Got Any ATC Questions?
05-13-2006, 04:14 PM
#2
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Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: Embraer 170 Capt.
Posts: 100
Originally Posted by miker1369
Got any ATC questions you want to ask to a controller about Atlanta or Atlanta Center's airspace or procedures?
Any pet peeves about the pilots you deal with day and day out?
Does each "handoff" mean an actual phone call to the next controller, or is this automated?
What pilot request drives you bonkers?
Can you tell a difference in personality amongst the various airlines' pilots?
05-13-2006, 04:21 PM
#3
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Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: Boeing, Right
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by miker1369
Got any ATC questions you want to ask to a controller about Atlanta or Atlanta Center's airspace or procedures?
05-13-2006, 04:31 PM
#4
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Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 94
Flea Bite,
Pet Peeves: When I tell a pilot descend and maintain and they come back with is that pilot discretion or when the frequency is already busy and someone wants to ask about sports scores or how the ride is ahead when they are in smooth air already. Also when a pilot is not paying attention and I have to call several times.
Handoffs: Most of the time it is automated but when the next sector is busy and they don't take the handoff by the boundry of the sector we have to call. Or if you are at FL 340 and you request FL 360 we have to hand you off to the ultra high sector and it takes a couple of minutes for them to take the H/O.
Pilot Request: None if I am not busy, but when I am busy and the freq is congested almost all of them, because I am trying to sequence into ATL, work my traffic and usually turning a bunch of planes to keep everyone separated.
Personality: Definately, SWA, Air Tran, FDX, JBU, AAL and most COA are almost always in good moods and do pretty much whatever we ask, without questions. I love to able to say what is your decent rate and most SWA say whatever you need. But for the most part all the airlines have pretty good personality's, the ones that are rude or question us on a normal basis are just a few individual pilots and random Airlines. And you better believe when you work the same airspace everyday you actually start to recognize some of those rude pilots voices if they fly the same or similar routes for a while.
Pet Peeves: When I tell a pilot descend and maintain and they come back with is that pilot discretion or when the frequency is already busy and someone wants to ask about sports scores or how the ride is ahead when they are in smooth air already. Also when a pilot is not paying attention and I have to call several times.
Handoffs: Most of the time it is automated but when the next sector is busy and they don't take the handoff by the boundry of the sector we have to call. Or if you are at FL 340 and you request FL 360 we have to hand you off to the ultra high sector and it takes a couple of minutes for them to take the H/O.
Pilot Request: None if I am not busy, but when I am busy and the freq is congested almost all of them, because I am trying to sequence into ATL, work my traffic and usually turning a bunch of planes to keep everyone separated.
Personality: Definately, SWA, Air Tran, FDX, JBU, AAL and most COA are almost always in good moods and do pretty much whatever we ask, without questions. I love to able to say what is your decent rate and most SWA say whatever you need. But for the most part all the airlines have pretty good personality's, the ones that are rude or question us on a normal basis are just a few individual pilots and random Airlines. And you better believe when you work the same airspace everyday you actually start to recognize some of those rude pilots voices if they fly the same or similar routes for a while.
Last edited by miker1369; 05-13-2006 at 04:37 PM.
05-13-2006, 04:36 PM
#5
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Posts: 94
Skybus
I actually work at the center, but am friends with a lot of the folks over at A-80. Between us, A-80, the tower, and the pilots that fly in and out of ATL on a daily basis, I think we actually just about do the impossible everyday. If you could see behind the scenes, I think it would do much more than amaze you.
By the way when you all start to come into our airspace do you pay a lot more attention than other parts of the country?
I actually work at the center, but am friends with a lot of the folks over at A-80. Between us, A-80, the tower, and the pilots that fly in and out of ATL on a daily basis, I think we actually just about do the impossible everyday. If you could see behind the scenes, I think it would do much more than amaze you.
By the way when you all start to come into our airspace do you pay a lot more attention than other parts of the country?
05-13-2006, 07:23 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: 737 Captain
Posts: 777
Thanks for the ATC question option. One of my issues is when a controller is working multiple frequencies and it is very busy. When me or my FO try to check in, it is anybody's guess who may be talking on the frequency we can not hear. How is the best way to check on without knowing when the other freq is hot? One old captain told me years ago that when I had trouble checking in to just hit the ident button and wait for ATC to contact me. I also have issues with guys who take 90 seconds to say what they could say in 10 seconds. Seems to me that radio discipline is getting worse over time.
05-14-2006, 12:22 AM
#7
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As far as working multiple frequencies, there really isn't a way for you to know who is talking or when you should check in. The best thing I can tell you, is to listen to the controller and wait five to ten seconds after they talk so the other freq can answer. As far as identing, I guess you could do that but that distracts my attention to it and I personally would think your transmitter is broken. Just check in as soon as you can, quickly and with no questions if they are busy and working multi freqs. If you aren't able to check in from the freq congestion, just know for the most part if we need you we will call you, especailly if you have traffic that we see. But still do what is required on your part.
Radio Discipline is on both sides of the house, but personally I don't mind if a pilot wants to chit chat as long as I am not busy.
Radio Discipline is on both sides of the house, but personally I don't mind if a pilot wants to chit chat as long as I am not busy.
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