decimal86
CPDLC.........don't get me started!!!! No it does not decrease my workload, indeed we are told that if traffic levels are high we should not use CPDLC for exactly this reason.
However it should be pointed out that the datalink possibilities we have now are at a very early stage of development, and this is really a very long term project. I am by nature a fairly cynical minded person, I am very wary of anything new in my job. But even I can see the potential for the future and the impact on our working lives. Whether the benefits to be had are worth the time, effort and money being poured into the project is not a decision for mere mortals such as myself!!
The other thin I dislike about datalink is that the silent control which is foreseen takes away the possibility of any situational awareness for the pilots, much discussed on the BBC's 'Crowded Skies' program, and subsequently in threads about the program in these forums.
bigmouth
This was the response I was looking for. I am very grateful to you for posting. Now I know that my clearance is ambiguous.
If I give a climb clearance with a rate of climb I would expect that rate of climb to be met throughout the whole climb, and I will explain why.
Situation: you have come to my freq F245 to F250 requesting climb F350. I give you "Climb F350 1500fpm or greater " The reason for this clearance is, 99% of the time, traffic. The rate will mean in
1 min you pass F260
2 mins F275
3 mins F290
4 mins F305
5 mins F320
6 mins F335
7 mins F350
These are the levels I expect you to achieve to keep clear of opposite tfc @ F270 crossing in 3 mins and tfc no.2 @ F320 crossing in 6 mins. If you carry out the climb in accordance with my clearance separation is assured.
But if you take it as an average, then your climb profile may be as follows
1 min pass F278
2 mins F296
3 mins F303
4 mins F308
5 mins F312
6 mins F330
7 mins F350
This would mean that at exactly 6 vmins you would achieve seperation with tfc at F320. But 10 seconds earlier at 5 min 50 sec you had a loss of separation with this traffic.
The second profile would be in line with a clearance such as "climb F350 be level in 7 minutes".
I am fully aware that there is a possibility that your a/c capabilites might prevent you from achieving a continuous roc, but if this is the case I would expect you to tell me.
Incidentally the example I give above is very similar to the incident I had a few weeks ago which prompted me to start this thread. 1000' seperation was achieved with 4.9NM opposite direction converging at 900kts plus. Very scary.
As a post script I would add that this is not intended as a wrist slap for bigmouth, I truly appreciate your comments, and shall take them on board. This was my point, that what I thought of as a simple clearance, unambiguous because that was what I had been taught, is actually open to misinterpretation.
Thanks to all for your views, keep em coming!!
