Plain English Meaning

When you can't talk to Center directly, you call Flight Service and they pass your message to Center, then pass Center's reply back to you.

Full Definition

A communication procedure in which a pilot, unable to reach Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) directly because of a radio frequency outage or weak signal, contacts a Flight Service Station (FSS) and asks the FSS specialist to pass messages between the pilot and ARTCC.

Context Anchor

Seen in instrument procedures for an Air Route Traffic Control Center radio frequency outage, when the normal controller is unusable.