ATC Favouritism
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ATC Favouritism
Do certain airlines get the benefit of 50/50 calls at certain airports? Do AA get better treatment at JFK, Iberia at MAD?
I wouldn’t be surprised if ATC say they always honest, pilots may disagree
I wouldn’t be surprised if ATC say they always honest, pilots may disagree
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Not sure what a 50/50 call is?
I don't believe that UK ATC is anything other than impartial, but I do know some pilots don't agree! There used to be a war many years ago between two major British airlines at Heathrow - the only two airlines which engaged in such nonsense. Each thought the other was getting priority from ATC, but it was never thus. Controllers don't have time for this kind of thing, although I can't speak for those outside the UK.
I showed a foreign pilot around Heathrow once and he expressed amazement that we did not give BA priority!
I don't believe that UK ATC is anything other than impartial, but I do know some pilots don't agree! There used to be a war many years ago between two major British airlines at Heathrow - the only two airlines which engaged in such nonsense. Each thought the other was getting priority from ATC, but it was never thus. Controllers don't have time for this kind of thing, although I can't speak for those outside the UK.
I showed a foreign pilot around Heathrow once and he expressed amazement that we did not give BA priority!
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I'm proud to say I've never worked with an ATCO who was other than impartial when it comes to any sort of airline priority. These days there are so many other factors regarding order of traffic (slot times, aircraft performance, track divergence for 1 minute departure separations, vortex category, needing to free up a particular stand etc etc), that you tend to forget the flag painted on the side of the aircraft!
It's almost always down to the most efficient, fastest flow of traffic.
Don't forget, pilots are only responsible for the performance of one airline - their own - and occasionally forget the other 15 or 20 aircraft wanting to land or depart within a few minutes of themselves. They often aren't aware of the delays happening to everybody else and so often feel that they're being unduly penalised
It's almost always down to the most efficient, fastest flow of traffic.
Don't forget, pilots are only responsible for the performance of one airline - their own - and occasionally forget the other 15 or 20 aircraft wanting to land or depart within a few minutes of themselves. They often aren't aware of the delays happening to everybody else and so often feel that they're being unduly penalised
I don't believe there's blatant national flag favouritism anywhere in Europe. There have been many accusations about favouritism in Spain and France, but I consider them to be unfounded. They tend to be based on misperceptions by crews who don't fully understand all the constraints a particular airport's ATC have to work with. Where a minor form of favouritism may exist is with the odd individual here and there. This tends to be based more on personal connections or experiences an individual ATCO may have had with an airline. That's human nature.
Avman,
Happens in Spain/Canaries all the time!!!
Happens in Spain/Canaries all the time!!!
.....based on misperceptions by crews who don't fully understand all the constraints a particular airport's ATC have to work with.
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Spain blatantly, coming into BCN one night told we were number 1 at about 7 miles, then told to reduce to minimum as a Iberia was turned in before us for a tight 3-4 mile final after going visual. Many other instances where you'll be given obvious wide circuits or delaying headings while others are squeezed in ahead. The fact it is so blatant is very amusing and almost admirable!
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I remember in the old days Sabena had their own holding point for 25R at BRU ! Oh and I have an actual photograph of an Air France aircraft having to give way to me at CDG. Has only happened once in 10 years !
The UK is generally by the book. Although I remember an incident at STN some years ago (an airport my company didn't regularly use) where positioning an aircraft out from maintenance we were slipped in ahead of a long line of harped tailed 800s. You could almost here the laughing in the tower. Enjoyed that one !
The UK is generally by the book. Although I remember an incident at STN some years ago (an airport my company didn't regularly use) where positioning an aircraft out from maintenance we were slipped in ahead of a long line of harped tailed 800s. You could almost here the laughing in the tower. Enjoyed that one !
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Talking about SABENA reminds me of OO-SCA at Heathrow. We'd always try to give it the southern runway, whichever configuration was in operation. It wasn't favouritism, it's just that we knew that those guys could work miracles with an F-27 and it never held anyone up.. Great fun.
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AMS - I detect a tiny wee hint of national bias on 18C/18R ops. Am almost certainly wrong, it's just a feeling I have. That taxi from 18R is often longer than the flight. Hate flying to AMS. Fab controllers there though.
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