10 things that annoy you in aviation.
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10 things that annoy you in aviation.
Nothing gets me more than inefficiency or reluctancy for change "just because it's always been done this way". Aviation is the king of this.
Obviously, text below should be taken cum grano salis and with tongue firmly planted, but still......
1. The TAF's and Metar's. I get it - they have to be abbreviated to able to send over telex. Problem is the telex died, what, 30 years ago? Why on earth are we still reading an incomprehensible abbreviated piece of text?
2. Why aren't TAF's and Metar's combined? Give me the actual weather and the forecast. All in one. Madness having to look in two different places.
3. And IF you're going to use a standard, please make it a standard across the board. It's nuts to have different TAF and Metar values depending on region (one more reason to write it out in plain English - so as to avoid confusions). The US and European TAF's and Metar's are significantly different.
4. You're busy approaching an airport for landing. You have to comply with ATC and spot 5 different other aircraft whilst reading a checklist and a map, at night, all at once. Would it kill the manufacturers to have a toggle that had different settings for Taxi, Climb, Approach, Landing? That way you could just turn a knob to Landing, and the landing light and gear would come out/on. Done deal. When you've landed switch to Taxi and the taxi light comes on etc. Why have a million checkpoints on a list, when one button could accomplish all of it?
5. Why can't I get weather beamed to me in Europe to some device in the aircraft? I can get it on my Iphone, but not to my aircraft?
6. Notams pertaining to your route into the aircraft? Forget it.
7. If you take your FAA PPL in a multi engine, you're not allowed to fly single engine aircraft. WTF? At least JAA has got that one right.
8. Bigger fuel tanks. Yeah, so I get it - if I want to fly around 6 relatives all the time then I can't fill the tank up. But when I'm alone, have starved myself to a strand for 30 days and fly naked, I'd like to be able to fly a little bit longer than 450NM. Carrying empty tanks full of air doesn't cost anything.
9. Which way again? Would it kill the publishers of all the worlds VFR and IFR approach/airport plates to print the RWY pattern visually? I don't want to have to read my way through half a page of miniscule font in a shaking plane just to find out that Rwy 21 has a right hand pattern and that so-and-so nimby little village mustn't be overflown...
10. Why on earth can't I carrier wave open the landing lights at most European airports? Would they rather I ditch in the sea in darkness than use their precious facilities after they've gone home at 5pm?
Obviously, text below should be taken cum grano salis and with tongue firmly planted, but still......
1. The TAF's and Metar's. I get it - they have to be abbreviated to able to send over telex. Problem is the telex died, what, 30 years ago? Why on earth are we still reading an incomprehensible abbreviated piece of text?
2. Why aren't TAF's and Metar's combined? Give me the actual weather and the forecast. All in one. Madness having to look in two different places.
3. And IF you're going to use a standard, please make it a standard across the board. It's nuts to have different TAF and Metar values depending on region (one more reason to write it out in plain English - so as to avoid confusions). The US and European TAF's and Metar's are significantly different.
4. You're busy approaching an airport for landing. You have to comply with ATC and spot 5 different other aircraft whilst reading a checklist and a map, at night, all at once. Would it kill the manufacturers to have a toggle that had different settings for Taxi, Climb, Approach, Landing? That way you could just turn a knob to Landing, and the landing light and gear would come out/on. Done deal. When you've landed switch to Taxi and the taxi light comes on etc. Why have a million checkpoints on a list, when one button could accomplish all of it?
5. Why can't I get weather beamed to me in Europe to some device in the aircraft? I can get it on my Iphone, but not to my aircraft?
6. Notams pertaining to your route into the aircraft? Forget it.
7. If you take your FAA PPL in a multi engine, you're not allowed to fly single engine aircraft. WTF? At least JAA has got that one right.
