EMA landing and takeoff times
 

Was operating out of east mids last night and the controller on was giving everyone's landing and takeoff times. Is this new procedure or just a helpful controller.:ok:

Obviously very 'customer focussed'
Seriously, if it helps, why not :ok:.
Many years ago, East Mids would request the Captain's name and total POB, (I believe,for the movement log).

I believe this was so app could then identify aircraft on departure within a mile of the field. They would monitor twr freq and saves a call. An approach bod would be able to better inform you on this. as for landing time.....too long since i last did tower:eek::eek:

I think that identification on departure would only be neccessary for a/c that EMA approach would work, rather than a/c that are sent straight to ACC. In this scenario, TWR should use the intercom to tell the approach radar controller the airborne time in order for the necessary identification to take place within one mile of the end of the runway.

It is highly unlikely that the controller in radar would be listening to the ADC frequency!

Passing airborne and landing times seems to be a procedure that I've only ever heard the "older" controllers use at different units. Please tell me if it was ever in any way useful, as I think it is a totally useless transmission in the modern world.

That's my honest opinion. Over to the rest of you...

i found it useful in three ways.

1) If you forget to start the clocks running on takeoff (rare for both pilots to miss it, but it does happen)

2) Sometimes the F/O's and Captains clocks are set to different times only out by one minute max, but atleast you then have a definitive answer of when exactly you took off.

3) Whilst UK controllers are very very good, this gives me that little extra confidence (a completely personal thing) that they are completely on the ball.

Interesting to read that, Cortilla.
Have to admit to being a little surprised but I'm always willing to learn.

Start the clocks running? Can you explain some more? I would have thought that in a modern cockpit the FMC would automatically register the wheels up/wheels down times? Am I wrong in assuming that?

Not sure what you mean about being reassured that the controller is on the ball...
Flight progress strips are used for all aircraft. Most places still use paper ones but the larger airfields are changing over to electronic versions. Either way, the airborne/landing time is always recorded, with ink or a mouse click. You can always ask for it. I would say the controllers at Heathrow are pretty switched on... but when was the last time you heard one of them pass an airborne or landing time over the frequency?

Sorry but it still seems like an archaic practice to me.