Folks,
As many probably never knew, DCA Operational Control (control of the commencement, continuation or diversion of the aircraft) only applied to domestic operators, substantially Ansett and TAA, and the smaller airlines.
It never applied to Qantas operations, the only "Ops Control" sat in the left front window seat.
We always found it a little amusing and just a trifle insulting, given Qantas tradition and practice (and the law), that some bloke on the ground would be making operational decisions that were, as far as we were concerned, the exclusive preserve of the bloke called Captain.
US operators have always had Ops. Control, run by each company, it is huge cost and not very efficient. For, say, United, is the flight follower in Chicago going to have a better idea of the Sydney weather than an aircraft several hours from Sydney.
There never was any "operational control" of VFR flights, but the way some FSOs carried on, an impressionable young bloke could be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
Undoubtedly, there were many great people amongst the people who worked in the system, but it cost large dollops of money for little demonstrable benefit, ie; it could not be cost/benefit justified. I'm all for nostalgia, as long as I don't have to pay for it!!
Tootle pip!!
Last edited by LeadSled; 19th Oct 2013 at 16:48.