London info doesn't have the DX gear on its frequency. And don't have access to a radar. They are area flight information Officers not ATCO's. In no way am I being derogatory by saying that. They are very good at what they do.
The D&D controllers need the training, as well as the student pilots. In fact when there isn't enough practise pans from GA they get commercials to provide it as well. And you wouldn't believe the utter screw ups some of the commercials make of the emergency calls when asked to do so.
And yes you do feel a bit of a knob in the cruise doing a practise pan unsure of position. Although some of the ex-mil boys love it. Start doing speechless procedures. And then you get questions on the main area frequency who requested you to help with training of "what are you doing to them?" "Don't know the auld fud is doing lots of clicking and giggling" "top drills he has got them sweating"
They have done a study of the traffic on 121.5 in the UK and the vast majority of it, over 75% is switch pigs commercial pilots transmitting handling info, guard police and plonkers farting, playing music getting sports scores etc.
The summary of the report was that those that were complaining about practise pans were talking out there arses. And the commercial world should sort there own practises out before trying to change a procedure which has definite safety benefits for both GA pilots and D&D controllers.
Last edited by mad_jock; 9th Nov 2013 at 08:03.