As someone who has worked on the airfield for about 22 odd years, (so long -roll on pension), I think the time has come to have some ATC input here.
Whilst the airport/aerodrome whatever might look very nice and pretty and win lots of awards for its buildings, I think that ACSA should now seriously turn its attention to the air side of the airport.
(We all know about their latest whoops - apparantly the airbridge in A1 has been put up in the wrong place and cannot get to a B747's no 1 door.........................................) anyone willing to confirm this ??
To work on this airfield as a controller is an absolute nightmare. We have only 1 taxiway to/from the runways/apron, so to get aircraft through to the holding points when the apron is busy and there are no aircraft blocking the lane is a nightmare! Aircraft pushed back with a start problem can bring the whole airfield to a stop (and ask me it happens). Tempers raise and comments fly between pilots/engineers/tugs/comapny etc whilst they try and sort their problem out, meanwhile you have got 2 or 3 other aircraft waiting to get to the holding point. What is urgently needed is another by-pass taxiwaxy to get aircraft around the apron. Never mind trying to get a C150 to Echo with a whole lot of jets starting and not getting blown over - we have already had one....
You ever wondered why we need 8 miles on final for runway 19 between 2 heavy aircraft (even more with a wet runway) - you try and stop a B747 and turn off at Charlie - the turn is 135degrees so you can work out ow long it takes to get off the runway. What is urgently needed is some high speed turn offs. At least with runway 01 the taxiways are slightly more user friendly and the aircraft do not have to stop before they leave the runway (although some still do for some unknown reason). Thats why we prefer runway 01 as we can handle more aircraft per hour.
Can you show me anywhere else down here in Africa where we have anything from a lightning (quite often returning with a technical snag requiring a rescue standby - you know fire engines racing all over the airfield and trying not to hit aircraft and vice versa) to a C150 all in the circuit at the same time together with a few medium and heavy jets coming and going and helicopters wanting to train? Great fun and lovely to handle them but it can get a bit hectic, esp if you only have 6 months experience. Us olddies can handle it but give some of the youngsters a break - they are only trying their best and with the sword of you know who hanging over us if we make a mistake, just give them a break - where else are they going to get their experience? We all have to learn but if you want to fly a C150 in the circuit at 9am or 5pm do not expect to get many circuits in, especially with a B747 burning 10 tonnes per hour sitting at the hold. (remember what a B747 burns in 10 minutes is what a C150 burns in its lifetime).
Oh and never mind the apron - not enough parking bays, 3 aircraft all calling for start at the same time and all parked next to each other and wanting to start their pushback at the same time - no wonder the poor controller stresses every now and then. ACSA says you have to push back onto the line, so bad luck only 1 moves at a time so the others have to wait and so the delays snowball....... Never mind when an aircraft gets to their gate and someone else is there!! - then that aircraft has to go all round the airport to get back to another gate!! Don't laugh - its happened many times
Now you see how easy it is to be an ATC at Cape Town. But I wouldn't swop it for anywhere else, despite the crime, rape, pillage and ridiculous cost of beer in the waterfront, oh, and the most user unfriendly airport in the world. Oh and thanks for the nice comments here - it makes the job even more worthwhile
Now where are we going to put Qatar airlines, Kenya airlines, Air Botswana, Condor, LTU when they return in Oct, and those extra BA flights when they all arrive in November? OH and the rumours about Emirates and xxxxx and xxxxx and xxxxx also wanting to come here.
ACSA the time has come to start turning your attention to the airfield (it is that large green thing with black things all across it) otherwise you are going to have a major problem. It is all very well having lovely terminals but when you have no parking for them and will incur delays because the aircraft cannot get to/ from their gates to/from the runways you are going to have a major problem. It all sounds quite funny but it is very serious - and unless something is done and quickly the toursist are going to get p*&&^%d off and wont be back here.
Oh and I would hazard a guess the chap who always has to standby is a light aircraft wanting echo to do circuits at 5pm on a Friday..............., never ever been inside an ATC centre or even been to the local tower for a proper briefing, but is a world class expert on demanding a full ATC service when only paying 20% fees, as he is on a training flight........