What does GMC mean/do?
 

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question to those of you that know!! I have seen 'Ground' referred to as having GMC. What does this mean and how does it work? I have even asked instructors at my local airfield and no-one has heard of it!!

Thanks.

Hmm, im not really sure what you mean.. maybe you could explain a bit about the conversation you had where the term was bought up. Here in an operations environment we use the term GMC as a delay reason, GMC as we have it means Ground Movement Control. For example our aircraft is denied pushback for 10 minutes due to another aircraft pushing/passing behind we would put the delay down to GMC for 10 mins.

Hope this helps.... hmmm

OJ

Edit; Thinking about it, maybe in an Airfield environment it could refer to the aerodrome having a Ground Movement Controller, basically someone to direct the aircraft on the ground (down taxiways, to parking stands/runway etc) before they are handed over to the tower controller for departure.. just a thought...

OJ

Newark_Anagram

It's basically an Air Traffic term for 'Ground'.

As you go from quieter to busier airfield with more controllers, the responsibilities for the aircraft are divided between more ATCOs.

-At a small airfield, you might have 'Tower' only, who does everything.
-Getting busier you might have two ATCOs, Ground (we call it GMC) and Tower (we call it 'Air').
-Busier again you might have Clearance Delivery (We call it Ground Movement Planner - A/c call here first to obtain their clearance), GMC and Air
-At Heathrow we have GMP, GMC1, GMC2 and two Air controllers, one for the take off runway (Air Deps) and one for the landing runway (Air Arrivals).

Thanks guys.

I was looking to fly into Coventry on my first flight as PPL into ATC controlled airfield! According to my VFR guide, there is a GND frequency, and then it says GMC in use during busy periods as notified by NOTAM, Taxy is under general direction from TWR, GMC is for booking out. Didn't know what it meant, and couldn't find it anywhere in the abbreviations!!


Thanks again.

<<For example our aircraft is denied pushback for 10 minutes due to another aircraft pushing/passing behind we would put the delay down to GMC for 10 mins.>>

Strange how different minds work.... when an aeroplane is delayed the pilots often blame ATC, even when it has nothing to do with ATC. When pilots asked me the reason for any delay I used to reply simply: "Aircraft".

And then there's every possibility that the 10 minute delay is caused by the aircraft blocking the way asking for push 10 minutes before there was any chance the aircraft would move. But, there you go, that's ATC delays for you.

And there's also the chance that your airline has scheduled five aircraft on successive stands in the same apron to all push at the same time. Genius.

P7

then there is the common problem of not enough concrete ;)

There's enough - it's just usually still setting. ;)

P7

or has a/c parked on it!