Lockheed Martin Flight Services (LMFS), the company that operates U.S. flight service stations (FSS) on behalf of the FAA, will consolidate Flight Watch services with other routine FSS in-flight frequencies to eliminate duplication of pilot services, effective September 24 , the FAA announced last week. Traditionally the En Route Flight Advisory Service (EFAS)—Flight Watch—has been available anywhere in the U.S. on 122.0. The FAA will discontinue using 122.0 for both Flight Watch and Hi-Watch and make those services available on 122.2 and all remote communications outlet frequencies.
"None of these changes will affect core flight service safety functions such as search-and-rescue, emergency services, Notice to Airmen [Notam] entry and dissemination, and pilot weather reports," said Steven Villanueva, deputy director of flight service in the ATO's system operations service unit. LMFS personnel will continue to monitor the old EFAS frequencies for six months to give pilots time to adjust to the changes.