The Offical Air Traffic Control Thread !!

If it helps, I'm currently employed as an Air Traffic Control Assistant in Civil Aviation (Non-NATS) so if there's any queries or questions I can help answer, please ask.

Thanks , Your help would be great ! i will change the OP Post so if they have any questions they can contact you

Oh blimey, thank you. Sorry I didn't mean to interfere in your thread, but thank you :-)

I've been in a few private aircraft and listened to the conversations between my pilot and ATC as well as other aircraft. It may just be me but I was surprised at how poor quality the connection was. Is this just the case with small aircraft with less desirable radio systems?

I should imagine once you're familiar with the ATC jargon it would be easier to understand. Just at the time i was quite surprised that i could skype my relatives at the other side of the world and get a clearer connection.

As a side note, i did my work experience (while at school) at a local airfield and got to work on the radios there. (Good Fun!) The person supervising me was quick to take over me though when a pilot stated that he was landing with a problem with the landing gear!

I Have a Airband Radio and where i am in the coutry i can get exter , cardiff , london gatwick ,. cherborug airport ( france ) , Belfast city and international , and southhamption and on some of the frequecnies the reception is bad ! the only good reception is from exter . it takes a while to learn the jardon

Pilot - " F-RA Faircity tower , holding point runway 23 , ready for departure "
ATC - " F-RA , Line up runway 23 and wait "
Pilot - " Line-up runway 23 and wait , F-RA "
ATC - " F-RA .Runway 23 cleared for take off , wind 110 degrees , 8 knots "
Pilot " Runway 23 . cleared for take off , F-RA"

ATCs get £34k after training?? I need to re-trade!

What model radio do you have? / recommend?

Ive just had a quick look and they seem pretty pricey. Perhaps i will get a second hand one.

ATCs get £34k after training?? I need to re-trade!

They are massively struggling to recruit people / everyone keeps failing selection & training if you fancy it!

That and everyone is leaving for serious money in Civvi street as controllers, airfield managers, flight safety investigators etc or insane money in Middle East if they can manage it.

I'm RAF Air Traffic, if anyone has any specific questions feel free to quote this post and i'll try to reply.

They are massively struggling to recruit people / everyone keeps failing selection & training if you fancy it!

That and everyone is leaving for serious money in Civvi street as controllers, airfield managers, flight safety investigators etc or insane money in Middle East if they can manage it.

I've been in a few private aircraft and listened to the conversations between my pilot and ATC as well as other aircraft. It may just be me but I was surprised at how poor quality the connection was. Is this just the case with small aircraft with less desirable radio systems?

I should imagine once you're familiar with the ATC jargon it would be easier to understand. Just at the time i was quite surprised that i could skype my relatives at the other side of the world and get a clearer connection.

As a side note, i did my work experience (while at school) at a local airfield and got to work on the radios there. (Good Fun!) The person supervising me was quick to take over me though when a pilot stated that he was landing with a problem with the landing gear!