London VOLMET Main and South
Thread Starter
London VOLMET Main and South
Hello folks.
A copy of my question on another thread:
What has happened to these VOLMETS??
For at least 13 years, (since I've been flying commercially), these VOLMETS have been transmitted by a lovely 'lady' with very clear diction and delivery. On return to the UK from anywhere abroad, it was always a relief to hear her voice and be able to write down the weather as she read it very clearly and at just the right speed - neither too fast or too slow.
Tonight there was a different lady, who is nowhere near as good. Her delivery is too fast and erratic, her pronunciation variable, and the voice quality has a 'digital garble' to it.
Does anyone know why they have changed the equipment with the original 'lady'?
A copy of my question on another thread:
What has happened to these VOLMETS??
For at least 13 years, (since I've been flying commercially), these VOLMETS have been transmitted by a lovely 'lady' with very clear diction and delivery. On return to the UK from anywhere abroad, it was always a relief to hear her voice and be able to write down the weather as she read it very clearly and at just the right speed - neither too fast or too slow.
Tonight there was a different lady, who is nowhere near as good. Her delivery is too fast and erratic, her pronunciation variable, and the voice quality has a 'digital garble' to it.
Does anyone know why they have changed the equipment with the original 'lady'?
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Quite agree with opening post re the "new" volmet voice. Dreadful! For a while, I thought it was an overlap from somewhere in the East of the EU. Before our nice crisp lady, we had an equally intelligible male voice.
Perhaps someone on the ATC net can pass some insight in to this dubious change.?
Perhaps someone on the ATC net can pass some insight in to this dubious change.?
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Why don't you use London Information and speak to a real person and get the required airports METARs immediately.
You can even ask him/her a question!
You can even ask him/her a question!
Thread Starter
22/04: Well the 'lady' herself called it "London VOLMET Main", so that's good enough for me. 
DC10 - Thanks for the tip, but it's convenient most times to just listen and write in a quiet moment without having to get into another RT conversation with someone. For example I can grab a quick bite of a sandwich while I'm getting the weather. Also, London VOLMET Main has a huge range - out to about 300nm, so we can pick it up earlier which gives us the answers for our descent planning sooner than waiting until our puny RT transmitter was in range of London.
I guess these automated services are installed and transmitted from Swanwick, are they? Does no-one there know about new equipment being installed?
DC10 - Thanks for the tip, but it's convenient most times to just listen and write in a quiet moment without having to get into another RT conversation with someone. For example I can grab a quick bite of a sandwich while I'm getting the weather. Also, London VOLMET Main has a huge range - out to about 300nm, so we can pick it up earlier which gives us the answers for our descent planning sooner than waiting until our puny RT transmitter was in range of London.
I guess these automated services are installed and transmitted from Swanwick, are they? Does no-one there know about new equipment being installed?
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DALEKS exterminate Volmet
If there was ever any doubt that female DALEKS exist....this is the proof. In ATC extra words waste time.....why is it now "information Broadcast"? One word runs into the next, some letters are missed completely, we have "noseeeg". I don't know if there is French influence but we now have Paris Charles de Gaulle International!!!!!! I hope for pilot buddies' sake that we don't get fog any-time soon.....there seems to be an Eyeveerrrrrrrrr or something.
Seriously though, it does need some work; any replacement should be better than previous and this misses by a long way. Tune in nevertheless....after a long day it will cheer you up with the varying metallic tone and pitch levels.
Seriously though, it does need some work; any replacement should be better than previous and this misses by a long way. Tune in nevertheless....after a long day it will cheer you up with the varying metallic tone and pitch levels.
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agreement
I agree entirely , this is a change that has happened within the last two weeks . It is awful compared to the previous volmet lass . Its now a rushed partial Stephen hawking voice , for the love of god change it back . I almost missed the IOM wx last week as its now called read out as ronaldsway and at 4 in the morning , when going through the motions I almost didn't register it :-)
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Any general comments or queries on the UK VOLMET service should be directed to the following:
Operations Support
Civil Aviation Communications Centre
Room 3524
NATS
Sopwith Way
Swanwick SO31 7AY
Tel: 01489-612259
Email: [email protected]
Operations Support
Civil Aviation Communications Centre
Room 3524
NATS
Sopwith Way
Swanwick SO31 7AY
Tel: 01489-612259
Email: [email protected]
Thread Starter
Ah, thanks for that, beerdrinker.
E-mail on it's way...
E-mail on it's way...
