Sorry, Just Trying To Be Helpfull!
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: hampshire
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RAFAT,
Following on a little from what Expedite had to say, I would like to point out that NORRY - WCO - HON at FL170 is not always the easiest routing to accomodate. FL170 is a commonly used level in the CPT area for traffic routing eastbound off G1 to either BPK or DVR, and then as you turn towards HON you're head on to all the traffic heading southbound into the London TMA and everything climbing out of Birmingham and East Midlands heading for COWLY and CPT. Whereas if you're routing via HEMEL - WELIN you'll fit nicely into the northbound flow that routes up that side if the 'airway'.
I see from your post that you made your request on a sunday afternoon and at weekends that routing shouldn't cause too many problems. During the week however it would be much more difficult.
If you or any of your collegues are ever in the vicinity of West Drayton please pop in and plug in on the TC Midlands sector. Fam flights and liason visits are the best way of promoting a better understanding of the problems faced by both controllers and pilots alike, and it's a shame that official fam. flights are now virtually non-existent
Hope to see you around someday,
Slippers.
Following on a little from what Expedite had to say, I would like to point out that NORRY - WCO - HON at FL170 is not always the easiest routing to accomodate. FL170 is a commonly used level in the CPT area for traffic routing eastbound off G1 to either BPK or DVR, and then as you turn towards HON you're head on to all the traffic heading southbound into the London TMA and everything climbing out of Birmingham and East Midlands heading for COWLY and CPT. Whereas if you're routing via HEMEL - WELIN you'll fit nicely into the northbound flow that routes up that side if the 'airway'.
I see from your post that you made your request on a sunday afternoon and at weekends that routing shouldn't cause too many problems. During the week however it would be much more difficult.
If you or any of your collegues are ever in the vicinity of West Drayton please pop in and plug in on the TC Midlands sector. Fam flights and liason visits are the best way of promoting a better understanding of the problems faced by both controllers and pilots alike, and it's a shame that official fam. flights are now virtually non-existent
Hope to see you around someday,
Slippers.
Last edited by Slippers; 27th Aug 2002 at 14:13.
I'm Just A Lawnmower
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Over the hills and faraway
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Surely with NATS being partially airline owned, the opportunities for pilot/ATCO liason should be better than ever. Instead of banning fam flights, they should be positively encouraged. I know 9/11 has had an impact on flight deck access but mutual undestanding has to be good for safety.
Anyway RAFAT, I think you have received the answers you were looking for - if a pilot calls up 'out of the blue' which is almost certainly what you did, that ATCO's forst response is to mutter under his/her breath 'Who the f*** was that?' It happens quite a bit, usually when a pilot has selected the wrong frequency or responded to a frequency change meant for another aircraft. Only rarely are they trying to make a 'pre-emptive strike' like in your case. Unexpected calls are a nuisance but no reason to get shirty.
When it comes to changing your filed route I would ask the controller on whose frequency you are already on - we can always telephone the request through to the next sector or if it is a domestic reroute, get it put in the computer to generate an amended flight progress strip.
Anyway RAFAT, I think you have received the answers you were looking for - if a pilot calls up 'out of the blue' which is almost certainly what you did, that ATCO's forst response is to mutter under his/her breath 'Who the f*** was that?' It happens quite a bit, usually when a pilot has selected the wrong frequency or responded to a frequency change meant for another aircraft. Only rarely are they trying to make a 'pre-emptive strike' like in your case. Unexpected calls are a nuisance but no reason to get shirty.
When it comes to changing your filed route I would ask the controller on whose frequency you are already on - we can always telephone the request through to the next sector or if it is a domestic reroute, get it put in the computer to generate an amended flight progress strip.
