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Old 7th April 2003 | 03:59
  #16 (permalink)  
knobbygb
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 768
Likes: 0
From: Paros, Greece
I too had the same problem on Saturday - didn't get an answer at all - it just rung out and diverted to the answer-machine then promptly cut me off (I went through the museum switchboard to get there because the number in pooleys seemed to be a fax).

Inbound I ended up orbiting to the north for a couple of minutes because I either couldn't get a word in or there was no reply when I did.

No complaints of the ATCO - he was, I'm sure, doing his best on a busy day. Ironically, when I called into the tower at about 2pm, there were 2 chaps on duty but virtually no traffic. Having one guy working the radio, answering the phone, taking payments and coordinating the fuel truck is unrealistic on a sunny weekend when they know they are expecting at least 25 additional aircraft. The landing fee isn't the cheapest around either.

As a newly qualified PPL who's not been anywhere that busy before I'm not sure if that's the norm, or was it an exception?

Anyway, didn't detract from a very enjoyable day, and I will be visiting them again soon (hopefully on a weekday).

P.S. Pooleys clearly states "Simultaneous runway operations not authorised". AIP says similar. Someone better tell Duxford that, because when I asked on final which runway was in use I was told "either, your discresion", very abruptly.
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