Hmmm Good Topic, but more on the ATC view.....
Putting the emergency services on alert is not "Back side covering" by ATC. It is good practice. Unless specifically told that there is no (serious) problem ATC always expect the worst and plan / alert accordingly. No-one, Pilot, ATC or Emergency services are caught out, that way. It is not second guessing.
ATC is primarily a SAFETY service (Safe. Orderly. Expeditious. In THAT order). ATCOs are trained thus.
So, as a PPL you have
what you consider to be a minor problem and end up being chased down the asphalt by the Fire Section, all Blue Lights and sirens because ATC put on a Full Emergency. So what? The Fire Section don't mind. It's what they're there for, and they like the practice. ATC don't mind, 'cos they acted out their responsibilties (Duty of Care et al). AND you didn't even PAY for it, so why are you so upset?
You get a little miffed (at the time) at all the song and dance that appears to be happening. THINK. What if? What if your percieved little problem wasn't so little after all? What if it lead to a bigger, more serious problem that you were so busy sorting out you didn't have time to tell ATC? Perhaps then you might be extremely grateful for the appearance of the emergency services?
Commercial Pilots sometimes have a different set of reasons for not telling ATC that there might be a problem. PUBLICITY. Of the unwanted kind. That is a different can of worms and not really the province of the Private Flying Forum. (By all means raise it on the ATC forum)
Back to PPLs (of which I am One). One more reason for not getting too upset at the attendance of the emergency services. I know from experience that they would very much rather go to lots of "false alarms", than "Fatally Injured" incidents. Particularly when their early attendance
might have made a difference. How do I know? My father was a FireFighter for 30+years. I've heard LOTS of stories and been around Firemen and Fire Stations for a LONG time.
One last "Story" of my own. One very wet and very windy day at a large airfield in Hampshire I happened to be the Tower Controller. Inbound was a VC10 to pick up some VIPs. The wind was very gusty, across the RWY and there were lots of squally showers. Not fun. In view of this I put the Fire Section on "Local Standby", which got them in their appliances, outside the station and ready to Roll, should it be neccessary.
As the inbound VC10 reaches 5 miles on a challenging PAR, Wing Commander xxxxx appears in the Tower. He spies the Fire Section, all blue lights etc and asks what "they think they're up to?". I explain. "Oh" says he "But don't you know it's only a VIP flight on the way out?". I was appalled that anyone could think like that,but bit my tongue, ignored the WingCo and continued watching the VC10 lurching down the final approach track. The joys of being civilian on an RAE Station
Rgds BEX
