Apologies for hijacking the thread!
Widger, your answer (so long as this doesn't turn into a widger waving contest (see what I've done there?? Do ya, do ya??!!))
If you're just fishing for a bite then all you've done is waste 10 minutes of my time...........if however, you'd like a sensible answer, read on..............
Do I detect that you feel I am trying to blow the "our job is harder than yours" FC trumpet? If so, that was not my intention at all. I would suggest that both FC, civil & mil controllers have similar aptitudes and probably abilities, but that FCs are (excluding Flight Safety) basically trying to achieve different aims to all the other ATS providers in the vicinity. I think that doing a 8 v 30 or so CQWI mission in OTA 'E' purely requires different training to doing LARS in the VoY (respect due!), or a busy sector at the NERC. All are challenging for different reasons. Now, if you contend that your job is more difficult / challenging / important than ours then that's fine, please carry on!
PS: Just checked the log book, within the last 5 years I have on 23 occasions controlled one side or the other of a more than 8 v more than 20. Also, have supervised both sides of such sorties on 17 occasions. CQWI, JMC, TACEVALs etc, both in Class B, G and in MDAs. Don't claim to be a world authority, but do feel this qualifies me to air a view! Also, within the last year, I have spent 6 days at ScOACC, 4 days at ABZ and 1 day at NCL, so I feel that although I'm bound to be slightly FC biased, I have gone and seen the other side and have some appreciation of what's going on in the wider world!
Regards, ADIS
