RAF Air Traffickers Are Top Notch
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In these days when 90% of the population are taking photographs of themselves every ten seconds and documenting their every bowel movement online it seems to me that writing a straight forward letter is to be applauded.
Over the years I have received, via my company, many letters like this and its what used to be called, in more courteous times, A Letter of Introduction.
This letter would normally give the writer a visit to the flight deck or a chat with the crew at some stage of the flight. Prior to 9/11 I would also probably offer a cockpit jump seat for take-off or landing. It was an opportunity for someone to gain an idea of what was involved in operating an airliner and for the crew to hear someone else’s life/occupational experiences. It would also in a few cases lead to future employment of the writer.
The letters would come from general members of the public, teachers, firemen, atc staff et al.
I say well done that man.
Over the years I have received, via my company, many letters like this and its what used to be called, in more courteous times, A Letter of Introduction.
This letter would normally give the writer a visit to the flight deck or a chat with the crew at some stage of the flight. Prior to 9/11 I would also probably offer a cockpit jump seat for take-off or landing. It was an opportunity for someone to gain an idea of what was involved in operating an airliner and for the crew to hear someone else’s life/occupational experiences. It would also in a few cases lead to future employment of the writer.
The letters would come from general members of the public, teachers, firemen, atc staff et al.
I say well done that man.
Prior to 9/11, civil controllers working for NATS were permitted to take free 'familiarisation flights' with some airlines for 'liaison' purposes. We were issued with letters of introduction to hand to cabin crew in the hope the captain would grant access to the flight deck; the Captain would be informed prior to the flight to expect us on board.
In some cases (usually IT flights eg Britannia, Air 2000 etc), the check - in agent would be told to expect you in which case you were often not even allocated a cabin seat (which they could sell of course) and travelled out and return in the jump seat. On all flights you were only permitted a single night stopover if there was no return flight the same day (eg Air Malta to Malta).
Of course, this was all done officially, whereas it would seem the letter above was done on an individual's own initiative.
In some cases (usually IT flights eg Britannia, Air 2000 etc), the check - in agent would be told to expect you in which case you were often not even allocated a cabin seat (which they could sell of course) and travelled out and return in the jump seat. On all flights you were only permitted a single night stopover if there was no return flight the same day (eg Air Malta to Malta).
Of course, this was all done officially, whereas it would seem the letter above was done on an individual's own initiative.
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Hey Tilos/Chevron
Get on board fellas. We are not here to discuss alternate views or consider any background/surrounding circumstances that have led to this. What we have been presented with here is a snapshot of a situation that has now entered the social media environment. Consequently ridicule and humiliation are to be heaped upon the individual and an element of retribution meted out; to be determined by social media.
Unless of course we can identify some potential bigoted overtones in the malicious manner in which this has been 'outed'. In which case we should be looking to take offence on behalf of the offended at the heavy handed attitude of the RAF in applying censure (if previous posts are to be believed), a public inquiry should be convened to determine which unpleasant individual thought to take this out of their professional environment and post it into the public domain and the airline concerned pursued into bankruptcy for not affording this person the rewards their endeavours deserved.
Get on board fellas. We are not here to discuss alternate views or consider any background/surrounding circumstances that have led to this. What we have been presented with here is a snapshot of a situation that has now entered the social media environment. Consequently ridicule and humiliation are to be heaped upon the individual and an element of retribution meted out; to be determined by social media.
Unless of course we can identify some potential bigoted overtones in the malicious manner in which this has been 'outed'. In which case we should be looking to take offence on behalf of the offended at the heavy handed attitude of the RAF in applying censure (if previous posts are to be believed), a public inquiry should be convened to determine which unpleasant individual thought to take this out of their professional environment and post it into the public domain and the airline concerned pursued into bankruptcy for not affording this person the rewards their endeavours deserved.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Interesting concept... Hmmmmm
I am an licenced aircraft engineer and will be travelling with you today, if you have any problems I would you suggest you get your arses out there and fix it.
Yours
NL
My mate actually fixed the flight he was on lol, although the airline he worked for wasn't the one he was flying with, they had a maintenance sharing contract in play and his wife nagged him when it went tech on the homeward start up, after a chat to the crew who contacted their base, he was authorised to have a look at the problem which he promptly fixed allowing the aircraft to depart. He was served quite a bit of complimentary drinks on the flight home and was cheered by the pax when he got back onboard.
I am an licenced aircraft engineer and will be travelling with you today, if you have any problems I would you suggest you get your arses out there and fix it.
Yours
NL
My mate actually fixed the flight he was on lol, although the airline he worked for wasn't the one he was flying with, they had a maintenance sharing contract in play and his wife nagged him when it went tech on the homeward start up, after a chat to the crew who contacted their base, he was authorised to have a look at the problem which he promptly fixed allowing the aircraft to depart. He was served quite a bit of complimentary drinks on the flight home and was cheered by the pax when he got back onboard.
Nobody has answered the most important question....did he get his upgrade?.....
I’d certainly expect disciplinary action if I used my company’s headed paper for something like that. What use am I, an ATCO, to you lot anyway once underway. A doctor, nurse, police officer...sure, but other than perhaps a chin wag to answer a few useful questions we might have for each other....
