London Sectors
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Join Date: Jun 2000
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London Sectors
Is it me or is there a lot less traffic in London sector over the last few days?
Normally London seems to be very busy with almost constant radio calls and at times it can be difficult to get a call in. Over the last few days I've found myself checking to make sure that I'm on box one or asking for radio checks as it has been SO quiet!
Are there any statistics on movements? Is this the face of the credit crunch?
Normally London seems to be very busy with almost constant radio calls and at times it can be difficult to get a call in. Over the last few days I've found myself checking to make sure that I'm on box one or asking for radio checks as it has been SO quiet!
Are there any statistics on movements? Is this the face of the credit crunch?
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Gazeem
The standard of ATC service given to our customers is constantly improving. Instead of joining lots of sectors/frequencies together and forcing pilots to listen to non-stop machine gun R/T delivery, the easing of the previous chronic staff shortage has enabled a much more relaxed and improved service delivery. Now that the system is working within design parameters one can sense a return of the happy pilot/happy controller.
UK controllers have always worked more traffic for longer hours for more years than anyone else anywhere........the slight drop in traffic will not last forever.....we'll need to be ready for the upturn. We will be.
UK controllers have always worked more traffic for longer hours for more years than anyone else anywhere........the slight drop in traffic will not last forever.....we'll need to be ready for the upturn. We will be.
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Thank 6k, it's a bit reassuring that the Credit Crunch isn't THAT bad after all. I was beginning to believe all I heard in the media 
!
!
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Gazeem
Pilot buddies always welcome if you're in the area. We'll stick a headset on you and plug you in.
Serious bit:- there has been a slight drop in traffic, but what we are finding is that instead of a fairly uniform medium/busy sector throughflow, the traffic is presenting itself in a "peak and trough" fashion. Some of the peaks are actually much busier than those previously experienced when we would have been operating with more sectors open. It can catch us out.....especially when the unregulated nature of the traffic flow bunches up quickly.....and because it shows on the traffic prediction graph as only a short duration traffic spike, there is sometimes a reluctance to split the sectors for such a short time. However this problem is known and is being addressed....there are warning posters and notes all over the building [the inside, that is!].
Regards
Serious bit:- there has been a slight drop in traffic, but what we are finding is that instead of a fairly uniform medium/busy sector throughflow, the traffic is presenting itself in a "peak and trough" fashion. Some of the peaks are actually much busier than those previously experienced when we would have been operating with more sectors open. It can catch us out.....especially when the unregulated nature of the traffic flow bunches up quickly.....and because it shows on the traffic prediction graph as only a short duration traffic spike, there is sometimes a reluctance to split the sectors for such a short time. However this problem is known and is being addressed....there are warning posters and notes all over the building [the inside, that is!].
Regards
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055166K, you forgot to say that us UK controllers are better-looking and funnier and more charming than other controllers anywhere else in the world, ever, in the history of the universe.
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556k
UK controllers have always worked more traffic for longer hours for more years than anyone else anywhere
Just don't tell the Yanks and those working in the Middle East that they aren't the busiest in the world
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Sector 10 - formally and undoubtedly, the grumpiest and most unhelpful bunch in the universe who have, since being deported to Swanwick, transformed into one of the best around and always ready with witty banter.
TMA East and Midlands - rarely have time to breath, but always ready to resolve a problematic joining clearance in an exceptionally busy piece of airspace in the minimum of time - respect to you geezers!
Manchester East - undoubtedly the best of the best! On and off I've dealt with these guys for around 30 years and I'm convinced that the people I spoke to today are the same guys who I spoke to on my first day in ATC. The job aside, it's a daily competition to think of the wittiest thing to say before getting down to the basics, like the football team, they're destined for the title.
TMA East and Midlands - rarely have time to breath, but always ready to resolve a problematic joining clearance in an exceptionally busy piece of airspace in the minimum of time - respect to you geezers!
Manchester East - undoubtedly the best of the best! On and off I've dealt with these guys for around 30 years and I'm convinced that the people I spoke to today are the same guys who I spoke to on my first day in ATC. The job aside, it's a daily competition to think of the wittiest thing to say before getting down to the basics, like the football team, they're destined for the title.
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Goatface...TMA East & Mids rarely have time to breath.... must be because they are bandboxed the majority of the time doing a crossword. Hardly the busiest of TMA sectors
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verci me old mucker!
Just wanted to point out that for about 10 hours a day, the London mob are not that busy...ok so they throw a few around for the rest of the time, but not "more traffic for longer hours" than anyone else, or did you miss that bit?
The Canadian chap that is currently here with me worked out all the numbers (aided by the flight Intl mag) and the UAE boys did come out remarkably well for ATCOs vs Aircraft numbers. It isn't all about the Dane...
What you haven't said to the audience is that the UAE ATCOs don't just do one thing, they have to do high/low/dep bursts and sequencing/holding/procedural stuff etc...but let's not let that get in the way of how busy it was 20 years ago with Dehavilland Rapides and all those Bristol Freighters
Ps the skiing is only marginally improving...still am, and will probably always will be hopeless
The Canadian chap that is currently here with me worked out all the numbers (aided by the flight Intl mag) and the UAE boys did come out remarkably well for ATCOs vs Aircraft numbers. It isn't all about the Dane...
What you haven't said to the audience is that the UAE ATCOs don't just do one thing, they have to do high/low/dep bursts and sequencing/holding/procedural stuff etc...but let's not let that get in the way of how busy it was 20 years ago with Dehavilland Rapides and all those Bristol Freighters
Ps the skiing is only marginally improving...still am, and will probably always will be hopeless
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The Canadian chap that is currently here with me worked out all the numbers (aided by the flight Intl mag)
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A lot is down to the chap/chapess with the hat on too. I've seen controllers hanging on by their fingernails with 4 aircraft... and others with 20 who still have time for a joke. When I was training someone, I'd not recommend them for validation unless they could talk about other things whilst they were working as it proved they had ability in reserve just in case something hit the fan..