8. Bigger fuel tanks. Yeah, so I get it - if I want to fly around 6 relatives all the time then I can't fill the tank up. But when I'm alone, have starved myself to a strand for 30 days and fly naked, I'd like to be able to fly a little bit longer than 450NM. Carrying empty tanks full of air doesn't cost anything.
9. Which way again? Would it kill the publishers of all the worlds VFR and IFR approach/airport plates to print the RWY pattern visually? I don't want to have to read my way through half a page of miniscule font in a shaking plane just to find out that Rwy 21 has a right hand pattern and that so-and-so nimby little village mustn't be overflown...
10. Why on earth can't I carrier wave open the landing lights at most European airports? Would they rather I ditch in the sea in darkness than use their precious facilities after they've gone home at 5pm?
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 25th Mar 2010 at 23:28.
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1. The TAF's and Metar's. I get it - they have to be abbreviated to able to send over telex. Problem is the telex died, what, 30 years ago? Why on earth are we still reading an incomprehensible abbreviated piece of text?
2. Why aren't TAF's and Metar's combined? Give me the actual weather and the forecast. All in one. Madness having to look in two different places.
3. And IF you're going to use a standard, please make it a standard across the board. It's nuts to have different TAF and Metar values depending on region (one more reason to write it out in plain English - so as to avoid confusions). The US and European TAF's and Metar's are significantly different.
4. You're busy approaching an airport for landing. You have to comply with ATC and spot 5 different other aircraft whilst reading a checklist and a map, at night, all at once. Would it kill the manufacturers to have a toggle that had different settings for Taxi, Climb, Approach, Landing? That way you could just turn a knob to Landing, and the landing light and gear would come out/on. Done deal. When you've landed switch to Taxi and the taxi light comes on etc. Why have a million checkpoints on a list, when one button could accomplish all of it?
BTW you don't read a map at night (nothing to see; it is IFR)
5. Why can't I get weather beamed to me in Europe to some device in the aircraft? I can get it on my Iphone, but not to my aircraft?
But you can get it e.g. this. It just costs a huge pile of money, and (because in Europe the Met Offices have set up a cartel to sell their prime data even if produced with taxpayer money) the data is much less extensive and much more expensive than in the USA. And because Europe does not have the market for a satellite channel (supposedly) it is done via the very expensive Iridium satphone network.
I have satellite data in my plane (tafs/metars currently) for long flights, using a Thuraya satphone but it isn't a neat integrated system.
It's technically feasible but back to my comment about tightly rolled up fivers
6. Notams pertaining to your route into the aircraft? Forget it.
The fact that nearly all notams are irrelevant garbage (because they are so easy to squirt out) is another matter...
7. If you take your FAA PPL in a multi engine, you're not allowed to fly single engine aircraft. WTF? At least JAA has got that one right.
8. Bigger fuel tanks. Yeah, so I get it - if I want to fly around 6 relatives all the time then I can't fill the tank up. But when I'm alone, have starved myself to a strand for 30 days and fly naked, I'd like to be able to fly a little bit longer than 450NM. Carrying empty tanks full of air doesn't cost anything.
9. Which way again? Would it kill the publishers of all the worlds VFR and IFR approach/airport plates to print the RWY pattern visually? I don't want to have to read my way through half a page of miniscule font in a shaking plane just to find out that Rwy 21 has a right hand pattern and that so-and-so nimby little village mustn't be overflown...
10. Why on earth can't I carrier wave open the landing lights at most European airports? Would they rather I ditch in the sea in darkness than use their precious facilities after they've gone home at 5pm?
I have no idea why it's banned here; really stupid.
However, I could think of bigger things to moan about...
PPR
PNR
PPR for Customs
PNR for Customs
etc
Airports not replying to communications (crap management)
Limited airport opening hours (= lack of GA utility).
Lack of hangarage at most airports (discourages the basing of a half decent plane there).
Hardly any GA airports have instrument approaches.
Mandatory ATC for an instrument approach (UK) ensuring GPS approaches are never likely to have much relevance because most ATC airports already have a conventional IAP.
and other stuff like that. In comparison, obscure TAF formats are a non-issue, IMHO.