I’d certainly expect disciplinary action if I used my company’s headed paper for something like that. What use am I, an ATCO, to you lot anyway once underway. A doctor, nurse, police officer...sure, but other than perhaps a chin wag to answer a few useful questions we might have for each other....
I've seen a US Government officer type up her own "On US Government Business" letter and use it for discounted USG rate (often 50% of normal rates) on holiday with her family!
She was caught somehow... and other than being a laughing stock.... I believe no further action was taken!
She was caught somehow... and other than being a laughing stock.... I believe no further action was taken!
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Join Date: May 2007
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There's a story going round, that the extension number, visible in some copies of the letter, has had to be diverted, to allow normal work to continue.
Now, maybe lots of people have been calling, to ask Steve to rescue a cat from a tree, or leap a building in a single bound, or run faster than a speeding bullet....
Maybe not, but this seems to be gathering steam rather than dying out.
There's no doubt that in Military ATC circles, the guy is a Legend.
No, not the end that you put in your shoe, the other end.
Now, maybe lots of people have been calling, to ask Steve to rescue a cat from a tree, or leap a building in a single bound, or run faster than a speeding bullet....
Maybe not, but this seems to be gathering steam rather than dying out.
There's no doubt that in Military ATC circles, the guy is a Legend.
No, not the end that you put in your shoe, the other end.
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Oh dear .. The RAF have obviously skipped the 'does this person have any common sense' part of the interview process these days. Especially when it comes to promoting people to SNCO level.
It's been a painful lesson (re-) learned, on both sides, I fear.
There is little chance that 'Rodney' will do anything quite as stupid again, but equally there is little chance [ha ha ha - really? they learn?
] that Corporate Stupid will allow anything as daft and blatant as that to happen again.
The are still some ways to get a free upgrade but making a prat of yourself and embarrassing your employer like this are not amongst them...
So where's he getting posted to? IIRC Benbecula always used to be the favoured place for anyone caught being naughty (it was a posting to there within 24hrs for a WAAF Officer caught seducing & shagging a married officer at somewhere I used to reside).
It's been a painful lesson (re-) learned, on both sides, I fear.
There is little chance that 'Rodney' will do anything quite as stupid again, but equally there is little chance [ha ha ha - really? they learn?
] that Corporate Stupid will allow anything as daft and blatant as that to happen again.The are still some ways to get a free upgrade but making a prat of yourself and embarrassing your employer like this are not amongst them...
So where's he getting posted to? IIRC Benbecula always used to be the favoured place for anyone caught being naughty (it was a posting to there within 24hrs for a WAAF Officer caught seducing & shagging a married officer at somewhere I used to reside).
Prior to locked flight deck doors, letters requesting "ATC famil" flights were quite rare and often,when they happened, it was sanctioned by the fleet management. As an ex skipper in BA I never received one directly, though a couple of times a CSD mentioned it in passing at the end of the day on the bus back to the crew centre.
Stupid letters, such as this one, were often 'filtered' by the CSD into file 13 and, in my experience, did not reach the flight deck.
All on his own, this man has wrecked his so called career for ever and the R.A.F. should
charge him for bringing the service into disrepute, or remuster him to TAG, or let him leave and tell him his pension has gone for ever.
ps. In my time in the R.A.F. in Air Traffic Control (as an assistant ) , the rank of Sergeant was never a controller and the minimum rank for local control was a Flight Sergeant.
Stupid letters, such as this one, were often 'filtered' by the CSD into file 13 and, in my experience, did not reach the flight deck.
All on his own, this man has wrecked his so called career for ever and the R.A.F. should
charge him for bringing the service into disrepute, or remuster him to TAG, or let him leave and tell him his pension has gone for ever.
ps. In my time in the R.A.F. in Air Traffic Control (as an assistant ) , the rank of Sergeant was never a controller and the minimum rank for local control was a Flight Sergeant.
Last edited by 5aday; 17th Apr 2018 at 09:19.
Gentleman Aviator
the rank of Sergeant was never a controller
Personally, I have no difficulty with this: for years we have had direct entry SNCOs as aircrew, and for even longer direct entry controllers as officers.
So if (perhaps a big if!) you can accept a 20 y.o Plt Off controller, and a 20 y.o. SNCO Chinook loadie, then what's the big deal about a 20 y.o SNCO controller??
Not only do they have Sgts as controllers, there is now direct entry as such, not just the cream of TG 9.
Personally, I have no difficulty with this: for years we have had direct entry SNCOs as aircrew, and for even longer direct entry controllers as officers.
So if (perhaps a big if!) you can accept a 20 y.o Plt Off controller, and a 20 y.o. SNCO Chinook loadie, then what's the big deal about a 20 y.o SNCO controller??
Personally, I have no difficulty with this: for years we have had direct entry SNCOs as aircrew, and for even longer direct entry controllers as officers.
So if (perhaps a big if!) you can accept a 20 y.o Plt Off controller, and a 20 y.o. SNCO Chinook loadie, then what's the big deal about a 20 y.o SNCO controller??
CG
After all, there are few offences more serious than being a prat, and the rest of us are perfect, obviously.