The 'question'.
Silly ol' me; I had to ask, did the Mooney pilot 'file' a flight plan? Well, it seemed to me a little bit 'odd'. Now, its been at least 50 years since I filed a VFR flight plan; back then you had to; full SAR, full reporting, operational control and a mandatory 'chat' with the weather man. We had the magic flight service system and we used WAC charts and 'whizz-wheels' and all kinds of stuff; and, we paid attention. Two minutes (from memory) to an estimated position was all the latitude allowed. I liked the old FSU system – its an old man's prerogative.
McLimit - “Inbound IFR aircraft do not just 'pop up.' That's not how an ATC system works. They are known about well in advance through co-ordination from the previous controller. The Tower also gets a departure message from the AFTN network”.
But; in this modern world of GPS wonder boxes and little in the way of a 'flight plan' a nutted out one , I wonder. For example; I'm going from a secondary airport to an airfield close to a control zone; drop off the passengers and toddle off to the Control zone field for fuel, lunch and a wee-wee (old age pre planning). Why would I not put a flight plan into the system; just to let the tower control know, early in the day, that my arrival – at/ about 1300 LMT was going to happen. They may not bake me a cake, but at least they'd know I was 'imminent'. So 30 odd from the boundary – with the ATIS, I politely ask for 'clearance' and guess what – I may need to 'hold at' XYZ for a couple or even three while the 'sequence' sorts out; but sooner or later, with patience from all who understand the situation I get my fuel, lunch and wee-wee.
The Australian system is, what it is – for weal or woe. It ain't the USA, it ain't Europe and it most certainly is not some of the third world systems. My question was – did the Mooney pilot file a plan? I would have VFR or not – I expect to enter controlled airspace; and, it is only polite (good manners or airmanship) to let 'em know you are coming. Not to understand the 'system' from the ATCO point of view is (IMO) unprofessional. Cuss all you like; they are even more rigidly hidebound than the aircrew; no, not kidding.
I can't see how this 'go in silence' mode of operation is supposed to work; ATC have a system, a sequence (and rules which are terrifying). Different countries have a 'different' approach to 'traffic'. Across this globe; I have had an apology from an approach controller a Heath Row for holding me 12 minutes on a Friday evening about 1815 o'clock; been held for 86 minutes at some foreign hell hole (no names) and then kept in the terminal for two hours; had Sydney send me out to sea one evening 90 miles without a whisper of explanation; or complaint. Re-payed in full next day mind you – best speed three mile final take first exit (1030 AM local). All part of 'normal operating' and a thing a pilot must, repeat, must simply get used to – end of...
Hah! No matter once the 'Electric blue idiot' gets his multi million dollar system in all will be well. When is that supposed to happen again? When the 'courage' straps wear off? Time for a minister to ask the right questions methinks; before we needlessly kill off the few remaining viable aircraft and crew...................
All too busy sheeting home 'blame' rather than address the problems ATCO and aircrew have been stuck with for far too long; private operations included.
![[Image: Untitled%2B2.jpg]](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cm_HajunJBQ/Vuc7mMGoOSI/AAAAAAAAISU/PLJPRoRPvKUtliZvp7KwgHIZKQm9J3TpQ/s1600/Untitled%2B2.jpg)
Silly ol' me; I had to ask, did the Mooney pilot 'file' a flight plan? Well, it seemed to me a little bit 'odd'. Now, its been at least 50 years since I filed a VFR flight plan; back then you had to; full SAR, full reporting, operational control and a mandatory 'chat' with the weather man. We had the magic flight service system and we used WAC charts and 'whizz-wheels' and all kinds of stuff; and, we paid attention. Two minutes (from memory) to an estimated position was all the latitude allowed. I liked the old FSU system – its an old man's prerogative.
McLimit - “Inbound IFR aircraft do not just 'pop up.' That's not how an ATC system works. They are known about well in advance through co-ordination from the previous controller. The Tower also gets a departure message from the AFTN network”.
But; in this modern world of GPS wonder boxes and little in the way of a 'flight plan' a nutted out one , I wonder. For example; I'm going from a secondary airport to an airfield close to a control zone; drop off the passengers and toddle off to the Control zone field for fuel, lunch and a wee-wee (old age pre planning). Why would I not put a flight plan into the system; just to let the tower control know, early in the day, that my arrival – at/ about 1300 LMT was going to happen. They may not bake me a cake, but at least they'd know I was 'imminent'. So 30 odd from the boundary – with the ATIS, I politely ask for 'clearance' and guess what – I may need to 'hold at' XYZ for a couple or even three while the 'sequence' sorts out; but sooner or later, with patience from all who understand the situation I get my fuel, lunch and wee-wee.
The Australian system is, what it is – for weal or woe. It ain't the USA, it ain't Europe and it most certainly is not some of the third world systems. My question was – did the Mooney pilot file a plan? I would have VFR or not – I expect to enter controlled airspace; and, it is only polite (good manners or airmanship) to let 'em know you are coming. Not to understand the 'system' from the ATCO point of view is (IMO) unprofessional. Cuss all you like; they are even more rigidly hidebound than the aircrew; no, not kidding.
I can't see how this 'go in silence' mode of operation is supposed to work; ATC have a system, a sequence (and rules which are terrifying). Different countries have a 'different' approach to 'traffic'. Across this globe; I have had an apology from an approach controller a Heath Row for holding me 12 minutes on a Friday evening about 1815 o'clock; been held for 86 minutes at some foreign hell hole (no names) and then kept in the terminal for two hours; had Sydney send me out to sea one evening 90 miles without a whisper of explanation; or complaint. Re-payed in full next day mind you – best speed three mile final take first exit (1030 AM local). All part of 'normal operating' and a thing a pilot must, repeat, must simply get used to – end of...
Hah! No matter once the 'Electric blue idiot' gets his multi million dollar system in all will be well. When is that supposed to happen again? When the 'courage' straps wear off? Time for a minister to ask the right questions methinks; before we needlessly kill off the few remaining viable aircraft and crew...................
All too busy sheeting home 'blame' rather than address the problems ATCO and aircrew have been stuck with for far too long; private operations included.