FSS aerodrome advisory service (AAS and RAAS)

An FSS runs AAS (on site) or RAAS (remote) at an uncontrolled aerodrome. Neither is ATC.

FSS, on site: AAS (Aerodrome Advisory Service):

• Serves arrival/departure phases at uncontrolled aerodromes and transit through an MF area (TC AIM GEN 5.1).
• Advises on the MF: runway, wind, air traffic, vehicle traffic, wake turbulence caution, aerodrome conditions, weather (RAC 1.1.2.2).
• MF reply to initial call: runway, wind, altimeter, then any traffic, wake turbulence, conditions (NAV CANADA VFR Phraseology, MF - Arrival/Circuits).
• Say "HAVE NUMBERS" if runway, wind, altimeter came from the previous aerodrome advisory. If from ATIS or AWOS/LWIS, say so on initial call (RAC 1.1.2.2).
• Relays ATC clearances and SVFR authorizations, routinely informs ACC of all IFR arrival times, relays VFR arrival report to a FIC on request (RAC 1.1.2.2).
• NOTAM, RSC, CRFI stay in an advisory 12 hr (domestic traffic) or 24 hr (international traffic) after dissemination. Older items: in pilot briefing, or ask (RAC 1.1.2.2).

Advisory is not a clearance (TP 1102, Radio Communication: Advisory Service):

• No tower, no clearance. FSS may give an advisory instead: wind, altimeter, favoured runway, reported traffic, ending "taxi and take off at your discretion".
• FSS does not exercise control of air traffic.
• Pilot owns traffic avoidance in Class E airspace, even with FSS traffic calls.

Other FSS services (RAC 1.1.2.3):

• Alerting service: defined in ATC service categories.
• Emergency assistance service: aid when lost, in adverse weather, or with an equipment failure.
• Weather observation service: recording and disseminating surface weather.

FSS, remote: RAAS (Remote Aerodrome Advisory Service): same information, issued from a remote FSS via RCO.

• Specialist cannot observe runways, taxiways, airspace, or weather. Wind and altimeter usually come from latest METAR or SPECI (RAC 1.1.2.3).
• Where an AWOS/LWIS VGM broadcast also exists: specialist can skip repeating wind/altimeter if pilot says on initial call it came from the broadcast (RAC 4.5.1).
• Specialist flags below-minima conditions in current METAR/SPECI, since entering the control zone then needs an IFR or SVFR authorization (RAC 4.5.1).
• Specialist passes on other significant weather from METAR, SPECI, SIGMET, AIRMET, or PIREP (RAC 4.5.1).

Vehicle control: VCS vs VAS

Trap: VCS instructs (on site); VAS only requests and cannot confirm (remote).

Practice