New FISO at Elstree ???
 

Flying at Elstree a couple weekends ago I was greeted with a new and friendly voice on the "other end of the radio". After my flight I popped into the "shack" and was greeted by a "young man" under training.

What a nice change to be treated like a "real" pilot and to not get abused !!

Keep up the good work......


HORN

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

Under training eh. Presumably he still has to be trained to shout at pilots standing 3 ft away!

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

There's actually quite a few people that work in the 'tower' and they are all quite pleasant and helpful. It's only 2 of them that are miserable g*ts. Unfortunately they tend to be there most often.

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

Yeah, LondonJ, it's always puzzled me why they turn up so regularly when they clearly hate it! Some kind of weird masochism, maybe? :confused:

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

There's one particular lady in the East Mids ATC that has the most wonderful, sexy voice......can I say that on television? (to quote Eric Morcambe). Also, I have to say, they are a VERY friendly and helpful bunch of people, though presumably not, if you bust their airspace unannounced!!!

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

I understand some have had a poor experience from Elstree but whenever I have been there (just visiting) I have had only the most courteous treatment. I do feel one must speak as one finds. Why are different visitors treated differently I wonder, we are all paying money into Elstree.

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

I'm based there and let me give you an example from pre-takeoff checks as a student: 'G-ABCD will you get a bloody move on you are holding everybody up' or in the air (remember he's FISO) 'Report to the tower on landing, I did not clear you to do that'.

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

nice of you to say so-but it would depend on the circumstances!
good to know that EMA's rep has changed to that of a unit willing/able to offer a service to all as far as we can, a lot of work has been put in over the years by the ATCO's, many of whom moved from other units, to get where we are now and the praise is appreciated

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

AP - most of us who fly the aircraft appreciate UK ATC as being the best there is. just the odd one is out of step. Lack of praise should be read as you lot do a very good job without being taken for granted. Lets face it when the chips are down and you are in reach of an ATCO you get every asisstance possible. I hate it in areas where there is only London Info and no LARS available.
WH

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

Amen brother

"I hate it in areas where there is only London Info and no LARS available."

Lets add to that, especially, where Scottish is not available

h-r:)




NB where has the quotes button gone??? and where are the user requirements for this systems upgrade ??

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

Yep - have to agree our Scottish friends seem worse of than us in England. A recent journey south from Prestwick in less than perfect weather really brought that home. Good as they are London Info are no substitute.

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

I recall (15 years ago now I think about it...) listening to one of the foghorn voices at Elstree (I used to drive past twice a day - no, I had the airband radio on - not the car window open...). That summer, I hangered a Stampe overnight and went to the tower to pay my dues. It was a foghorn.
I thought he sounded a bit west indian on the radio but in the flesh was welsh. Very friendly fellow on the ground.
I suppose it shows what might happen to people when they get a microphone in front of them...
Glad to hear that Elstree's reputation may be waning.

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

I can't understand why anyone lets him get away with it. Into his place he needs to be put. Why hasn't that been done?

Want me to come down there and do it for you??:}

SSD

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

haha more than welcome, who should I send the sympathy card to after you get your head bitten off?

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

He did not bite my head off when i enquired why he did a job he obviously hated.

Just sat there quite quiet.

I was in full rant tho:E

Maybe he is only a tough guy on the radio......:rolleyes:

f.

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

This old timer used EMA regularly from the late 60s until 1999 . .....ExecJets, 'copters, F27s, 737s etc.... I never once encountered anything but exemplary service.... helpful, courteous and good-humoured too. Bless'em all.
(Of course, it'll ALWAYS be CastleDon to real pilots!) Cheers, bm

Re: New FISO at Elstree ???
 

Slight drift – agree entirely about the comments made on CastleDon ATCO’s :ok: but please tell me why they do not talk to Waddington on the land line for transitional handovers when receiving LARS? Southbound at 200kts and one has very little time to get an acceptance level and agree a service. Lot of frantic Box 2-ing to make a transit or arrival.

They have more gliders and meat bombers in their airspace than most and invariably seem to be 8/8 from deck to 20000’

Some years ago - almost exchanged bodily fluids with a Hawk tracking North -slightly off the gap - whilst in this limbo.:{

A good bollocking at Elstree is a right of passage in GA:E

Ahh, Radio Elstree. I never had a problem with the FISO in question when I worked there, although I heard him berate people often enough. To be fair though, Elstree can get stupidly busy at times, so smooth running relies on people knowing and doing what they are expected to do. Maybe the person in question had little patience, but at a place where getting things wrong means taxi way grid lock and more go arounds than someone lost in Milton Keynes, I had some sympathy with him. Remember also that Elstree is surrounded by people who bought property cheap (due to aircraft noise) and then wanted to close the airfield. Having to deal with irate neighbours and operate as a FISO would test the patience of an angel.

The aged gentleman who used to A/G during the week, was a real gem on the end of the radio. Always looked after solo students and came out with nuggets such as (after several calls at once)"I know we have a Labour Government, but there is no need to all shout at once"

Whatever the circumstances and frustrations may be, IF (and this is a big IF) an AFISO asks a pilot to report to the tower because he hasn't followed a clearance in the air, then that should be reported to the CAA, so that suitable refresher training can be provided for the AFISO.

Speaking as an A/G licence holder, it is very important for safety that we observe our clearance levels (in my case none), so that pilots are aware of what regime they are operating within.