Re: Dubai Ground Freq
118.35 is the clearance delivery frequence opened at the busy periods, although we are trying to open it 24 hours. Don'y have the staff for it but will endeavor to muddle our way through as we always seem to do!!!
The complaint about jumping from 118.35 to 118.85 then being told to go back to 118.35, the reason for this will be that there may be start up delays and you will be in a queue and trying to be fair to all companies we don't want people jumping this queue!!! However I will admit there are some pedantic controllers out there who will transfer pilots back and forward to prove a point, can't say much about that.
As for R/T discipline at Dubai it is poor on all frequencies , but ground is really bad. In the recent feedback to the customer survey, a suggestion was to listen to the R/T at Heathrow and Gatwick to learn how to manage a busy frequency and give short precise instructions. I agree, ex EGKK myself, however from what I remember an instruction from ATC always got an instant reply or readback there. Here there is is always a short delay, I think it is foreign pilots, translating what has been said. Thus this short delay can and is enough time for someone else to jump in.
Not much can be done about that, just a bit of patience really. That is the key I am afraid, Dubai ATC is in the same position as Emirates, from what I read, we are playing catch up. The airport has got busier, our procedures, equipment and staffing levels are not up to the task but as I said earlier in this reply we are muddling our way through, and slowly trying to make changes but it is a slow process. Plus any changes/improvements we make tend to be reversed, back to saying "maintain 3000feet" in our clearances again, noticed!!! Not necessary when it is on the SID plate I know, but in the last two years there have been 17 level busts, and not saying the above has been given as the reason by the GCAA!!! Don't ask me I only work here!!!
Same as "expect ILS approach runway..." on first call with approach, haven't you just listened to an ATIS???? Plus don't get me started on mode C checks when you have just been handed over from a previous radar sector!!!!
Yes improvements do need to be made to improve our service, we are trying honest, but don't expect miracles after all we do live in the UAE!!!!