ATC myths and misconceptions.
Dear All,
Thought it might be worth exploding a few myths about the dark world of ATC for our pilot colleagues. Came up with these, perhaps you can add some more gems of enlightenment?:
1) There are NO Approach Radar controllers actually at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. It's all done from TC at West Drayton. (Thames Radar and SVFR excepted, they ARE at EGLL)
2) Just 'cos you've been issued with a squawk, you aren't necesarily getting a RADAR service.
3) NERC (Swanwick Centre) will provide a 30% capcity increase....errrr, NO. It won't.
4)When ATC say "NO DELAY", what they mean is that that possible delay is less than 20 minutes. Honest. This could mean FOUR times around the hold. EATs will be usually be available if the *average* delay gets above 20 mins.
I'm sure you can add to this short list, which is a result of a brief CRM training session (in the bar, where all the BEST CRM training is done).
Rgds
BEX