Bournemouth Radar 30/8/2004 = Wonderful
 

Just wondered if anyone knows the best way to get a message of thanks to the very helpful Bournemouth Radar controller (lady) who assisted me as I passed by today.

Give them a bell??

A helpful controller at Bournemouth! Local opinion is somewhat different.

2 months ago I was passing through Bournemouth completing a chaps training. I was given a :mad: over the radio for not filing a flight plan to enter the hold - female voice. I booked out in exactly the same way as I have many times before, which to my understanding constitutes an 'abbreviated flight plan'.

What's this 'booking circuits' thing about, I do not know of any airport in the UK or anywhere else for that matter, where a pilot must make a booking and get reference number for it. After all circuits are normally VFR.

These together with holding at the end of downwind for ten with a 737 at 12 miles with NO departures before, but one 737 after, is enough to think that some of them are :mad:

Anyone else care to add?

Not the first time they've had a note of thanks on Pprune - see this thread

Perhaps it was the lovely Annie?

I can't imagine it would be Annie..............sounds more like the SATCO!:}

Give me a rough idea of the time and I can try and find out who it is and pass the message on if you like!

You mean there are still some controllers left down there? Wow...........:rolleyes:

Jerr - they are talking Bournemouth - not NAVCANADA!!! :)

Game on!!!!

Rood,

Was that you 20 miles south of Portland Bill trying to get a RIS from EGHH on Sunday, by any chance?

I must admit I was quite impressed that they tried hard to give a service even though they couldn't really see whoever it was and, initially they couldn't be heard either. Last I heard before leaving the frequency, was them getting a limited radar service.

A very good service I thought and, although they have been a bit grumpy lately, is fairly typical if they are not frantically busy.

No pulse1, it wasn`t me trying to get the RIS off Portland, although I did have initial problems being heard.

I was part of a gaggle of PA28`s passing south abeam approx 1-1.30pm on Monday 30th August.

It was just the helpful, calm friendly way we were given FIS and had our intentions passed to Solent which made it all much less work than it could have been.

safe as !, If you can pass my thanks on I`d be grateful otherwise I`ll take the advice to call.

IWGU and C&B

Sugest you get to know a few of the controllers down here. They are a decent bunch, and mostly very helpful and competent, although I agree we shouldn't be refused circuits so often. I find the flight information service here especially helpful for a civvy airport, with good traffic information thrown in for safety (and offer of a radar fix when I crossed the channel yesterday with no radio aids and they couldn't get a good VDF bearing. Thanks :ok: ).

The problem seems to be that there are not enough of them! It may seem small for an international airport, but with 5 commercial training schools, 2 fixed-wing flying clubs, 2 other light-aircraft training companies, a helicopter flying club, an historic flying collection, 2 or 3 aircraft distributors and a couple of maintenance organisations plus short-term aircraft storage it gets very busy. The manning of the tower and radar and the facilities on the airport do not match the workload.

I have flown several hundred hours here, and I love it. Can't think of a better training base. All the complications and facilities of an international airport, yet very GA-friendly (as long as you book in advance, for potential visitors!). Never had any serious gripe with ATC.

As an ATCO at Bournemouth it is good to see some positive comments on the ATC service we provide. We are trying our best, however due to serious staff shortages we don't always manage to provide everyone with full service we would like to!
Booking circuits was a management idea to try to avoid periods of manic circuit activity when no one achieved what they wanted. It has not however provided any benefits and has onlyserved to annoy our customers (sorry). Hopefully the new SATCO (soon to be appointed) will sort that particular problem out.
We are always willing to listen to comments and accept justified criticism, so feel free to contact us in the tower or even better, next time the weather is below your limits, pop in and visit us.
Safe flying

Bournemouth ATCOs
 

I would just like to add my vote of thanks to the ATCOs at Bournemouth.

I have been flying there on and off now for about 5 years and the service has always been consistently good with some nice humour thrown in at times as well.

Thanks guys - keep up the good work!

TZ

Why is the SATCO changing then Colin?:confused:

bmth ATC ARE GREAT, WELL THEY WERE WHEN I WAS TRAINING FOR MY IR IN MAY LAST YR.

SAME GOES FOR THE SOU ATC LOT - GREAT SERVICE GUYS !!!

Another vote for Bournemouth, they were really good to me on my IRT.

Thanks guys and gals :ok: :ok:

I want to add a thumbs-up to the controllers at Bournemouth:ok: Having been instructed for my PPL by a famous Perv, I enjoyed the banter that puntuated the helpful and professional service (this a couple of years ago). I still use Bournemouth every few weeks and find the controllers generally to be great. There are the occasional grumpy moments, but these are rare. It is obvious that organisational changes have created difficulties, but the cheerful approach of some controllers is really appreciated.

Occasional Grumpy Moments
 

Heard the Sea Vixen pilot receive one of those over the weekend. Ouch!!!:(

BM should that not be "infamous Pervy"? Never met the guy, but he's a legend.