Definition
A service provided by a Flight Service Station (FSS) located at an airport that does not have a control tower, or where the tower is closed. The FSS specialist gives arriving and departing aircraft advisory information such as wind direction and speed, favored runway, altimeter setting, known traffic, and any pertinent airport conditions. It is advisory only; the FSS does not issue control instructions or clearances.
Plain English
At airports without an active control tower, a Flight Service Station can pass along helpful information to pilots — wind, runway in use, who else is in the pattern, and current conditions. The pilot still makes all the decisions; the FSS is just sharing what they know.
Context Anchor
Used when operating at an airport without an operating control tower where advisory information is available by radio.
Derivation
Advisory comes from advise, meaning to give information or guidance. That helps here because the service advises pilots; it does not issue commands or clearances.
Why Pilots Care
Gives pilots the situational awareness needed to operate safely when no tower controllers are present.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “service” means control or permission. Airport Advisory Service provides helpful airport information, but the pilot is still responsible for safe operation.
Example Sentence 1
Approaching the non-towered field, the pilot called the FSS for an airport advisory and was told the wind favored Runway 24 with two aircraft already in the pattern.
Example Sentence 2
Airport Advisory Service reported two other aircraft in the pattern and no reported traffic on final.