Spearing Britney
9th Aug 2002, 12:46
Have been operating into East Midlands for a few months now and have a few queries some of you might be able to help with...
1) Why oh why does the ATIS update every half a second, often with no relevant change (240@5kts changing to 250@5kts is of no interest!!). This regularly wastes time in radio exchanges over which info is current. Then with ATC telling crews they are two letters out of date, crews going off air at busy times to get new, though unchanged, ATIS is just plain silly; why not change ATIS every 30 mins at 20 and 50 with extra changes only if required (works well at LHR amongst others).
2) Re the ATIS changing, ground opens and closes like an I don't know what!!! I know they are understaffed at times but if they could change ATIS every 30 mins and tie that up with ground being open for multiples of 30 mins life would be easier for all wouldnt it?
2) That frequency change through Manchester inbound - why? Can't they just let EMA traffic through there under EMA control? You are only with them for maybe a minute and they havent said anything to me in three months except change to EMA...
3) Be below FL100 at SAPCO - fine, understand that they have to say that to keep us in their air but often we cant get any lower and a bus at 100 at SAPCO is gonna need extra track miles or an uncomfortable gear down, speedbrakes out scramble. Not a good idea when you are listening to new but unchanged ATIS's and making frequency changes to controllers who never tell you to do anything else but talk to someone else instead!!
All minor niggles really, a good field to operate from but could be better with the above resolved... If anyone can tell me what I'm missing it would be appreciated.
P.S. Do the hugely agressive managment (eyeballing crews to turn APU's off with dodgy ground power and 220 pax onboard at night - serving notices when they refuse etc etc) hassle the ATCO's there too?
1) Why oh why does the ATIS update every half a second, often with no relevant change (240@5kts changing to 250@5kts is of no interest!!). This regularly wastes time in radio exchanges over which info is current. Then with ATC telling crews they are two letters out of date, crews going off air at busy times to get new, though unchanged, ATIS is just plain silly; why not change ATIS every 30 mins at 20 and 50 with extra changes only if required (works well at LHR amongst others).
2) Re the ATIS changing, ground opens and closes like an I don't know what!!! I know they are understaffed at times but if they could change ATIS every 30 mins and tie that up with ground being open for multiples of 30 mins life would be easier for all wouldnt it?
2) That frequency change through Manchester inbound - why? Can't they just let EMA traffic through there under EMA control? You are only with them for maybe a minute and they havent said anything to me in three months except change to EMA...
3) Be below FL100 at SAPCO - fine, understand that they have to say that to keep us in their air but often we cant get any lower and a bus at 100 at SAPCO is gonna need extra track miles or an uncomfortable gear down, speedbrakes out scramble. Not a good idea when you are listening to new but unchanged ATIS's and making frequency changes to controllers who never tell you to do anything else but talk to someone else instead!!
All minor niggles really, a good field to operate from but could be better with the above resolved... If anyone can tell me what I'm missing it would be appreciated.
P.S. Do the hugely agressive managment (eyeballing crews to turn APU's off with dodgy ground power and 220 pax onboard at night - serving notices when they refuse etc etc) hassle the ATCO's there too?