the forecast said, and then add why they thought the forecast might be wrong or why the radar map I was looking at didn’t show the whole story.