Prospero must be having a lie down so I'll chip in while he is away.
Originally Posted by
eyeinthesky
Apart from the technicalities of the flow system, am I the only one who thinks that, faced with:
-EOBT 1115
-CTOT 1124
-REGUL <xxxxxxx>
-TAXITIME 0005
filing a ready message is a waste of time and ties up the system unnecessarily? What with taxi times and slot tolerances, that's an on-time departure!
Not true. If your EOBT is 1115 and you are ready to go at 1045 the a REA message is definitely not a waste of time. Don't forget it can be sent up to 30 minutes before EOBT.
nodelay, to answer some of your questions.
1. Yes, unless you have put your flight in SIP wanted status all flights are assumed ready for improvement. They will only receive improvements of minimum 15 minutes though and subject to parameters such as taxi time.
REA status means you will receive even 5 minute improvements right down to an assumed 5 minute taxi time or whatever the TWR have specified in the REA message.
2. You are supposed to send a delay message, if you then receive a big delay you can call us for assistance. However, it is now normal practice for AOs to call the help desk to ask for an extension. If a slot is available it will normally be given to you. After a hundred such calls some may cry ENOUGH! and ask you to send a delay - we do have other things to do and the help desk was established to help people who have a genuine problem that requires specialist advice. To answer your question, the response you will receive is at the individuals discretion.
3. No
I hope this helps.
flowman