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6. Notams pertaining to your route into the aircraft? Forget it.
I think I'd rather have that then yet another gadget to learn how to use, remember to switch on, and take time away from looking out the window.
1 People who go on about how the FAA and JAR are different
2 People who whine because there's not an app for landing their aeroplane
3 People who make up words like reluctancy
4 People who think everyone else should want to fly their way
That's it, only four, I'm quite content really.
2 People who whine because there's not an app for landing their aeroplane
3 People who make up words like reluctancy
4 People who think everyone else should want to fly their way
That's it, only four, I'm quite content really.
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However, I could think of bigger things to moan about...
Well, I did read the map as I'm doing my FAA PPL right now, as part of the syllabus is 3 hrs night flying. And trying to navigate in the LA basin, at night, with constant ATC and trying to spot at least 3 other aircraft in the pattern at Santa Monica (where both right hand and left hand circuits to same rwy take place simultaneously) is quite a lot to do when you have to read a checklist and flick switches that are in the dark. I'm sure it's just because I'm not used to the plane or the workload, but I thought that there must be a better way.
1 People who go on about how the FAA and JAR are different
2 People who whine because there's not an app for landing their aeroplane
3 People who make up words like reluctancy
4 People who think everyone else should want to fly their way
That's it, only four, I'm quite content really.
2 People who whine because there's not an app for landing their aeroplane
3 People who make up words like reluctancy
4 People who think everyone else should want to fly their way
That's it, only four, I'm quite content really.
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text below should be taken con granul salis
And while I'm in pedantic mood, reluctance does have an alternative spelling.
And while I'm in pedantic mood, reluctance does have an alternative spelling.
Maybe you can print that on your little pocket memorizing card?
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1. 3rd world countries; not everywhere has the technology for this system from what I've been told!
2. As confusion could easily occur between the two and the content is completely different. Want them together? Print them out on the same page.
2. As confusion could easily occur between the two and the content is completely different. Want them together? Print them out on the same page.
1. The TAF's and Metar's. I get it - they have to be abbreviated to able to send over telex. Problem is the telex died, what, 30 years ago? Why on earth are we still reading an incomprehensible abbreviated piece of text?
Not everywhere. Some palces still use AFTN/SITA. And ACARS sends them in the same format. I see you have an iPhone. Get the Aero Weather APP. It translates them.
2. Why aren't TAF's and Metar's combined? Give me the actual weather and the forecast. All in one. Madness having to look in two different places.
They have different validities. METARs are published every 30 or 60 minutes, TAFs every 3 or 6 hours. You could publish the lates TAF with every METAR, but not everyone would want that, especially environmentalists.
5. Why can't I get weather beamed to me in Europe to some device in the aircraft? I can get it on my Iphone, but not to my aircraft?
You can. It's called ACARS, but it costs.
6. Notams pertaining to your route into the aircraft? Forget it.
Again, by ACARS.
Not everywhere. Some palces still use AFTN/SITA. And ACARS sends them in the same format. I see you have an iPhone. Get the Aero Weather APP. It translates them.
2. Why aren't TAF's and Metar's combined? Give me the actual weather and the forecast. All in one. Madness having to look in two different places.
They have different validities. METARs are published every 30 or 60 minutes, TAFs every 3 or 6 hours. You could publish the lates TAF with every METAR, but not everyone would want that, especially environmentalists.
5. Why can't I get weather beamed to me in Europe to some device in the aircraft? I can get it on my Iphone, but not to my aircraft?
You can. It's called ACARS, but it costs.
6. Notams pertaining to your route into the aircraft? Forget it.
Again, by ACARS.
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Things that annoy me in aviation:
1) Know-alls who hang around pilots' internet forums havering tosh. See point 2).
