Thanks LATCC

[Captain Airclues]

I would like to say 'Thank you' to Y Watch in TC at LATCC for making me so welcome this afternoon/evening.I was able to 'plug in' on several sectors. Even though the controllers were having to talk to the aircraft, and to the other sectors, they found time to explain what they were doing. It made me appreciate the sort of pressures that the controllers work under, and the different factors that they have to take into consideration, such as wake turbulence categories.
I will pass on everything that I have learned to as many of my colleagues as possible.
Once again a big thank you for your welcome. If any of you are at the Ash Bash, then it will be my pleasure to buy you a beer.

Airclues

[need to know]

Nice to hear. If only more flight crew could have the same oportunity to see things from the other side and vice versa, maybe we would all have an understanding of how the other half live. We're all part of the one big game after all, no matter what seat we are in.:d

------------------
And that's what I think about that.

[Feather #3]

In similar vein, I think it would be fair to say that all the QF guys regard the LATCC as the best in the world and certainly the most professional. :)

We certainly use LATCC as a benchmark when comparing the way things are handled elsewhere.

Keep up the good work! :)

G'day

[Blowin' Bubbles]

I too would like to offer my thanks to LATCC, for they did go out of their way to welcome me to the world of ATC when I visited last week. I have made it to the last stage of the student ATC application process and so paid LATCC and Stansted Tower a visit. I had a thrilling time at both and found the people there entertaining aswell as helpful.
I'm kissing **** because I have my interview tomorrow and hope that my interviewer is reading this thinking 'heh, this guys good', but unfortunately I know that there is alot more to it than that.
I did truly have a great time at both establishments and my desire to become an ATCO has been further fueled.

Cheers.

[NATS Hopeful]

I think that all of the watches at LATCC are really helpful and willing to further anybody's knowledge of ATC.

I myself visited LATCC last summer on Industry Links and also went their recently as I too have my final stage interview soon - next Tuesday in fact!

I wish all people who are going to the interviews the best of luck and may the best bulls****er get in!

[Inertial Ref]

LATCC/Airline Liason

Very pleased to see that the Airline I fly for arranges visits to LATCC in duty time including paying for the transport by air where required. These visits have been first rate with the LATCC staff putting in extra time to run the Sim. We all benefitted from the visit and learned useful things. For example I was unaware that Mode C is filtered such that an a/c carrying out an emergency descent from above a controllers airspace could just pop up on the screen when the Mode C is at an appropriate value. I understand that the emergency code overrides the filter. It was also interesting to learn about what I think are called standing agreements for clearances from one sector to another to keep the coordination easier.

It would be interesting to know how many other airlines regularly visit the Centre.

ps. When and why was the meaning of LATCC changed from London Air Traffic Control Centre to the new and perhaps less memorable name?
Also when did the phonetic alphabet change from 'Able Baker' etc to the present?

[This message has been edited by Inertial Ref (edited 09 May 2000).]

[Cornish Jack]

Ref the change to ICAO phonetic from the old ABLE, BAKER etc. 'T'was in the late fifties for the military although civilian aircraft had been using it for some time then. Caused great problems for us EASY, FOX etc types. The introduction of FOXTROT and TANGO and the brain to mouth interface failure produced some interesting variations, including, (and you need to be an old ballroom dancer to follow this) "MIKE OBOE VICTOR SYLVESTER FOXTROT" :)

One of my Beverley mates doing the perennial "Gulf run" out of Aden in the only serviceable Bev, conjured up his own, unique, callsign for the trip of "MIKE OSCAR BLUNDERBUSS XMAS GURGLE" Happy days http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif maybe not :)

[Mr Chips]

We changed name some time ago - I think to fall in with ICAO standard naming...Lucky the initials stayed the same! Most of us still use the old name

------------------
"The Hamster my friend, is blowing in the wind"

[Radar]

I think you will find that at any ATC unit you care to name, the guys 'n' gals at the screens / in the "green-house" will only be too delighted to show our airborne colleagues what happens at ground level. Take this as a plea to all aircrew, wherever you are, take the time to visit whichever ATC unit you talk to on a regular basis. With the pressures mounting on all of us in operations, a little knowledge of the "other side" (note the quotation marks !) can't go astray.

[Battery no charge]

Hi, boys 'n' girls. Yep, I've got to say that my visit to Gatwick Tower on an airport sby was excellent. It was great to put some faces to the voices although the only voice I now recognise is Donny's. Maybe I should go back! Benchmark, that's the word! I always recommend a visit to the poor souls on apt sby. Very friendly, a real eye opener. Those of you who think that it should be reciprocal, I agree. In the majority of cases, if you speak to the Flight Operations Directors of the airlines they would be more than happy to accommodate you on jump seat rides. Certainly if you are flying on holiday I don't know of a single captain that would turn you down.
Keep up the good work, friends. I feel a lot safer knowing you're there.

------------------
Be good to your kids, they'll be chosing your retirement home!

[Bogner]

Just another quick thankyou to LATCC - Went round there for a visit last week whilst halfway through our flying training course.
Never really realised how your side worked. Very interesting day, everybody was really helpful answering daft questions from me, and I'd just like to say thanx for making us so welcome!

Cheers,
bogner

[VTSP]

Bognor,

I think you'll find that your 'daft' questions are the ones that most people ask. And can often be the most pertinant :)

ATC appreciate them being asked, as they often clear up misunderstandings.