Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:37 am
#1852609
Aerials wrote:Having never filed a Flight Plan, VFR or otherwise I have a very sketchy knowledge of the system. The thought occurred to me that perhaps it might be most helpful for Pre-Note(ing) those places that request you do so.
I think, in current cirumstances, it’s the worst possible way to pre-notify someone of your pending arrival unless they have specifically requested it:
- It relies on the other end having access to Flight Plans. NATS shot themselves in the foot by wihdrawing free access to the abortion that is AFPEx to all but casual users some time ago.
- Assuming the above is solved, it relies on someone at the other end to constantly monitor that facility.
- It doesn't allow the other end to ask questions or provide additional info, like 'Will you be requiring fuel?', 'Are you with the other Grummans that are arriving about the same time, if so I'll keep a bit of the parking area free for you?', 'You do realise our cafe is closed today, don't you?', 'Do you have details of the noise abatement circuit in use today?' etc etc.
Having said that we are looking down the telescope at the wrong end. Like Hi-Vis jackets, it has a small, small place in the GA domain, but it's become a spreading disease that just adds faff and does bugger-all good most of the time. A case in point was a flight I made yesterday to a Midlands airfield. I phoned for PPR and spoke to someone obviously in an office. I was provided with the runway in use and the QFE/QNH, and advised that the A/G was in use today so I'd get that from them anyway. When I called on the radio inbound, the person manning A/G was obviously not in the office, nor had any clue that I was on my way to visit, so what was the point?
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GrahamB
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