2) As someone mentioned above, people who think everyone should fly their way, i.e. everyone should use this method of navigation, everyone should fly this aircraft, everyone should do this, that, whatever. Pish. I'll fly the way I want, i.e. the way I was taught, as long as it is entirely safe, legal, sensible and doesn't cause any hassle to others. You do the same.
3) People who arrive near busy CAS/airports without a clue of local procedures and expect everyone to bow to their wishes. GPS junkies (not all GPS users, rather the magenta-line-followers who don't have a clue how to use it properly and end up staring at the display all day) are sometimes bad at this, requesting direct transits that take them through ILSs, approach paths etc., completely ignoring VRPs, lanes etc. Causes ATC endless hassle. Check procedures before you go and follow them, so that you don't get the controller distracted from directing several 757s on the approach around about you whilst you err and emm on the radio as you faff about asking for a silly transit that you won't get.
4) People who complain about aircraft noise. Easy remedies for that... Stick earplugs in. Go and listen to music. Put the washing machine on. Switch on the hoover. Or bugger off and live somewhere else where you can mump and whinge for the rest of your miserable sodding life to some other poor sod.
5) The green movement, which has a considerable chip on their shoulder against our hobby/career. Fack off and leave us alone.
6) The government, which has a considerable chip on their shoulder against our hobby/career. Solution as per that of point 5).
7) Folks who continually ask how much it costs to fly.
Picture scene if you will; talking to colleague at work, old friends I haven't seen for a while, chatting up bird in nightclub, whatever.
"So what hobbies do you have then?"
"Oh, I'm a pilot."
"Really? How much does that cost then?"
What does it matter to anyone else how I spend my meagre wages? Without fail the first question uttered when the "P" word is mentioned.
Rant levers to idle.
Smithy
1) Know-alls who hang around pilots' internet forums havering tosh. See point 2).
2) As someone mentioned above, people who think everyone should fly their way, i.e. everyone should use this method of navigation, everyone should fly this aircraft, everyone should do this, that, whatever. Pish. I'll fly the way I want, i.e. the way I was taught, as long as it is entirely safe, legal, sensible and doesn't cause any hassle to others. You do the same.
3) People who arrive near busy CAS/airports without a clue of local procedures and expect everyone to bow to their wishes. GPS junkies (not all GPS users, rather the magenta-line-followers who don't have a clue how to use it properly and end up staring at the display all day) are sometimes bad at this, requesting direct transits that take them through ILSs, approach paths etc., completely ignoring VRPs, lanes etc. Causes ATC endless hassle. Check procedures before you go and follow them, so that you don't get the controller distracted from directing several 757s on the approach around about you whilst you err and emm on the radio as you faff about asking for a silly transit that you won't get.
4) People who complain about aircraft noise. Easy remedies for that... Stick earplugs in. Go and listen to music. Put the washing machine on. Switch on the hoover. Or bugger off and live somewhere else where you can mump and whinge for the rest of your miserable sodding life to some other poor sod.
5) The green movement, which has a considerable chip on their shoulder against our hobby/career. Fack off and leave us alone.
6) The government, which has a considerable chip on their shoulder against our hobby/career. Solution as per that of point 5).
7) Folks who continually ask how much it costs to fly.
Picture scene if you will; talking to colleague at work, old friends I haven't seen for a while, chatting up bird in nightclub, whatever.
"So what hobbies do you have then?"
"Oh, I'm a pilot."
"Really? How much does that cost then?"
What does it matter to anyone else how I spend my meagre wages? Without fail the first question uttered when the "P" word is mentioned.
Rant levers to idle.
Smithy
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Fuel gauges.
Why is it that in every aircraft I have flown I do not have an accurate or RELIABLE way of knowing how much fuel I have in the tanks? Im not talking about fuel planning, but how has technology moved on so far and left fuel gauges in the past.
I say "fuel sufficient" only because I know that I am flying around with 4/5 times more fuel than I actually need because the gauges cannot be used and no matter how well you try and calculate fuel burn, the actual will always be different.
