Do you ever get annoyed with PPL students?
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oxford, UK
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I am afraid that I have had both good and bad episodes with ATC - remarkably enough the good ones have always been outside my home ATZ when I am en-route (London Info are gr8! and very professional, and likewise for Luton App when they aren't too busy!)
G-SXTY, take consolation in the fact some of us have also suffered the humiliation on RT from ATC. This happened to me in my training when I mis-read a clearance given to a just departed aircraft and jumped the holding point stop-line, thereby effectively entering the active (although believe me, where I fly there is a good 150ft of taxi way between the line and the runway) I got a screaming female controller saying "G-****, hold short and read back!!!!!!" She was so stressed she completey panicked me and I just clammed up. As a student, that is a very negative experience.
I am by no means generally labelling controllers as snappy or unprofessional because the majority do a stirling job. But it is true to say that there is little understanding in what each person is trying to do, and as G-SXTY underlines, flying an aircraft (esp. in a busy circuit) can also be v. demanding. It is nonetheless rare (correct me if I am wrong) that a pilot snaps at a controller
G-SXTY, take consolation in the fact some of us have also suffered the humiliation on RT from ATC. This happened to me in my training when I mis-read a clearance given to a just departed aircraft and jumped the holding point stop-line, thereby effectively entering the active (although believe me, where I fly there is a good 150ft of taxi way between the line and the runway) I got a screaming female controller saying "G-****, hold short and read back!!!!!!" She was so stressed she completey panicked me and I just clammed up. As a student, that is a very negative experience.
I am by no means generally labelling controllers as snappy or unprofessional because the majority do a stirling job. But it is true to say that there is little understanding in what each person is trying to do, and as G-SXTY underlines, flying an aircraft (esp. in a busy circuit) can also be v. demanding. It is nonetheless rare (correct me if I am wrong) that a pilot snaps at a controller
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: South East
Age: 56
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I don't have a PPL, and yes I am completely jealous of people that can fly. (Just bought house can't afford to yet). But I do get to fly with club members and the flying school whenever I can. This gives me a better understanding of what is going on up there until such time that I can afford to pay for lessons.
Likewise, the club send all new students up to the tower for a visit , so that they can see what we do.
From my point of view (ATCO) yes I can get frustrated by new (and old) pilots, but when I was reletively new up here, I know that pilots were frustrated by some of my learning gaffs.
Swings and Roundabouts. Just so long as its safe!!!!!!
But I think that just simply getting to know your local flying school and nabbing the odd flight and pilots visiting ATC is a great help.
Likewise, the club send all new students up to the tower for a visit , so that they can see what we do.
From my point of view (ATCO) yes I can get frustrated by new (and old) pilots, but when I was reletively new up here, I know that pilots were frustrated by some of my learning gaffs.
Swings and Roundabouts. Just so long as its safe!!!!!!
But I think that just simply getting to know your local flying school and nabbing the odd flight and pilots visiting ATC is a great help.
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I'm training at the moment for my PPL, and I find the majority of ATCOs very helpful to student pilots, and only had the one negative experience (that was at Bristol, and I was messing up the sequencing by orbiting too far away from the field - believe me though, as a solo student a 737 piling down the ILS looks plenty close enough however far away you are! While it was my fault, I didn't know the airfield too well, and things like the distance at which to orbit isn't always easy to judge when things look new. Anyway, the guy got really snappy on the R/T about it.)
Had some great controllers though, who are very understanding towards students, and even had one female LARS controller at Yeovilton on a very quiet Wednesday (absolutely dead on the RT), at her suggestion, let me practice all sorts of strange calls and requests, just to get some experience of them. That is the sort of thing which really helps us students out. Bournemouth and Exeter are some other very good fields for helpful ATCOs, and I hope someone takes them some cakes soon!!!!
I think I'll start a new thread soon on fitness & exercise plans specially designed for ATCOs, as with all these cakes they're going to turn into a right bunch of fat bas***ds!!!
Had some great controllers though, who are very understanding towards students, and even had one female LARS controller at Yeovilton on a very quiet Wednesday (absolutely dead on the RT), at her suggestion, let me practice all sorts of strange calls and requests, just to get some experience of them. That is the sort of thing which really helps us students out. Bournemouth and Exeter are some other very good fields for helpful ATCOs, and I hope someone takes them some cakes soon!!!!
I think I'll start a new thread soon on fitness & exercise plans specially designed for ATCOs, as with all these cakes they're going to turn into a right bunch of fat bas***ds!!!
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Not too much problem with that. We have to climb lots of stairs to get to the office. Unless there is a nice lift.
Besides its you pilots that have to watch the weight. Extra Fuel = Extra money!
Besides its you pilots that have to watch the weight. Extra Fuel = Extra money!
Join Date: Feb 2001
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I'm surprised to hear EGSH (Norwich) were rude. Last time I was there a few weeks ago the lady ATCO in Twr was so friendly and talkative it was almost embarrassing!
If I remember rightly Appr is run from RAF Coltishall. Always had the very best and most friendly service from both, I learnt there many years ago and have been back visiting a few times recently.
I have to admit though that I have the distinct feeling that if I sound "professional" I may get better service, increased chance of a zone transit, etc.....
If I remember rightly Appr is run from RAF Coltishall. Always had the very best and most friendly service from both, I learnt there many years ago and have been back visiting a few times recently.
I have to admit though that I have the distinct feeling that if I sound "professional" I may get better service, increased chance of a zone transit, etc.....
