Does anyone know if there is a GOOD reason
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Does anyone know if there is a GOOD reason
Yesterday I flew on United into KDCA and listened on ch9 (the ride report channel) and was struck by the overwhelming number of four digit call signs.
With mergers and flight cutbacks, I do not understand why 2 and 3 digit call signs have all but disappeared. If we are slave to puters, could it still not be possible to input 00 at the beginning of a 2 digit flight number?
It would seem to be far easier on controllers (not to mention old people taking three flights in a single day).
With mergers and flight cutbacks, I do not understand why 2 and 3 digit call signs have all but disappeared. If we are slave to puters, could it still not be possible to input 00 at the beginning of a 2 digit flight number?
It would seem to be far easier on controllers (not to mention old people taking three flights in a single day).
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So are you suggesting that some callsigns could start with several zeros? Inputting leading zeros used to be possible but served little use. Often nowadays aircraft callsigns have a mix of numbers and letters, primarily to avoid callsign confusion when two flights occur at the same time with similar callsigns. Having used R/T for most of my working life I don't recall too much difficulty with callsigns whether they had one number or several, e.g. Clipper One through to Air Force 48913..
I do not understand why 2 and 3 digit call signs have all but disappeared
For example on DCA-ORD, UAL's Airbuses fly as UAL207, 265, 287, etc, but on the same route UAL3461, 3463 and so on are United Express (Shuttle America) Embraer 170s.
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Just as an example, Air Canada has 1-3 digit flight numbers however their feeder airline, Jazz, has 4 digit flight numbers. In my experience, the 4 digit ones of US carries tend to typically be the feeders, not the mother ship.
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To aid in reducing callsign confusion with Jazz flights, a couple of years ago, the 8 at the start of the flight number (and if the 8 were followed by a 0, the 0) was removed from the ATC callsign but not the flight number. JZA8029 became JZA29 and JZA8666 became JZA666.
Just have to get to grips with those starting with 7 now:
JZA 7779, 7797, 7739, 7793, 7939 etc.
Just have to get to grips with those starting with 7 now:
JZA 7779, 7797, 7739, 7793, 7939 etc.
In Europe Eurocontrol from an ATC perspective have a project running to reduce callsign confusion.
The aim is where say an airline with callsigns AIRLINE-113 AIRLINE-123 and AIRLINE-133 all opereate in the same airspace then 2 will be changed.
Also they are looking at situations where AIRLINE1-333 and AIRLINE2-333 are also operating.
they are using a mix of alpha numeric callsigns and 3 or 4 digit to assist decluttering.
regards
The aim is where say an airline with callsigns AIRLINE-113 AIRLINE-123 and AIRLINE-133 all opereate in the same airspace then 2 will be changed.
Also they are looking at situations where AIRLINE1-333 and AIRLINE2-333 are also operating.
they are using a mix of alpha numeric callsigns and 3 or 4 digit to assist decluttering.
regards
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Then there was Sagittair zero zero one.
Raffles 1 springs to mind also....but back in those days 4 digit callsigns weren't exactly unknown....a lot of the BEA numbers had 4 IIRC.
Raffles 1 springs to mind also....but back in those days 4 digit callsigns weren't exactly unknown....a lot of the BEA numbers had 4 IIRC.
Did once suggest that 4 figure callsigns should be pronounced as two numbers - eg "fifty one, fifty three" or "forty four, forty four" but the idea fell on fallow ground.
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In Europe Eurocontrol from an ATC perspective have a project running to reduce callsign confusion.
