Narrative:

A pilot reported being in light clear ice and needing to descend. I got all the information needed for a PIREP and instructed my flight data controller to relay this to AFSS. When AFSS answered the line and was told that we had a PIREP; their first question was the aircraft call sign. FAA form 7110.2 (PIREPS) does not require this information; nor have I ever been asked for a call sign in 19 yrs of forwarding PIREPS. The flight data controller had to check back with me to get the call sign. Last week we started noticing that a significant number of flight plans all of a sudden starting listing 4 character airport identifiers (mgm..pdk). We had all seen this on the occasional international military flight; but now about 40% of the GA flts are getting it. Somehow; we have pinned it down to AFSS using a new procedure. In feb; our servicing AFSS (anb) was consolidated into a hub facility in leesburg; va. I don't know if these changes are related to that consolidation or not. These changes may seem minor; but when working busy traffic; unexpected new procedures are a distraction. They also generate distracting conversations and speculations. If lockheed-martin or anyone is going to create new procedures that will impact us; then we should be briefed before the procedures are implemented so we are not distraction by these little surprises on position. I don't know if the new procedures are better or worse; or what purpose they serve; but would like to find out about them when I have time to ask a question or get a complete briefing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MGM CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING NEW AFSS PROCS THAT ARE APPARENTLY A RESULT OF CONTRACTING OUT AND CONSOLIDATING AFSS SERVICES/FACS.

Narrative: A PLT RPTED BEING IN LIGHT CLR ICE AND NEEDING TO DSND. I GOT ALL THE INFO NEEDED FOR A PIREP AND INSTRUCTED MY FLT DATA CTLR TO RELAY THIS TO AFSS. WHEN AFSS ANSWERED THE LINE AND WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD A PIREP; THEIR FIRST QUESTION WAS THE ACFT CALL SIGN. FAA FORM 7110.2 (PIREPS) DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS INFO; NOR HAVE I EVER BEEN ASKED FOR A CALL SIGN IN 19 YRS OF FORWARDING PIREPS. THE FLT DATA CTLR HAD TO CHK BACK WITH ME TO GET THE CALL SIGN. LAST WEEK WE STARTED NOTICING THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FLT PLANS ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTING LISTING 4 CHARACTER ARPT IDENTIFIERS (MGM..PDK). WE HAD ALL SEEN THIS ON THE OCCASIONAL INTL MIL FLT; BUT NOW ABOUT 40% OF THE GA FLTS ARE GETTING IT. SOMEHOW; WE HAVE PINNED IT DOWN TO AFSS USING A NEW PROC. IN FEB; OUR SVCING AFSS (ANB) WAS CONSOLIDATED INTO A HUB FACILITY IN LEESBURG; VA. I DON'T KNOW IF THESE CHANGES ARE RELATED TO THAT CONSOLIDATION OR NOT. THESE CHANGES MAY SEEM MINOR; BUT WHEN WORKING BUSY TFC; UNEXPECTED NEW PROCS ARE A DISTR. THEY ALSO GENERATE DISTRACTING CONVERSATIONS AND SPECULATIONS. IF LOCKHEED-MARTIN OR ANYONE IS GOING TO CREATE NEW PROCS THAT WILL IMPACT US; THEN WE SHOULD BE BRIEFED BEFORE THE PROCS ARE IMPLEMENTED SO WE ARE NOT DISTR BY THESE LITTLE SURPRISES ON POS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE NEW PROCS ARE BETTER OR WORSE; OR WHAT PURPOSE THEY SERVE; BUT WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THEM WHEN I HAVE TIME TO ASK A QUESTION OR GET A COMPLETE BRIEFING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.