Swanwick Skygods
Join Date: Aug 2001
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40612 - Ahhh Takes me back
Not many know of 40612 these days. Apparently 40612 graffiti can be seen as far afield at Ascension Island along with " you're still in the Midland Radar Overhead " 
Bit off topic (sorry) but well remember the seperate tables in the LATCC Canteen and ex ATSA ATCO Cadets being told you are now an Air Teaffic Controll OFFICER and should spend your breaks with the other ATCOs and NOT the ATSAs!!!
Bit off topic (sorry) but well remember the seperate tables in the LATCC Canteen and ex ATSA ATCO Cadets being told you are now an Air Teaffic Controll OFFICER and should spend your breaks with the other ATCOs and NOT the ATSAs!!!
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but to ALL the new ATCOs, your "Assistant" probably has forgotten more than you will ever know [about the job]
Appreciate the point that is trying to be made, but are the words above not merely inflammatory?
Not really at all helpful.
P7
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There also appears to be an extra level of elitism from those at Swanwick.
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Mister Geezer you need to expand on that comment!
Some sectors at Swanwick and Manchester are equally as complex as those at West Drayton.
Some sectors at Swanwick and Manchester are equally as complex as those at West Drayton.
Last edited by MancBoy; 27th Mar 2007 at 09:30.
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You have opened up a can of worms there Mr Geezer, each unit or sector has it's own complexities.
What from the cockpit may seem simple may have a multitude of standing agreements or coordinations involved. Just because the ATCOs may make it seem simple doesn't mean it is, we are so like Swans.
What from the cockpit may seem simple may have a multitude of standing agreements or coordinations involved. Just because the ATCOs may make it seem simple doesn't mean it is, we are so like Swans.
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Well I may of sparked off a raw nerve but an ATCO who I was chatting to recently said that the folks at TC have the toughest task...... and before you ask... no... he doesn't work at West Drayton either!
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Well Mister, may I cordially invite you to come and sit with me when it's going balls out and tell me if it isn't tough at Swanwick too!
Enroute and TMA controlling are completely different and as has been said before BOTH are equally as tough and challenging as each other, plus if AC is easier then why have some people struggled to make the transition from TMA to enroute?
Enroute and TMA controlling are completely different and as has been said before BOTH are equally as tough and challenging as each other, plus if AC is easier then why have some people struggled to make the transition from TMA to enroute?
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Well I may of sparked off a raw nerve but an ATCO who I was chatting to recently said that the folks at TC have the toughest task...... and before you ask... no... he doesn't work at West Drayton either!
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Point Seven
Not at all. I remember training new ATCOs in Assistant duties, and one or two quickly "lost the plot". No fault of theirs, but [possibly] the structured training at the time. I can't remember how many Assistants have "progressed" to the ATCO fold [I do know that every trainee that has been "under my wing", has been successful in Promotion/ATCO boards]
When I joined, my task was....."To Collect, Collate, Activiate and Disseminate an Expeditious Flow of Air Traffic Information".......[to aid the ATCO]
This I firmly believe, still holds true today..even with EFPS
watp,iktch
but to ALL the new ATCOs, your "Assistant" probably has forgotten more than you will ever know [about the job] [S]He is there to help YOU to to the Task that you are paid to do...whether they like you or not
When I joined, my task was....."To Collect, Collate, Activiate and Disseminate an Expeditious Flow of Air Traffic Information".......[to aid the ATCO]
This I firmly believe, still holds true today..even with EFPS
watp,iktch
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I'd say on my watch the working relationship between ATCO/ATSA's is quite good and if you get involved you're part of the team, if you sit there reading your paper at busy times (doesn't count if the planner is reading theirs!!) then expect not to be involved any more than necessary! Have heard that other watches leave a lot to be desired wuth regard to this interaction and certain names constantly get mentioned as thinking they are superior!
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I am a Swanwick ATSA and I can sympathise where this thread originated but I do think many of my colleagues do the rest of us no favours whatsoever. There are far too many atsa's in our ops room who are uncapable of doing what they are paid to do. even the most simple re route has to be aided by the "little white book". I complain my job is crap because I want more responsibility but by being proactive you tend to be given more tasks to do. Far too often when training new people the type of things we can do to make ourselves useful and is appreciated by the controllers, it becomes forgotten when they become valid and the book or sudoku comes out. Where is the personal pride in doing a good job?
BTW is it that hard to empty a strip box once every 20 mins or so?
Mild rant over
BTW is it that hard to empty a strip box once every 20 mins or so?
Mild rant over
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Qwerty 9 surely it's the individuals themselves that are doing themselves a dis-service. The mistakes on sectors that are now frequently accepted would not have been tolerated at West Drayton so why now? I get fed up when working on other watches and being anticipated to be incapable of doing something for the planner because that is what thay are used to. I have lost count the amount of times I have done something without needing to be asked and the response is "our lot don't do that" Surely by the nature of our job we are there to ASSIST not hinder.
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Are you lot still wittering on about this.
Breaking news..... in most big organisations there is an element of bitching about one section or another, it goes with the territory, so get over it ffs.
If you have a problem, why dont you have the balls to view your concerns in the workplace where it can be discussed and sorted, instead of whining like a bunch of kids on here.
Breaking news..... in most big organisations there is an element of bitching about one section or another, it goes with the territory, so get over it ffs.
If you have a problem, why dont you have the balls to view your concerns in the workplace where it can be discussed and sorted, instead of whining like a bunch of kids on here.
More than just an ATCO
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Ah Jerr, but you've got to excuse them. After all, they are the world's best controllers> It was in "Flight" so it must be true.
Think it was an April 1 edition
Think it was an April 1 edition
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If you have a problem, why dont you have the balls to view your concerns in the workplace where it can be discussed and sorted, instead of whining like a bunch of kids on here.
