FSS

Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Aviation

FSS
Stands forFlight service station
CategoriesTransportation & Travel

FSS stands for Flight service station, an aviation abbreviation.

Air traffic facility that provides pilots with weather briefings, flight plan filing, NOTAMs and in-flight advisories but does not control traffic. Flight service in the contiguous US was contracted out in 2005, first to Lockheed Martin and now Leidos, and is reached at 1-800-WX-BRIEF.

Example: Call FSS before the cross-country to get a standard briefing and file a VFR flight plan.

Usage notes

On the radio an FSS uses the call sign "Radio," as in "Seattle Radio." VFR pilots who file and open a flight plan get search and rescue if the plan is not closed within 30 minutes of the ETA. Alaska's flight service stations remain operated by the FAA because of the state's heavy reliance on general aviation.

More aviation abbreviations

  • FE – Flight engineer
  • FIR – Flight information region
  • FL – Flight level
  • FMS – Flight management system
  • FO – First officer
  • FOD – Foreign object debris
  • GA – General aviation
  • GPU – Ground power unit
  • GS – Glideslope
  • HSI – Horizontal situation indicator
  • HUD – Head-up display
  • IA – Inspection Authorization

See all 142 aviation abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.