The Day Britain Stopped
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I know that there is some negative feedback on the BBC website, but to my cynical mind it looks like the odd, token objection to make the rest of the "what a wonderful programme" stuff look more genuine!
Glad I live overseas and don't have to contribute to this kind of production.
Glad I live overseas and don't have to contribute to this kind of production.
Press to Reset
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Whilst we can all go on about inaccurancies etc. in the program (and I do have to admit to looking for evidence in the footage of the wind being easterly after seeing the 09 ops on the LTCC scope fairly early in the program) it is interesting to see that the program has caused a large amount of discussion on this and other forums, and discussion is arguably what the program was trying to inspire.
MC.
MC.
Ohcirrej
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Bill,
I'll probably cop an earfull for this, but.....
Are you talking about the same public that a large percentage reads the notorious Tabloid Newspapers. Perhaps a little harsh (and I apologise now if this offends), but the point is that we have an inability to formally fight our corner when information regarding our jobs is portrayed inaccurately to the public (if we did....well, NATS' policy on direct contact with the media is know far and wide). Never once has any ATCO on this forum or the ATC forum stated that circumastances may line up one day and the unthinkable happen. The emotional response has been over the portrayal of certain facets of what we do on a daily basis as incorrect, and the sensationalism BBC has attempted to use to gain more viewers. Thought provoking yes, as good journalism should be however, accuracy in ALL areas is required also.
And just for your information, my neighbours watched the program and asked me "is that really what could happen", my mother-in-law was straight on the phone after the show.....and these are people who I would classify as more than "average informed" about my job!
I'll probably cop an earfull for this, but.....
Are you talking about the same public that a large percentage reads the notorious Tabloid Newspapers. Perhaps a little harsh (and I apologise now if this offends), but the point is that we have an inability to formally fight our corner when information regarding our jobs is portrayed inaccurately to the public (if we did....well, NATS' policy on direct contact with the media is know far and wide). Never once has any ATCO on this forum or the ATC forum stated that circumastances may line up one day and the unthinkable happen. The emotional response has been over the portrayal of certain facets of what we do on a daily basis as incorrect, and the sensationalism BBC has attempted to use to gain more viewers. Thought provoking yes, as good journalism should be however, accuracy in ALL areas is required also.
And just for your information, my neighbours watched the program and asked me "is that really what could happen", my mother-in-law was straight on the phone after the show.....and these are people who I would classify as more than "average informed" about my job!
Ohcirrej
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Sure did......while explaining that the fine boys and girls in the tower wouldn't sit there and let the situation develop (except Point 7....he can do anything!)
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I also liked the part where an acft diverted to LGW after holding at LHR. LGW then decided they were full up, so diverted the acft to LTN. I'm no expert but this didn't seem quite right.
Manchester - Gander for refuel before on to Washington. Severe noise restriction on RTOW at Man because of 0500hrs departure. Good forecasts for Gander and alternate airfields and everything going nicely until about 20 minutes past point of no return when an unexpected blizzard closed every airport in eastern Canada leaving Goose Bay (300m RVR, skyobscured in snow) as the best airport that we could actually reach!
Boy, does something like that concentrate the mind - when you know that you do not actually have enough fuel to get to somewhere that is fit to land!
I call you back
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Real hick Bill!
less than 1/50th of the UK’s GDP ( is ) generated by aviation
Bill that doesn't mean that if aviation vanished tomorrow that GDP would remain at 49/50ths of todays figure as you seem to intimate. The knock-on effects would be catastrophic to the economy. Tourism would be devastated, as would any other export/import industry dependant on fast travel ( high tech industries, most international businesses, major sporting events ) not to mention the quality of life.
In case you hadn't noticed Britain is an island, it would be majorly disadvantaged without aviation. I doubt the military action in Iraq would have been as quick without aviation. This is not to pat ourselves on the back. We ( the smug people who close ranks ) are human beings like you, we like our jobs and if we seem to know more about flying you then we are sorry, but that is the way it is. We do know more about it than you! We don't like sensationalistic media works painting a picture different to the one we are familiar with.
Aviation may have lots of room for improvement but Steven Spielberg wannabees will not recieve our endorcement.
Bill that doesn't mean that if aviation vanished tomorrow that GDP would remain at 49/50ths of todays figure as you seem to intimate. The knock-on effects would be catastrophic to the economy. Tourism would be devastated, as would any other export/import industry dependant on fast travel ( high tech industries, most international businesses, major sporting events ) not to mention the quality of life.
In case you hadn't noticed Britain is an island, it would be majorly disadvantaged without aviation. I doubt the military action in Iraq would have been as quick without aviation. This is not to pat ourselves on the back. We ( the smug people who close ranks ) are human beings like you, we like our jobs and if we seem to know more about flying you then we are sorry, but that is the way it is. We do know more about it than you! We don't like sensationalistic media works painting a picture different to the one we are familiar with.
Aviation may have lots of room for improvement but Steven Spielberg wannabees will not recieve our endorcement.
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william Hickey
Trouble with this sort of programme format is the implication that this WILL happen, which is just the sort of sensationalism beloved of program makers and the likes of the Daily Mail,
"What do mean we hav'nt any news... MAKE SOME !! ".. and some people are taken in.
Given an infinate number of chimpansees, an infinate number of airbusses, and an infinate amount of time, it is inevitable that there will be an aircraft accident on every square centimeter of the planet.
There have been times when one could be forgiven for thinking that was happenning... 747 explodes over Scotland, followed a few months later by 737 crashes on M1.. the improbable does occur, but not just because a TV producer decides on the venue.
We all accept the risks, small as they are inherant in aviation, and try to remain aware of the incident-pit syndrome, that is why we learn from the mistakes of others, and incorporate the lessons in our training scenarios to prevent similar events.
Now we have precicely the type of hysteria that the program sought to generate appearing on Proon couched in tones that imply hostility towards a community of professionals, who believe it or not do not want to be involved in an accident.
Well done BBC
"What do mean we hav'nt any news... MAKE SOME !! ".. and some people are taken in.
Given an infinate number of chimpansees, an infinate number of airbusses, and an infinate amount of time, it is inevitable that there will be an aircraft accident on every square centimeter of the planet.
There have been times when one could be forgiven for thinking that was happenning... 747 explodes over Scotland, followed a few months later by 737 crashes on M1.. the improbable does occur, but not just because a TV producer decides on the venue.
We all accept the risks, small as they are inherant in aviation, and try to remain aware of the incident-pit syndrome, that is why we learn from the mistakes of others, and incorporate the lessons in our training scenarios to prevent similar events.
Now we have precicely the type of hysteria that the program sought to generate appearing on Proon couched in tones that imply hostility towards a community of professionals, who believe it or not do not want to be involved in an accident.
Well done BBC
