Main differences between tower and approach?
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In some places, Tower and Approach are combined - I worked such an arrangement early in my career. However, do you mean the difference between Aerodrome Control and Radar Control? If you are lucky enough to work at and airfield which has both facilities then you have no problem - you can do them both. Problem arises when the Approach facility is remote from the airfield it is responsible for; then you never see an aeroplane.
See the planes or work the radar? Your choice....
See the planes or work the radar? Your choice....
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Akrapovic... All ATC tasks require qualifications - Tower, Approach, Radar, etc. I suspect that what the originator means is whether he should choose to work at an airfield or a centre where the Approach facility exists for several airfields.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Akrapovic. Why did you tell me to "calm down" when I answered your query politely and factually? You suggested that another qualification was required for Approach Control and I responded that all ATC tasks require qualifications - ratings on the licence and validations for each ATC unit. OK?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: In a control room with no radar...
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HD - Fair enough in that case, but it's hard to read your reply and not detect a hint of sarcasm regarding 'ALL ATC tasks require qualifications' - perhaps I'm missing a joke here, so apologies for that.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: In a control room with no radar...
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Akrapovic,
'All' wasnt in uppercase in his original post.. reading stuff on the internet it's obviously very difficult to sniffle out a writers' attitude as you're not speaking in person, though HD is one of the members around here I'd least expect to snipe away at others!
'All' wasnt in uppercase in his original post.. reading stuff on the internet it's obviously very difficult to sniffle out a writers' attitude as you're not speaking in person, though HD is one of the members around here I'd least expect to snipe away at others!
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tower:
Being located at the airport itself, if the geography suits, and having access to all the facilities associated with it. Professionally this includes more interaction with other agencies: airlines (including more free familiarisation flights), airfield operations and visits from crews. Personally, duty free shopping, choice of food and drink, friends with access to cheap flights!
There are a lot more airports than there are radar centres and so you have more options of locations - should the opportunities arise (although this heavily depends on the company/country involved).
More awareness of the aviation industry/business as a whole, since airline mergers/leases etc are much more obvious, and rumours and politics abound. (Also - and this is a big gun for me: knowing which new routes are starting up and when, six months in advance, so you can get the first tickets at the cheapest price!)
Free parking at your airport when you go on holiday.
Windows. Lots of windows. Actually watching aeroplanes and feeling a part of it.
Area Centre:
No damned airport security.
Of course, all that said, co-located facilities at a busy airport is ideal - but not possible anymore at five of the busiest (eight) airports in the UK.
NB. All personal opinion...
Being located at the airport itself, if the geography suits, and having access to all the facilities associated with it. Professionally this includes more interaction with other agencies: airlines (including more free familiarisation flights), airfield operations and visits from crews. Personally, duty free shopping, choice of food and drink, friends with access to cheap flights!
There are a lot more airports than there are radar centres and so you have more options of locations - should the opportunities arise (although this heavily depends on the company/country involved).
More awareness of the aviation industry/business as a whole, since airline mergers/leases etc are much more obvious, and rumours and politics abound. (Also - and this is a big gun for me: knowing which new routes are starting up and when, six months in advance, so you can get the first tickets at the cheapest price!)
Free parking at your airport when you go on holiday.
Windows. Lots of windows. Actually watching aeroplanes and feeling a part of it.
Area Centre:
No damned airport security.
Of course, all that said, co-located facilities at a busy airport is ideal - but not possible anymore at five of the busiest (eight) airports in the UK.
NB. All personal opinion...
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<Professionally this includes more interaction with other agencies: airlines (including more free familiarisation flights)>>
I suspect this contributor lives outside the UK? In 31 years dealing with Heathrow traffic I certainly never heard of "more free familiarisation flights"!
I suspect this contributor lives outside the UK? In 31 years dealing with Heathrow traffic I certainly never heard of "more free familiarisation flights"!
"So the controllers may be working the radar one day and working up in the VCR the next?"
More likely that they'll rotate through the day, depending on whether they are appropriately qualified, unless the journey between the two is too great: from what I recall at Birmingham the trip involves a few stairs.
More likely that they'll rotate through the day, depending on whether they are appropriately qualified, unless the journey between the two is too great: from what I recall at Birmingham the trip involves a few stairs.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: In Denial
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hangten quite nicely highlighted many of the perks of working tower.
Including the mysterious free flips
From a personal job satisfaction however it really depends what you're into. Although I always enjoyed physically watching the aircraft, through my four-windowed, all-corner office, I always preferred the dungeon.
Approach radar is really where my heart is. Personally, I felt more in control, and really felt like I was controlling.
Sigh.. The good old days...
Including the mysterious free flips
From a personal job satisfaction however it really depends what you're into. Although I always enjoyed physically watching the aircraft, through my four-windowed, all-corner office, I always preferred the dungeon.
Approach radar is really where my heart is. Personally, I felt more in control, and really felt like I was controlling.
Sigh.. The good old days...