ATC IssuesA place where pilots may enter the 'lions den' that is Air Traffic Control in complete safety and find out the answers to all those obscure topics which you always wanted to know the answer to but were afraid to ask.
caviat: I dont know the particulars...that being said...
I would hope, really hope, that this is more of a misguided protest of the fees that an airline is faced with...
again, i dont know the particulars, but perhaps the profit was the issue, while the airlines are struggling, is the point...
example: just flew from SEA-SFO-SYD-MEL, with a ticket price of $1825 of which $770 was airport fees/taxes. So about 43% of my ticket was for fees..the airline is left with 58%, or about $1060 to pay for the aircraft, fuel, crew, and liability...
there are very few items that I pay for that have a 43 percent tax included in the sale price...
I actually felt bad for the airline...
now, case in point. NATS gives exceptional service...that is not the issue...message delivery by ryanair is an issue, but
I can see the point from the fox as well as the hound....
As an ATCO, I personally found this press release very insulting.
For a start, they way it is written implies that the sickness was somehow related to the £50 million payout (were we all too hungover to work?!).
Also, Ryanair abuse the filed flight plan far more than any other airline that I ever talk to. Despite this, we generally accommodate all requests and route all airlines as directly as possible, within safety, legal and procedural requirements.
With regards to a monopoly, yes this is true, but would any pilots like a choice of ATC providers operating the same airspace? This would be the only true non-monopoly. Ryanair could always fly out over the ocean (from Ireland) and through Brest control, or through the FIR to avoid NATS charges!
As for delays, NATS has European Delay Leagues up on its screens around Swanwick; before iFACTS training, we were often not even on the table, and even during the training we weren't the worst, despite being massively understaffed over the summer.
So, sorry Ryanair pilots, I will continue to be polite to you but you'll only get safe and orderly from me; no more expeditious for the time being. The only way we can get the message through to Mr O'Leary is by hitting him in the pocket.
So in FlightPathOBN's example, does anyone know how little of that actually goes to the ANSP?
Beware - in Europe the route charges don't belong to the ANSP but to the State. The unit charge for flights through the State's airspace may include elements for many other things - all 'explained' in Regulation (EC) No 1794/2006 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1191/2010.
Oh dear....not my usual style to lower myself to his level but if that Irish **** (purely used as an identifier with no disrespect intended to the great people of Eire :-) would like to join me in my office on Christmas Day morning anytime from 07.00 he can be assured of a hearty exchange of views.What a c##t!
I think that Mr O Leary and Mr Ratner are similar as both treat their customers with derision bordering on contempt, and I wonder if by talking about him even on a website we are pandering to his ego.
The irony is that real airlines such as British Airways, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, etc are cheaper to fly as customers and treat their passengers properly. This is particularly evident when there are unusual circumstances for passengers such as aircraft unservicabilities or weather "issues"
I think that Mr O Leary and Mr Ratner are similar as both treat their customers with derision bordering on contempt, and I wonder if by talking about him even on a website we are pandering to his ego.
