Plain English Meaning

A government service pilots call or radio for weather, flight plans, and other flight-related information and assistance.

Full Definition

An FAA-operated facility that provides pilots with preflight and in-flight information, including weather briefings, flight plan filing and activation, search and rescue initiation, and other advisory services. Pilots typically contact Flight Service by phone before flight or by radio in flight.

Context Anchor

Pilots encounter Flight Service during preflight planning, weather briefings, flight plan handling, and in-flight decision-making when they need updated information away from the ground.

Derivation

The name comes from the older : a set up to serve pilots with flight information. The modern term keeps that idea, even though many contacts now happen by phone, radio, or online rather than at a local station.