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Simple Insanity / Re: Check this out guys!
« on: March 17, 2017, 10:06:28 AM »
Nice job, man. Enjoy it.
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Some facilities (I believe ZLA is another) encourage controllers to (on a voluntary basis) post their expected availability. For us in BVA, you can find that here: http://www.bvartcc.com/Pilots/ATCTimetable.aspx.
There are many different opinions within VATUSA as to the value of such tools, some of which you have seen on this thread. However, when I fly on the network, I would always appreciate being able to know (within reason) when controllers plan to stick around until. I can entirely appreciate that real life happens and plans change; I sometimes have to change my start/end times after I get online. But, as a general rule, I try to post my availability as I know about it, so those who do appreciate knowing have an option to.
I actually did a little experiment the other night. I only sent contact me requests to immediately necessary (landing in or nearby), so overflights were the target here.That rate get's even worse when you work "overflight, USA" (ZMP being one of them). There have been days in the past were I will plug in for 3 hours, a literally only talk to 4 airplanes. Those 4 airplanes are the only ones that called me on their own, the rest flew right across the sky without talking.
In 90 minutes I only had 1 out of 4 contact me on their own volition. Low sample size but the lack of people paying attention when on a long flight is one issue.
Add to that when I do send s contact me, I get a PM 20% of the time saying "roger" or "ok" -- yet the contact me says do not respond via PM. Reading comprehension :/
So I have a question? If vatsim is made to make flight sim more realistic. Why is Push and Start at pilots own discretion in the USA. I am a pilot in real life and this has always been a question of mine. Now I know this is probably so that ground controllers are not overloaded but here is my proposal. What if a ramp control position was made. This would be a position that only had discretion of aircraft requesting push and start and would require less training than ground. Idk just an idea but would love to see it happen one day!