isn't there a reason why there is a PDC number so we don't have to pick up and read back the entire clearence.....we might as well as forget about PDC and just call them for the clearence.
There is a reason for all that. Usually it’s because some halfwit who isn’t is snart as you obviously are, has screwed up a simple process in the past. Now we ALL readback EVERYTHING.
A bit like calling ready (or fully ready if you’re a pom) and being told to hold-short despite not having been cleared to do anything else and being stationary at the holding point. It’s somewhat irritating to those of us who never make mistakes… (typos excepted)
Chimbu, I was working up some outrage but then I read your words of wisdom and just settled back with another cold beer instead. Barbican, of course.
But I must disagree on one point: The Dubai clearance process inevitably begins with…
“Dubai ground, Coconut 123.” (Doesn’t have the sense to just say it all at once)
“Coconut 123, Dubai ground go ahead.”
“(No longer bothers with callsign) “okay (has been listening to yanks and wants to be one), okay, for Bombay, three five Oh, POB two one Oh.” [POB not required]
“(local atco needs no encouragement to get into the no-callsign thing) What’s your registration?”
“(relaxes now that callsigns are obviously long forgotten) Wictor, Nowember, Rrrrdddddddd-omeo”
“What’s your parking bay?”
“Dubai ground, Assman 123 taxi”
“Say again?”
“Station calling?”
“(Local vaguely recalls training and elects to try callsign again) Coconut 123 say again?”
“BRREEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH H…..…you copy??”
Love it.
