Any of you who have been flying through Spanish airspace this last week may well have noticed that you are being denied short cuts either without explaination or (if challenged) by lame and unpalpable excuses.
It seems AENA have made moves towards selling off the ATC service and the controllers are now in fear of their cushy packages. Their chosen "action" is to deny all aircraft short cuts forcing us all to fly the flight planned route.
This is where you implied that you think you have a right to a direct. Just because a controller won't and has given you a reason that you don't like, doesn't mean that you have to come on here and slag off a group of controllers who are doing something that they think might help them in retaining their jobs/pay/condtions etc.
Why shouldn't people fight to preserve what they already have? If your employer was talking about reducing your terms and conditions wouldn't you fight them? Its not like they've gone on strike. Which would piss you off even more i suppose? I can see the logic behind it. By not giving directs they cause the airlines to fly the routes and burn the fuel that they should have already planned on. Its not hurting anybody. You and the airlines should not be banking on ATC to help you save fuel by banking on getting directs. The airlines will then put pressure on AENA to help them out and the controllers then get what they want.
Because a controller doesn't want to is the best reason of all??? My God are you for real? So it doesn't depend at all on why he doesn't want to then? Like just because he's a frustrated failed pilot perhaps??? That'll be ok then would it?
The ONLY reason not to is safety!
No it doesn't depend on why he doesn't want to. He just doesn't. There could be a million and one reasons why he doesn't want to. From "last time i sent something there i got a bollocking from the other sector for doing that" to "the mil is active" to "i've just been really busy and i can't be arsed to arrange that".
The point is once the controller has said no then stop sodding asking. If i can't do it first time the chances are that either i won't be able to do it all or i'll do it later without the need to be "promted" again. Knowing most of my collegues the more you ask the less chance you'll get.
I give directs, i like giving directs, i will give directs most of the time even when i know that if i'd kept it on the flight planned route my life would be easier. What i don't like is being badgered for them, i'll try my best but if i can't then i can't, usually i'll try to tell you why (which i don't have to) but sometimes i'll just say "negative". Except it and move on.
Sorry for the mild rant but i've just finished a night shift sending aircraft on 600 mile directs all over europe.