We do not have a lucky draw to determine at what time to change a runway. I comes after the "tailwind on final call" or MET man normally covers all his bases when asked what the wind will do so no real heads-up here either.
Not helping:
- All ariving at the same time
- All departing at the same time
- All complaining at the same time
- Not wanting to be delayed outbound
- Not wanting to be delayed inbound
- Work in progress leaving limited taxiways open only 1 to the holding point
- Restrictions on outbound traffic making finding parking for all as difficult as finding a upgrade on an Emirates flight (10min Riket 5 min Maxmo 5 min Gidis no more Papar no agreement on inbounds from Darax,)
- Airline Operations calling about each and every plane holding and wanting a reason for it(controller ammusement it seems is not a good enough reason)
- Only one downwind
- No close in holds
- and NO COFFEE MACHINE IN THE CONTROL CENTER
The UAE Area boys have to kill a snake in a telephone booth with a golf club as a friend always say. No space for an error or any room to work with. Dubai have to control with one eye close on Noah's radar with one hand behind the back and I think comparing us with Heatrow an Chicago is a bit far-fetched( Just remember they have been in this game far longer than the GCAA or DCA or SERCO and they have a thing called slots vs OPEN SKIES policy here.)
Tell you guys another little secret; a number of our local talent here have never worked parrallel runway operations and the idea scares the are
out of them. The new opening will be interesting with all the new taxiway conflictions. Standby for accidental crossings of active runways by guys getting confused with where to go and where to stop.
EK Boys Stop complaining about the waste of fuel you Dont pay for it with your Platinium Card do you?
Now let see, odds we change the runway evens we don't ......the dyce rolls the runway will....
Changing a runway near you soon
Dct no Speed