Okay Giant,
I will be the first to admit, that I was a little hasty with my reply to your first posting.
I do apologise for that. I get a little touchy when people criticise ATC at any unit I work at. The day I was describing above was not the day you’re a/c was delayed. I was on my rest days.
I have done a wee bit of investigating on your behalf.
And also I have a few things to get off my chest.
Yes - your a/c was held on a remote stand, Apron Charlie (North Side), not at the other end of the airfield, but opposite side of runway from the main apron. A stand was not available on the freight apron, hence the reasons for parking on the remote stand – but you ken that already.
With it probably taking nearly 10 – 15 mins just to park the a/c, after landing and crossing the main runway, it was probably only stationary for 50 mins. Before a stand became available.
As for leaving the engines running - I can’t help you with that one.
With a great number of extra departures we had around the time your a/c was able to reposition for it’s vacant stand – this caused a further delay as a/c with tight slots etc. all had to be given individual clearances (no SIDs at EGPK), some clearances coordinated on an individual a/c basis delaying even more – by the Tower ATCO alone (we have no GMC or GMP) hence the ATCO’s workload was very high. This probably caused a further few minutes delay before you’re a/c could cross the runway, just volume.
As for being ignored by ATC, I have no answer for that, I can’t explain it, I apologise on behalf of the ATCO on duty – but I suspect he was maybe prioritising his transmissions at the time or maybe coordinating clearances for each of the departures on the land line.
I am sure if you get in touch with our SATCO he will be able to help you further.
Things off my chest….
The comment about ATC being “a mixture of bad management, lack of financial support and most of all training” is a little hurtful.
I will admit that in the past, management of ATS at EGPK has been a little crap. Over the past four years PIK has invested heavily in both recruitment and training. All the ATCO’s are as professional and capable as any other ATCO in the country.
I did not mean to insult you, but some people use this forum as a way of winding people up, you offered you location details and I assumed you were at EGPF and taking a pot shoot at EGPK.
I hope that helps you understand my posting a little bit.
I hope you don’t mind but I have forwarded all your comments to PIK management as I am sure they would be interested in helping you ever which way they can.
Sorry again.
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Falzone eat your heart out.
EGPK ATCO