Melbourne Air Traffic Control
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How do you work out priority for departure? Is it first to call ready or is it the amount of traffic in a given direction? Who makes the decision? Thanks.
Generally it is the first to call ready, however the ADC can choose to alter that if it will suit the traffic flow better. For example a medium before a heavy to avoid a wake turbulence delay, or alternate turns on departure rather than same track, that sort of thing.
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however the ADC can choose to alter that if it will suit the traffic flow better. For example a medium before a heavy to avoid a wake turbulence delay, or alternate turns on departure rather than same track, that sort of thing.
Hope it's not first to call ready given R27 and 34 taxi time differences, and the fact it was reiterated by Aerservices not to call ready until approaching the holding point the other month......
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I saw one aircraft report ready turning from Alpha into Echo. We reported ready at the holding point after their call but had to wait for nearly one minute for them to get to the holding point. I would have thought that it would have been more expeditious just to get aircraft away rather than have them wait for someone. Both heading northbound.
Over the years Air Services has given reminders not to call ready until at the holding point a few times. From a controllers perspective does it bother you where we are when we call ready? Are there pros and cons to us calling ready before we get to the holding point ?
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The AIP states at or approaching the holding point. Personally I think that it is unprofessional to call early. I have seen this happen in Melbourne at intersection Juliet when SMC had cleared aircraft X to Juliet who had been on taxiway Alpha and the tower cleared aircraft Y to Juliet who called ready whilst taxiing down Sierra. Aircraft Y had to break suddenly when X taxied in front of it as both thought they had right of way. Why would you call ready early if you still have taxiways to cross? Not a clever thing to do. Rules are there for a purpose - safety. Everybody gets their fair turn.
While the system uses ready calls for priority, in my humble opinion, Alpha turning into Echo is approaching the holding point and fair game.
Let's be real, a Short Taxi doesn't mean priority, and waiting 1 min may have been because of wake turb on a crossing runway, hence the person calling ready first had priority.
It's an average system. Perhaps those who taxi first should get priority at the holding point if traffic allows.
Let's be real, a Short Taxi doesn't mean priority, and waiting 1 min may have been because of wake turb on a crossing runway, hence the person calling ready first had priority.
It's an average system. Perhaps those who taxi first should get priority at the holding point if traffic allows.
Last edited by Bula; 6th Jul 2017 at 10:47.
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But why leave aircraft X waiting at Quebec who reported ready second to Aircraft Y who called ready turning into Echo when Aircraft Y still takes a minute to get to Papah. Wouldn't it be more efficient to let Aircraft X go rather than just have it sitting there?
Assuming aircraft X can go. Wake turb, Traffic, Med Helicopter, etc etc etc.
And I bet nobody is willing to say "This one time, I called ready after another flight, and I got to go first....but I declined and said, no no, after you". Swings and roundabouts. Just accept you don't have the full picture and what happens happens. Does it come out of your paycheck? No? Let it go.....ATC gives priority to whom it fits best, not by the colour of their tail. Nothing to see here.
In terms of "priority for departure" then there are some debate going on at the moment as to what this means and how it should be applied.
(i) with equal priority, flights compliant with their ATFM requirements, flights exempt from ATFM measures and Medical Aircraft (HOSP) operations; and
(ii) flights not compliant with their ATFM requirements;
(iii) allotheraircraft.
(ii) flights not compliant with their ATFM requirements;
(iii) allotheraircraft.
Swings and roundabouts. Just accept you don't have the full picture and what happens happens.
My beef with Melbourne is not with controllers but with the ASA procedures. Not using 09, single runway ops when two runways are suitable, etc etc
Also, the world's slowest runway and taxiway works. How those high speeds were out of action for month after month just beggars belief.
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Approaching:
To come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time.
Finishing to turn from Alpha onto Echo is approaching. I call bull. if you think otherwise.
To come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time.
Finishing to turn from Alpha onto Echo is approaching. I call bull. if you think otherwise.