ATC Visit
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Join Date: Apr 2003
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ATC Visit
Reading through one of my many PPL course books, and one of them (US based) says that its worth while contacting your local ATC to arrange a visit, in order to gain a better understanding of the working of an ATC.
Is this true?
If so how would I be able to make an appointment with Birmingham ATC, as this is my nearest and largest.
Is this true?
If so how would I be able to make an appointment with Birmingham ATC, as this is my nearest and largest.
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Have a look at
www.egbb.co.uk
They have a contact section there.
Always used to welcome visitors when I was involved.
www.egbb.co.uk
They have a contact section there.
Always used to welcome visitors when I was involved.
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Hi All
Is there such a site or contact information for heathrow?
www.egll.co.uk results in nothing!
Thanks
Kev...
Is there such a site or contact information for heathrow?
www.egll.co.uk results in nothing!
Thanks
Kev...
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Hey guys,
There was a recent thread in the 'private flying' forum, where visits seem to be arranged quite regularly for Pprune users. Have a look there!
I really can't overemphasise the value of visiting ATC enough. I spent a day with controllers at a GA field, and at a major regional airport whilst doing my PPL. Such visits show you that there is a 'real person' on the other end of the radio, and his/her job can be very taxing when pilots 'don't fly as they should' (this happened several times on the day I visited!!)
Very valuable and will definitely make you a more consciencous (if that is how you spell it..!) pilot. Should be a requirement of the PPL course, I think.
There was a recent thread in the 'private flying' forum, where visits seem to be arranged quite regularly for Pprune users. Have a look there!
I really can't overemphasise the value of visiting ATC enough. I spent a day with controllers at a GA field, and at a major regional airport whilst doing my PPL. Such visits show you that there is a 'real person' on the other end of the radio, and his/her job can be very taxing when pilots 'don't fly as they should' (this happened several times on the day I visited!!)
Very valuable and will definitely make you a more consciencous (if that is how you spell it..!) pilot. Should be a requirement of the PPL course, I think.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Likewise, you'd be most welcome at EGBJ (Gloucestershire Airport), we're not a million miles from Birmingham and we know lots, lots more about PPL's and GA
Email me if you want to visit
Email me if you want to visit
Join Date: Feb 2002
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Kev
I wouldn't hold out much hope of getting to Heathrow, busiest airport in world = busiest tower in world. You can't fly there as a PPL, so it wouldn't be of any use to you as a learning experience. Better to try and contact your nearest GA/PPL operations airport. Brum is leading the way as far as NATS operated towers go, but others will surely follow. You will learn far more from a smaller place with flocks of Cessnas and Pipers etc than you will at an airport with only commercial IFR traffic.
Once upon a time, I had a signature......
edited for kak spelling
I wouldn't hold out much hope of getting to Heathrow, busiest airport in world = busiest tower in world. You can't fly there as a PPL, so it wouldn't be of any use to you as a learning experience. Better to try and contact your nearest GA/PPL operations airport. Brum is leading the way as far as NATS operated towers go, but others will surely follow. You will learn far more from a smaller place with flocks of Cessnas and Pipers etc than you will at an airport with only commercial IFR traffic.
Once upon a time, I had a signature......
edited for kak spelling
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Hey
Ive got a contact somewhere who is an ATCO at Heathrow. Ill see if i can find his e-mail somewhere. He offered me the chance of a visit late last year but i couldnt get to Heathrow from where i live.
Anyway im off to kip now chaps
Cya l8a
Ive got a contact somewhere who is an ATCO at Heathrow. Ill see if i can find his e-mail somewhere. He offered me the chance of a visit late last year but i couldnt get to Heathrow from where i live.
Anyway im off to kip now chaps
Cya l8a
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Mmmm
a visit to Heathrow would help.
All day we see overhead/deadside joins. Plugging the poor guy in bandboxed GMC would definitely help his PPL.
ukhomerj
go to a small GA airfield (a FISO or A/G unit) and then a bigger airport that has to integrate VFR traffic. Much more beneficial.
If that doesn't work - go to an RAF tower and drink lots of tea.
a visit to Heathrow would help.
All day we see overhead/deadside joins. Plugging the poor guy in bandboxed GMC would definitely help his PPL.
ukhomerj
go to a small GA airfield (a FISO or A/G unit) and then a bigger airport that has to integrate VFR traffic. Much more beneficial.
If that doesn't work - go to an RAF tower and drink lots of tea.
Join Date: May 2003
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Pretty sure Church Fenton or Linton-on-Ouse accept guests to their respective ATC units. Spent a week on Fenton Zone myself a couple of years ago.....they really do hate civilians....after a week of doing FIS to PPL students I'd really had enough too.
Still, i'd suggest an RAF ATC unit is worth a visit, quite interesting watching the military ops and if you can sit in with the bloke doing MATZ transits or watching zone, you'll get a load of VFR stuff too.
RC
Still, i'd suggest an RAF ATC unit is worth a visit, quite interesting watching the military ops and if you can sit in with the bloke doing MATZ transits or watching zone, you'll get a load of VFR stuff too.
RC
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Apologies for the delay in responding to the many invitations and posts, but holidays interrupted PPRUNE viewing.
I hope to take up a few offers, and I agree with one of the posts that some time spent at an ATC should be part of the PPL course.
I will let you all know how I get on.
By the way, does a tin of biscuits help the GA/ATC bond???
I hope to take up a few offers, and I agree with one of the posts that some time spent at an ATC should be part of the PPL course.
I will let you all know how I get on.
By the way, does a tin of biscuits help the GA/ATC bond???
Join Date: Jan 2002
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since you saw the suggestion in a US book, how about a US answer.
FAA has visits by pilots (not just GA) as official policy called Operation Raincheck. Since 9/11/01 the availability has been spotty, a definate "not no but h*ll no" at some facilities and an "okay, but" at others.
There are visists and there are visits...Raincheck visits you get to watch the control floor of the center from a vultures row above. It is better if you can scrape some aquaintance and plug in a position for awhile, can be a real show! GA control towers w/o radar etc can be more exciting than the big ones too... though I seem to be there when the big tower has a bomb threat on an incoming a/c and at the GA one when radios go u/s and they control with cell phones via landline (it worked, by the way)
FAA has visits by pilots (not just GA) as official policy called Operation Raincheck. Since 9/11/01 the availability has been spotty, a definate "not no but h*ll no" at some facilities and an "okay, but" at others.
There are visists and there are visits...Raincheck visits you get to watch the control floor of the center from a vultures row above. It is better if you can scrape some aquaintance and plug in a position for awhile, can be a real show! GA control towers w/o radar etc can be more exciting than the big ones too... though I seem to be there when the big tower has a bomb threat on an incoming a/c and at the GA one when radios go u/s and they control with cell phones via landline (it worked, by the way)
