A pilot called flight service to file an sfra (special flight rules area) flight plan; a flight serv...

Narrative:

We flew from ZZZ to richmond; va (kric). I [contacted] flight service to file an sfra (special flight rules area) flight plan back into ZZZ; per standard procedure to enter the sfra. I used the 1-800-wxbrief number. After a minute or two delay; I was answered by a flight service specialist. I informed the specialist that we had a pre-store on file; and after a brief time the specialist located the information. I explained that I needed to file an sfra flight plan into ZZZ; and provided our estimated time of arrival; cruising altitude for that leg of the flight; time enroute; fuel on board; and the number of persons on board.the flight service specialist replied that they could not accept the flight plan over the 1-800-wxbrief line; and provided another phone number. I recognized this number as being for filing into the frz (flight restricted zone) around washington (e.g.; to fly into college park; etc. The 'dc-3' airports; as they are known); as I also have clearance to fly into the frz. I explained that I did not need to enter the frz; but only to file an sfra flight plan as noted above. The flight service specialist was insistent that I could not file an sfra flight plan using the 1-800-wxbrief phone number. I gave up and said I'd air file; which I did successfully enroute via leesburg radio. (The system will not accept air filing of frz flight plans; but does accept air filed sfra flight plans.)this procedure of using the nationwide 1-800-wxbrief number for filing sfra flight plans has been in existence for years. I have used it both at ZZZ and from land lines at other airports; probably a few hundred times since the sfra flight plan procedure was implemented years ago. This is the first time that I have encountered a flight service specialist who told me that I could not use the 1-800-wxbrief phone number for filing an sfra flight plan. I do know that in the past; a call to the frz number was not acceptable for filing an sfra flight plan. They only accept flight plans to; from; and/or in the frz on that number. It seems that further education is needed for at least some FSS personnel regarding the sfra procedure; particularly when one considers that kric is so close (within 100 NM) of the sfra.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot called Flight Service to file an SFRA (Special Flight Rules Area) flight plan; a flight service specialist replied that she could not accept the flight plan over the 1-800-WXBRIEF line.

Narrative: We flew from ZZZ to Richmond; VA (KRIC). I [contacted] flight service to file an SFRA (Special Flight Rules Area) flight plan back into ZZZ; per standard procedure to enter the SFRA. I used the 1-800-WXBRIEF number. After a minute or two delay; I was answered by a flight service specialist. I informed the specialist that we had a pre-store on file; and after a brief time the specialist located the information. I explained that I needed to file an SFRA flight plan into ZZZ; and provided our estimated time of arrival; cruising altitude for that leg of the flight; time enroute; fuel on board; and the number of persons on board.The flight service specialist replied that they could not accept the flight plan over the 1-800-WXBRIEF line; and provided another phone number. I recognized this number as being for filing into the FRZ (Flight Restricted Zone) around Washington (e.g.; to fly into College Park; etc. the 'DC-3' airports; as they are known); as I also have clearance to fly into the FRZ. I explained that I did not need to enter the FRZ; but only to file an SFRA flight plan as noted above. The flight service specialist was insistent that I could not file an SFRA flight plan using the 1-800-WXBRIEF phone number. I gave up and said I'd air file; which I did successfully enroute via Leesburg Radio. (The system will not accept air filing of FRZ flight plans; but does accept air filed SFRA flight plans.)This procedure of using the nationwide 1-800-WXBRIEF number for filing SFRA flight plans has been in existence for years. I have used it both at ZZZ and from land lines at other airports; probably a few hundred times since the SFRA flight plan procedure was implemented years ago. This is the first time that I have encountered a flight service specialist who told me that I could not use the 1-800-WXBRIEF phone number for filing an SFRA flight plan. I do know that in the past; a call to the FRZ number was not acceptable for filing an SFRA flight plan. They only accept flight plans to; from; and/or in the FRZ on that number. It seems that further education is needed for at least some FSS personnel regarding the SFRA procedure; particularly when one considers that KRIC is so close (within 100 NM) of the SFRA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1365391
Time
Date	201606
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Parked
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	SVFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 7 Flight Crew Total 9500 Flight Crew Type 800
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A pilot called flight service to file an sfra (special flight rules area) flight plan; a flight service specialist replied that she could not accept the flight plan over the 1-800-wxbrief line.