Shame that some of the piskrieg community get such inflated ideas about what they really know about commercial aviation - should follow ballooning more - would go far - the further the better
However, the ATCs at Johannesburg International Airport leave much to be desired. One of the DC-9s had to reposition to Rand Airport for the photo session, but was kept at the holding point for 45min burning expensive Jet A1.
<Wrong.>Do ATCs realise that this aircraft probably burnt more fuel in value waiting for a departure slot than some of them earn in a month?
<Wrong again.>Phoebus Apollo often repositions various aircraft types to and from FAJS to FAGM without any delays when suitably qualified controllers are on duty.
<So this should entitle it to some sort of preferential treatment? Some of the worlds most respected airlines operate to and from FAJS too, and more frequently than Phoebus Apollo do, in case you might have forgotten that.>The VFR flight takes all of three minutes, yet the frustration of having to deal with controllers who do not understand the logistics of aircraft.
<That's an unfinished sentence but; No. You are the one with no understanding of the logistics of modern air traffic control. Just because a flight is 3 min long do you expect it to take you any shorter time from your bay to takeoff than any of the other many passenger aircraft?>Unfortunately several people were delayed as a direct result of the controller's inability to manage a slightly unusual situation
.<You mean 7 or 8 as opposed to the 1000 or more people who waited for your charter to leave?>
Please note that the above is not intended to 'have a go' at South African ATCs;
<oh?>indeed many ATCs are good friends of African Pilot.
<Used to be. Scratch one subscription.>However, some ATCs have great difficulty understanding the cost involved in keeping aircraft airborne.
<And, you do?>In addition, the unnecessary time wasted at the holding points is a huge cost to the operator as well as being very bad for aircraft engines.
<Rubbish.>It appears the
(sic) better performance and accountablility
(sic) is what is required from ATNS management from
<from who?>individual air traffic controllers
.<Sorry, what?>>