Appauling Farnborough RTF

[Gertrude the Wombat]

What do the London Info controllers think about this? Should we call them, pass our message, squawk 1177 and then sign off without asking for any information like we do now, even when the frequency is really busy, or should we just silently listen in on the frequency if we've got nothing to ask, while squawking 7000, particularly if it's busy with people who need the alerting service most of all (ie. cross-channel traffic). Or is there some sort of middle ground?

There will, no doubt, be a review of 1177 and 0013 etc after they've been running for a while, and one of the questions that will, I'm sure, be addressed is whether a "listening out" squawk for LI would be a good idea. Which would sound like an option for your "middle ground".

(Personally I listen out to LI and only talk to them if I want something, such as a DAAIS, or if the frequency is very quiet - on a slow day a bored controller desperate for someone to chat to has even called me back and said "hey, d'you know about such-and-such a NOTAM?".)

[ShyTorque]

I don't use it much these days especially at weekends - as has been said, it's very often far too busy. I'll sometimes listen out only if there is no other suitable ATC unit close to my route, it's very often possible to get my info such as the RPS from responses to other's requests. Alternatively, I also tend to listen to ATIS broadcasts as I go merrily along my way. Shame really, they are probably a victim of their own success .