S&T
QUOTE
Quote:
Originally Posted by eyeinthesky
Because everybody wants to take off at 0900 and come home again at 1700
Common misconception. Let's think big picture, not just Heathrow as it stands, and the knock-on effect of the Oceanic one way overnight toggle system ... This is the new millennium. Ryanair have long ago already told ERG that they don't want NATS propounding this out at breakfast home for tea nonsense
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No, let's take Heathrow as an example, seeing as this is where it all started. A quick scan through Heathrow's Departures website this morning shows the following scheduled (i.e. tickets sold for this time) departures:
0830 2 flights
0835 4 flights
0840 6 flights
0845 2 flights
0850 5 flights
0855 8 flights
0900 3 flights
That's 30 in 30 mins, which is beyond the achievable airport movement rate, even for some of the more 'inventive' of controllers. Some of these flights will therefore get a delay (and did this morning), and the picture is repeated across Europe. You can't tell me Ryanair has no departures scheduled at that time, either!
The point is that ATC has to manage the peaks and troughs safely with minimum delay. That is what we do. Last year's traffic volumes were another record, and still the average delay per flight caused during this safe operation was just over half the ERG limit. Of course the relationship between the two needs careful management.
Here's an idea: next time aircrew or airport information announce an ATC delay in that bored and critical voice they generally use, perhaps they should add: "This flight has been delayed to ensure your safety". Then people might not moan so much.
