Lockheed Martin Corp. has been granted a $356 million, three-year contract option by the FAA to continue serving the general aviation community under a Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS) contract. The option will begin Oct. 1.
“Lockheed Martin is proud of the service its flight service specialists provide to the general aviation industry,” said Jim Derr, Lockheed Martin Flight Service Program Director. “We are excited to have the opportunity to continue providing the most accurate and reliable flight service briefings available.”
Under the AFSS contract, which was initially awarded in 2005, Lockheed Martin has employed technology enhancements and a hub system that has modernized flight services, according to company officials. Flight planning is now streamlined and allows the sharing of weather and flight plan statuses across the entire Lockheed Martin AFSS network.
Lockheed Martin has a more than 40-year partnership with the FAA and is the leading IT provider to the U.S. government. With continued FAA oversight, Lockheed Martin will maintain deliverance of flight services for CONUS, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
For more information: LockheedMartin.com
Only big business (Medicine) and right wing politics seem to have commented on your FSS story. I don’t consider either comment very relevant nor aviation related.
As for me, I have found the Lockheed-Martin FSS difficult, slow, lacking in local information/knowledge. From a long time pre L-M FSS user, I have gotten to the point that I very rarely use them. More and better weather is available elsewhere on the web. I get NOTAMs on the web. I will occasionally make a PIREP if there are important conditions to notify my fellow aviators about….but otherwise, I avoid today’s FSS. Lockheed-Martin FSS isn’t very good…certainly not worth my money.
I used the LM FSS last week. What a nice difference. The phone was answered within 30 seconds. The information provided was excellent. While in the air, the briefer was prompt and very informative. Another reason why American companies are and will always be more efficient than the USG. The only time the USG is efficient, is when the IRS wants their money.
No question. FSS under L-M is a totally different and 100% improved facility. It’s a pleasure to work with them. Another example of how the private sector can vastly improve a presumably and necessarily captive Gov’t service. Think health plan.