Narrative:

Aircraft X called the preflight position and requested IFR clearance from vtn-fsd. I put the pilot on hold to obtain the clearance. I could not access graphic data that indicated the sector number for vtn. I used book data and could not contact the sector indicated. I contacted ZMP watch desk to request the clearance. We determined that I needed to contact ZDV for clearance. Since we don't have interphone access to ZDV I attempted to go agent unavailable to either call ZDV or xfer the pilot to olu FD for clearance. I could not change to agent unavailable to place the call. I then took the pilot off of hold and explained the situation. I read the number from the caller identification and asked if I could release his call; obtain the clearance; and call him back. He agreed. I attempted to call ZDV 2 times and got busy signals. On the 3RD attempt I was dumped into a voice mailbox. I then called the ZDV area manager. He went to the position with a cordless phone to get the clearance. When he reached the position I could hear act X airborne and calling for clearance. The supervisor said the controller was giving the pilot a clearance. Although the vtn WX was lifr and extreme thunderstorms were in the area I don't blame the pilot for departing without a clearance. 10 mins or more of waiting with an emergency patient onboard while we try and access control facilities to obtain a clearance is unreasonable. The fs-21 system is filled with constant communication problems. FSS specialists should be able to have instant communication with all ATC facilities in the area they are servicing. This is not an isolated situation. Most attempts to contact control facilities for clrncs or cancellations are met with equipment failures; data failures or phone system that just don't work. The fs-21 system lacks graphics or visual references that give you situational awareness and allows you a smooth work flow. Fs-21 ATC find for ZDV and other control facilities are not available to our facility yet. We service numerous aircraft in these areas every day. If this function was available throughout our service area it would help to alleviate the problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COU AFSS CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING LACK OF LANDLINE COMS WITH VARIOUS ATC FACS NEEDED TO OBTAIN IFR CLRNCS.

Narrative: ACFT X CALLED THE PREFLT POS AND REQUESTED IFR CLRNC FROM VTN-FSD. I PUT THE PLT ON HOLD TO OBTAIN THE CLRNC. I COULD NOT ACCESS GRAPHIC DATA THAT INDICATED THE SECTOR NUMBER FOR VTN. I USED BOOK DATA AND COULD NOT CONTACT THE SECTOR INDICATED. I CONTACTED ZMP WATCH DESK TO REQUEST THE CLRNC. WE DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT ZDV FOR CLRNC. SINCE WE DON'T HAVE INTERPHONE ACCESS TO ZDV I ATTEMPTED TO GO AGENT UNAVAILABLE TO EITHER CALL ZDV OR XFER THE PLT TO OLU FD FOR CLRNC. I COULD NOT CHANGE TO AGENT UNAVAILABLE TO PLACE THE CALL. I THEN TOOK THE PLT OFF OF HOLD AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I READ THE NUMBER FROM THE CALLER ID AND ASKED IF I COULD RELEASE HIS CALL; OBTAIN THE CLRNC; AND CALL HIM BACK. HE AGREED. I ATTEMPTED TO CALL ZDV 2 TIMES AND GOT BUSY SIGNALS. ON THE 3RD ATTEMPT I WAS DUMPED INTO A VOICE MAILBOX. I THEN CALLED THE ZDV AREA MGR. HE WENT TO THE POS WITH A CORDLESS PHONE TO GET THE CLRNC. WHEN HE REACHED THE POS I COULD HEAR ACT X AIRBORNE AND CALLING FOR CLRNC. THE SUPVR SAID THE CTLR WAS GIVING THE PLT A CLRNC. ALTHOUGH THE VTN WX WAS LIFR AND EXTREME TSTMS WERE IN THE AREA I DON'T BLAME THE PLT FOR DEPARTING WITHOUT A CLRNC. 10 MINS OR MORE OF WAITING WITH AN EMER PATIENT ONBOARD WHILE WE TRY AND ACCESS CTL FACILITIES TO OBTAIN A CLRNC IS UNREASONABLE. THE FS-21 SYS IS FILLED WITH CONSTANT COM PROBS. FSS SPECIALISTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE INSTANT COM WITH ALL ATC FACILITIES IN THE AREA THEY ARE SVCING. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION. MOST ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT CTL FACILITIES FOR CLRNCS OR CANCELLATIONS ARE MET WITH EQUIP FAILURES; DATA FAILURES OR PHONE SYS THAT JUST DON'T WORK. THE FS-21 SYS LACKS GRAPHICS OR VISUAL REFS THAT GIVE YOU SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND ALLOWS YOU A SMOOTH WORK FLOW. FS-21 ATC FIND FOR ZDV AND OTHER CTL FACILITIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO OUR FACILITY YET. WE SVC NUMEROUS ACFT IN THESE AREAS EVERY DAY. IF THIS FUNCTION WAS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT OUR SVC AREA IT WOULD HELP TO ALLEVIATE THE PROB.

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.