Put a fuel gauge in aircraft that works and I can use please.
Why is it that in every aircraft I have flown I do not have an accurate or RELIABLE way of knowing how much fuel I have in the tanks? Im not talking about fuel planning, but how has technology moved on so far and left fuel gauges in the past.
I say "fuel sufficient" only because I know that I am flying around with 4/5 times more fuel than I actually need because the gauges cannot be used and no matter how well you try and calculate fuel burn, the actual will always be different.
Put a fuel gauge in aircraft that works and I can use please.
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Geez....must have been a serious bout of bad weather in the UK!
A lot of grumpy moany people....get out and fly some more....it will put you into a better mood!
Surely flying is all about having fun, and enjoying yourself, and not about finding as many things as possible to moan about!
A lot of grumpy moany people....get out and fly some more....it will put you into a better mood!
Surely flying is all about having fun, and enjoying yourself, and not about finding as many things as possible to moan about!
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Captain Smithy:
"7) Folks who continually ask how much it costs to fly.
Picture scene if you will; talking to colleague at work, old friends I haven't seen for a while, chatting up bird in nightclub, whatever.
"So what hobbies do you have then?"
"Oh, I'm a pilot."
"Really? How much does that cost then?"
What does it matter to anyone else how I spend my meagre wages? Without fail the first question uttered when the "P" word is mentioned."
My suggestion is to answer that question by saying that you have absolutely no idea how much your hobby costs.... thus neatly openning a completely different can of worms.
"7) Folks who continually ask how much it costs to fly.
Picture scene if you will; talking to colleague at work, old friends I haven't seen for a while, chatting up bird in nightclub, whatever.
"So what hobbies do you have then?"
"Oh, I'm a pilot."
"Really? How much does that cost then?"
What does it matter to anyone else how I spend my meagre wages? Without fail the first question uttered when the "P" word is mentioned."
My suggestion is to answer that question by saying that you have absolutely no idea how much your hobby costs.... thus neatly openning a completely different can of worms.
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People who drop in to conversation how many hours they have. As if this is supposed to reflect a high level of skill or experience.
Lazy R/T.
Controllers who raise their voices at nervous or hesitant private pilots.
Ignorant management at airports who choose not to answer e-mails.
Precious flying club committees and the divisions created between local pilots and aircraft owners.
Lazy R/T.
Controllers who raise their voices at nervous or hesitant private pilots.
Ignorant management at airports who choose not to answer e-mails.
Precious flying club committees and the divisions created between local pilots and aircraft owners.
Pilots who don't indicate when entering a roundabout, making you wait then turning off before they get to you. Pilots who drive in poor vis on sidelights. ATC that vectored me right round their zone because my mode C had gone tits up.
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1. People who ignore the POH - notably those who add a few knots for luck.
2. Egos and arrogance - pilots who don't accept they are fallible.
3. Carburettors - why do the manufacturers still peddle them?
4. People who believe the only GA aircraft type is a Cessna/Piper.
5. Pilots who bring an aircraft back with minimal fuel and then expect the next pilot to fill it up.
6. Kneeboard/headset discussions.
7. "How fast is your Arrow?" discussions.
8. People who cut you up in the circuit.
9. Flying clubs where two geriatrics who have hardly flown in the last decade still have overwhelming influence.
10. Pilots who extend flaps/gear etc at limiting speeds.
2. Egos and arrogance - pilots who don't accept they are fallible.
3. Carburettors - why do the manufacturers still peddle them?
4. People who believe the only GA aircraft type is a Cessna/Piper.
5. Pilots who bring an aircraft back with minimal fuel and then expect the next pilot to fill it up.
6. Kneeboard/headset discussions.
7. "How fast is your Arrow?" discussions.
8. People who cut you up in the circuit.
9. Flying clubs where two geriatrics who have hardly flown in the last decade still have overwhelming influence.
10. Pilots who extend flaps/gear etc at limiting speeds.