Is ATC a boring job?
On The Beach
Okay . . . I'll bite . . .
I've re-read your post a few times. I've gone and washed my eyes out. I even put on my new reading glasses. And it still says "9 runways". I worked at 5 different airports before I could say I had controlled 9 runways . . .
Huh?
I've re-read your post a few times. I've gone and washed my eyes out. I even put on my new reading glasses. And it still says "9 runways". I worked at 5 different airports before I could say I had controlled 9 runways . . .
Huh?
Frostbite
What I always find very satisfying, as an Instructor, is working “with” the Controllers to orchestrate the smooth operation in and around my local airfield, particularly when it is a busy day. After a while Controllers get to know you and you get to know the Controllers – and then the CRM really starts to work a treat – both ways!
It cuts down on lots of unnecessary calls as you adjust your flying slightly to fit in with what you know ATC are trying to achieve – shade a few kts off here, widen out very slightly there. They also get to know that they can rely on you to follow often non-standard instructions in a crisis! When it’s working well – it’s most satisfying. And it means they can spend more time concentrating on some of the other idiots out there knowing that you are working “with” them, not against. Teamwork!
So, the RT may sound the same, repetitive routine “transactions” – but a good ATCO/Pilot team makes for a pleasant and relaxed circuit detail even if the rest of the world seems to have entered “Kamikaze Mode”! Stress levels way down low!!!! Suits me – and the ATCO as well!
Listening to my local airport it seems to be a very repetitious, same old same old, routine every day with little variation. Something akin to the traffic policeman on point duty.
It cuts down on lots of unnecessary calls as you adjust your flying slightly to fit in with what you know ATC are trying to achieve – shade a few kts off here, widen out very slightly there. They also get to know that they can rely on you to follow often non-standard instructions in a crisis! When it’s working well – it’s most satisfying. And it means they can spend more time concentrating on some of the other idiots out there knowing that you are working “with” them, not against. Teamwork!
So, the RT may sound the same, repetitive routine “transactions” – but a good ATCO/Pilot team makes for a pleasant and relaxed circuit detail even if the rest of the world seems to have entered “Kamikaze Mode”! Stress levels way down low!!!! Suits me – and the ATCO as well!
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Every job is repetitious....
...but that does not mean to say it is boring. An F1 race is very repetitious (cars driving on the same racing line round a circuit 70-80 times) but that does not mean it is boring (though some would argue otherwise!).
Every day is repetitive, we get up we have our breakfast etc etc. All I know is that I would rather be repetetivly up in a tower directing traffic than being eg an accountant tapping numbers in excel all day.
Every day is repetitive, we get up we have our breakfast etc etc. All I know is that I would rather be repetetivly up in a tower directing traffic than being eg an accountant tapping numbers in excel all day.
Last edited by Quincy M.E.; 10th Mar 2009 at 08:54.
You always use a standard board for the game but no two games are the same.
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Of course I would rather be racing cars and getting paid for it or jetsetting round the world in a G4 blowing my family fortune, but I can`t really think of a job that I would rather do than ATC.
However it has as much to do with the people that I work with as the job itself.
Come on Frostbite, take a break from Jet Blast and let us know how much you enjoy your job?
However it has as much to do with the people that I work with as the job itself.
Come on Frostbite, take a break from Jet Blast and let us know how much you enjoy your job?
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Boring?
Well, there was that day when I rolled into work for another boring day on Area to be confronted with 49 aircraft on frequency. This included a B747 who wanted 2 things on arrival in Brisbane. First a member of the Guinness Book of Records to record the fact that he had 673 passengers on board and thought it might be a new world record. Second he wanted as many cleaners as could be mustered to clean the plane on arrival due to the fact that the passengers were all women and babies and nobody had any nappies. At the same time I had an F27 with 29 pregnant ladies on board also inbound. "Er, ATC can you increase our POB to 30 we've just had our third birth on this flight". Then a Gulfstream taxies with urgent medical supplies wanting to be the only aircraft going the other way. So, I says to the tower, well the only level available is FL470 - and he took it.
Oh, did I mention this was due to Darwin being evacuated after Cyclone Tracy had wiped out most of the town?
Boring - er, NO!!
On the beach, taking the medicine
Oh, did I mention this was due to Darwin being evacuated after Cyclone Tracy had wiped out most of the town?
Boring - er, NO!!
On the beach, taking the medicine
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Grizzled
It was a little aerodrome called Archerfield which is the General Aviation airfield for Brisbane (or the secondary airport, as they used to call it). 9 runways reduced to 4 only now, you just can't get the staff these days. Used to be 09/27 L/C/R, 13/31 L/C/R and 04/22 L/C/R. And we used to do crosswind circuits on 13/31 one with the normal circuit traffic on 04/22 or 09/27. Contra-rotating, split level circuits. And no Fidos either just an ADC and an SMC (when he'd got back from his hour long runway inspection). Ah, those were the days!! Bit boring after 6pm though, when it got dark!!!
On the beach
It was a little aerodrome called Archerfield which is the General Aviation airfield for Brisbane (or the secondary airport, as they used to call it). 9 runways reduced to 4 only now, you just can't get the staff these days. Used to be 09/27 L/C/R, 13/31 L/C/R and 04/22 L/C/R. And we used to do crosswind circuits on 13/31 one with the normal circuit traffic on 04/22 or 09/27. Contra-rotating, split level circuits. And no Fidos either just an ADC and an SMC (when he'd got back from his hour long runway inspection). Ah, those were the days!! Bit boring after 6pm though, when it got dark!!!
On the beach
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Dicey
Frecosse plonk is made up of French gnats p*ss and Ecosse single malt. The two don't really mix, which is why I tend to go for the colonial plonk from Down Under and a nice Caol Ila. They mix quite well, in moderation!!
Not far from the Ice Station at the mo' but tied up with ankle-biters. Will be back up in May/June and maybe come up and see you.
On the beach
Not far from the Ice Station at the mo' but tied up with ankle-biters. Will be back up in May/June and maybe come up and see you.
On the beach
Nothing to do
Ironically, one of the most stressful times in my long (some would say far too long) ATC career was the time I had absolutely nothing to do for an hour . . .
because I had locked myself out of the tower.
This was early on in my ATC days, when I was King of The World at a small regional airport in pleasant climes, and I was the ony one on duty. I finally got hold of the guy who was supposed to come in for evening shift and asked him to please come as soon as possible (okay, I pleaded like a dying man). A C-130, and a couple of C-172's were pretty understanding. A 737, and the ACC, were not.
Grizz
because I had locked myself out of the tower.
This was early on in my ATC days, when I was King of The World at a small regional airport in pleasant climes, and I was the ony one on duty. I finally got hold of the guy who was supposed to come in for evening shift and asked him to please come as soon as possible (okay, I pleaded like a dying man). A C-130, and a couple of C-172's were pretty understanding. A 737, and the ACC, were not.
Grizz