IFR Flight Plans in Sequestration era

[George Glackin]

I flew on Mon Apr 22, the first rough day with Sequestration.  I wanted to file between two non-towered, small airports, KOQN & KDQH.  I couldn't find any typically filed ATC routes so put DIRECT in via DUATS.  When I called for clearance the controller went offline for 11 minutes, came back on to say she needed a few more minutes, then gave me a routing that took me about 200 miles west before coming back east.   After many tries in flight with approach controllers, who said they would reroute but didn't, I decided to land and refile.

I've never seen so little help and wonder if this is intentional or simply too busy.  Other experiences?

As I've thought about others tactics I could take, I think that for small fields I'll always put a VOR fix into the requested routing near each field to up the odds of success.

[Richard Druschel]

Hi George,
I am not familiar with your two airports, but if there is considerable distance between I would suggest "helping" the controllers by inputting intermediate fixes. This generally has helped in the past when we have had FAA/controller issues.
Dick

[Tom Turner]

I've always found best results come from filing to a nearby VOR or intersection, then to a VOR or IAF for my destination airport.  For example, departing Beech Field in Wichita for the Beechcraft Heritage Museum at Tullahoma, Tennessee, I file KBEC-PNC (the Ponca City VOR) - SYI (the Shelbyville VOR) - KTHA. 

Rarely does doing this strategy take me more than a few miles out of my way, and it lets me pick a route to stay out of the frequently hot MOAs east of Wichita.  It gives me something nearby to aim for just after takeoff, in case I need help with situational awareness in a busy or abnormal situation.  And, chances are pretty good I'll want to aim for an IAF for the destination regardless if I'm flying IFR, and if it's VMC I'll get the visual when I get there anyhow.  So helping "the system" helps me as well, sequestration or not.

I certianly hope the delay and "unusual" routing was not intentional.  Remember, it wasn't the FAA doing this to make a point, the FAA layoffs themselves were done as a result of Congressional action (perhaps to make a point).

[Jay Ledvina]

I have had two long IFR flights here in the DC area since the furloughs .  I noticed no change in response time or controller "busyness".  I did file the normal expected routing for flights around Dulles and received the clearances as usual.   

[Lewis Gage]

If the president would stop squandering federal funds on multiple million dollar family vacations and take away a few many thousands of the free cell phones together with the many other federal give aways to people that are non contributors to the wellfare of the country, that have been in vogue for the past years, we could probably have increased the staffing of all ATC facilities from whatever it was at the peak, not decreased it. Do not hold your breath for any of that to happen.

Regards,  Lew Gage

[Richard Druschel]

Amen, Lew.
Dick

[Jay Ledvina]

My daughter's solution is to ground Air Force 1 and use those funds to keep ATC going AND pay for the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds 2013 season.  She adds that it should be grounded while Obama is in France!!! 

[Ron Hensley]

A very smart and astute young woman your daughter is....

Regards,
Ron

[Jimmy Borger]

I file and fly IFR almost daily and haven't seen any difference in service.  Maybe somebody was having a bad day and took it out on you.  I do file to a waypoint, such as an intersection or VOR, and then direct from there.