Bad Hair day at Essex

[2Donkeys]

Experienced this Friday afternoon on Essex. I make no comment :) :

a/c "Essex Good Afternoon ABC123 climbing 3000 direct BKY"

Essex: "BAC132 errrr... identified climb 3000 feet"

a/c: "3000' and its ABC123"

Essex: "Roger 132"

{pause}
Essex: "ACB132 climb 5000 and take up the heading 150... direct DET... err 150 isn't really direct DET... DET isn't on my map... take up the heading 150... then go direct to DET"

ABC123: "Direct DETling... thats about 175... and its ABC123"

Essex: "Ah yes my mistake 123, 150 direct DETling Climb FL80"

ABC123: "Direct DET, climb FL80"
(pause)
Essex:"ABC123, I should have said, that you are under Radar Control Service now... contact London on nnn.nn"

ABC123: "Radar Control... to London on nnn.nn"

Essex: "Whoops ABC123 are you still there, I should have said 118.82"

ABC123: "118.82 Bye Bye"

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Christ!

[PPRuNe Radar]

I agree. It's shocking how many pilots don't report their passing altitude or prefix their cleared level with altitude on first contact !!!

;)

[250 kts]

Yeah I heard they were short of staff- they probably let one of the cleaners have a go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

[hatsoff]

I don't know the circumstances here but we're "holding" a awful lot of kids around the country right now who are getting their first taste of RT.

Perhaps it was one of them under the guidance of a benign mentor...perhaps :)

[2Donkeys]

Sounded a little old to be a "kid", although I may have just done a grave injustice.

I took it to be an old hand on a bad day. ;)

[glider insider]

as a glider pilot from wethersfield i can only thank the essex radar guys. most of the time they are really accomodating in letting us up into their airspace and re - routing all inbounds to EGSS to the north.

the only thing is that sometimes they forget we are gliders and so it can be quite difficult to maintain height if they wish to pass traffic underneath us.... but a gentle reminder normally stops that plan...

[PPRuNe Towers]

and while we're talking local stuff.......

Sincere thanks to B Watch at Great Dunmow International for their hospitality yesterday.

Effo and I spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the tower with a patient and very welcoming team. I'm no beginner at ATC visits but never ever go away without learning a lot - my thanks to all.

Rob Lloyd