Re: Dubai Ground Freq
I think the main reason most guys (me included), establish 2-way with 118.35 first, is that its PRIMARILY a ground frequency which also happens to provide a clearance service.
I'm sure you'll agree there's nothing worse than exiting the RWY at K5, switching to GND and just before you hit the mic, some bimbling fool starts giving his life story, estimates, lvl's, POB, shoe size etc while your world comes to a grinding halt, and the controller can see you and is itching to talk to you!!
Surely better to let the controller decide who to serve first for safety reasons, ie he tells the guy on stand to SBY while giving the more important taxi instructions to the A/C thats just left the RWY??
Yes, they are expecting your call AT SOME POINT, but I doubt they have an atomic clock sounding a hooter 3.5 seconds before you do!!
However, I do agree with some of the sentiment about wasting time on air-in the air, there's nothing I hate hearing more than:
"err London Golf-Winkey Wankey",
"G-WW London go ahead",
"London G-WW request climb Level 400"....
What the hell is the point of that?? Why not just request it on the initial call?
The point is, DXB really does need a dedicated delivery frequency at busy times, end of story!
And before someone says it, I was based in LGW with a large UK airline prior to coming here, and NO I didn't establish 2-way with Delivery there first!