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Give an air traffic controller a ride

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by cheesey, Dec 30, 2012.

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  1. cheesey

    cheesey Formula 3

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    #1 cheesey, Dec 30, 2012
    A lot of air traffic controllers have little or no experience in the cockpit of any airplane. Talk to your guys about going on a trip with you, or offering them to hitch a ride. It lets them see what goes on in different cockpits. It's good for their experience as well as yours and can improve safety in your area. I got started by a supervisor asking me if one his rookies could come along. It is a win win for all.
     
  2. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #2 rob lay, Dec 30, 2012
    good point, this week I was on with Albuquerque Center and the controller saw where I departed from and said he had trained at that airport. seems to be quite a few controllers that are pilots too.
     
  3. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
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    #3 MarkPDX, Dec 31, 2012
    I sit in a control tower on a fairly regular basis and most of them that I work with have zero flying experience. I'm not gonna go into more details on a public part of the forum but anybody flying as civilian that willingly flies through a military tower's airspace doesn't appreciate the risk that they are taking.
     
  4. Zack

    Zack Formula 3

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    #4 Zack, Dec 31, 2012
    Strange comment. I fly over Travis AFB very regularly, and often loiter (with the tower's permission) if there is anything interesting going on. Controllers have always been crisp and courteous and seem to be on the ball. I couldn't care less if they fly. I just need them to manage air traffic so everyone is safe.

    What is the risk that I am not appreciating?
     
  5. Spdrcrj

    Spdrcrj Formula 3
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    #5 Spdrcrj, Dec 31, 2012
    This is a great idea. A good working relationship between ATC and aircrews really goes a long way in terms of safety and "air rage". As a prior military and current contractor aviator, we've taken ATC folks and our customers up with us and it helps them see the game from the other side. On the flip side, we've taken tours of the tower to do the same and the benefits are huge. And if you show interest and need a priority t/o, it helps if the controller recognizes your voice. ;-)
     
  6. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #6 rob lay, Dec 31, 2012
    LOL, I've heard a few times from ATC going through MOA's, do you have a visual on the fast mover 1 mile to your 10 o'clock going from 5k, ok now to 10k, ok, now at your 3 o'clock. :D controllers 90% of the time don't even take you through a MOA if active.
     
  7. cheesey

    cheesey Formula 3

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    #7 cheesey, Dec 31, 2012
    many of those are live fire training areas... it could be raining all sorts of ordinance...they can be operational at any time or weather... any blip on radar could turn into a target...
    it is a big effort to interrupt / stop an exercise... many exercises are ground based, with stray aircraft monitoring / maintaining airspace clear done by someone separate from the exercise... "ooops! your last was stepped on, say again", could be a little late :=(
     
  8. cheesey

    cheesey Formula 3

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    #8 cheesey, Dec 31, 2012
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2012
    I have received IFR departure vectors through active MOA with busy military controllers who never got back to me to hand me off and were too busy to take follow up calls ... then when back home receive a "hot with anger" phone call about my actions... to which I said they were "chewing" on the wrong end of the line and review their tapes... there is a lot to do to shut down an active MOA, lots of personnel involved...
     
  9. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
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    #9 MarkPDX, Dec 31, 2012
    There are a variety of factors though I'm not gonna discuss it all here in an open forum. What I will say that mixing significantly different types of aircraft in the pattern is the most basic issue. A perfect example of this was the mid air between a F-16 and C-130 at Pope years back that killed quite a few people. The difference between most civilian aircraft like a C172 and even a lowly C-130 is significant.

    Unless the pattern is really busy or there is some really good reason they will always let you fly through. But again you a mixing it up with significantly dissimilar aircraft.

    Yeah, they usually sound very crisp and all that. So do the people at the McDonalds drive through.
     
  10. cheesey

    cheesey Formula 3

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    #10 cheesey, Dec 31, 2012
    military air traffic in a MOA is not enroute or going point to point... military traffic during an exercise uses ALL 3 Dimensions at the same time as necessary for the exercise... altitude and direction changes are constant as what the exercise demands... they are playing a 3D game from the ground up as the tactics demand...
     

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