MODE S at LACC
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Join Date: Jul 1997
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Good informative posts there Mike, it's always useful to know things from the aircrew perspective 
More likely because with NODE, it can ....... 
Prestwick will open with Mode S so that MACC controllers maintain continuity.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Mike,
Point taken about us questioning you regarding step climbs on a SID, but until the FMS/Mode S interlink is clever enough (not sure which side of the equipment is at fault) to indicate that you are indeed stopping at the intermediate levels, we will continue to quiz you!
The day we do not quiz a pilot is the day that they bust a level and have a nasty.
Not all aircraft are (yet) set up like yours, for that sake of safety we must continue to ask.
As for your computer, how do we know, sitting on the ground, that your system has the updated SID profile? (I know they don't change that often, especially the step climbs, but you can see what I am getting at).
It is a pain both for you and us, but as it stands at the moment when we do not have anywhere near 100% compliance, if we don't ask, then we might as well get rid of the equipment.
Departure is one of the busiest phases for you in your flight, so asking you unnecessary questions is not great, but because of the interaction of SIDS in the LTMA, it is also one of the most safety critical times.
If we can prevent you from having a level bust, especially when you are busy in the cockpit with other things, then it would be negligent for us to not question you
Point taken about us questioning you regarding step climbs on a SID, but until the FMS/Mode S interlink is clever enough (not sure which side of the equipment is at fault) to indicate that you are indeed stopping at the intermediate levels, we will continue to quiz you!
The day we do not quiz a pilot is the day that they bust a level and have a nasty.
Not all aircraft are (yet) set up like yours, for that sake of safety we must continue to ask.
As for your computer, how do we know, sitting on the ground, that your system has the updated SID profile? (I know they don't change that often, especially the step climbs, but you can see what I am getting at).
It is a pain both for you and us, but as it stands at the moment when we do not have anywhere near 100% compliance, if we don't ask, then we might as well get rid of the equipment.
Departure is one of the busiest phases for you in your flight, so asking you unnecessary questions is not great, but because of the interaction of SIDS in the LTMA, it is also one of the most safety critical times.
If we can prevent you from having a level bust, especially when you are busy in the cockpit with other things, then it would be negligent for us to not question you
