Pilot Hopeful
Well-Known Member
Coming into Atlanta (ATL) seems fairly standard, regardless of weather conditions: Fly the arrival, turn base, turn a 30-degree intercept to final, join the approach. We always seem to be three to five miles in trail of preceding traffic.
In general, any weather conditions reducing visibility or limiting visual approaches send ground stops or en route delays (e.g., slowing or holding) through the system. I realize that certain weather phenomena, such as thunderstorms, require avoidance and hence affect the ability to accept the normal rate of arrivals. However, the 1,000-foot overcast baffles me: Why does this seemingly benign condition create havoc on the operation? I am hoping that someone can provide ATC perspective on what we cannot perceive from the flight deck. When everything seems routine to us, what is triggering delay?
Sometimes conditions are CAVU . . . and we have the privilege of logging a hold over one of the arrival fixes. Are these delays due to traffic volume? If so, it is amazing to consider that such conditions exist when airlines have reduced flight schedules and are no where near full strength.
In general, any weather conditions reducing visibility or limiting visual approaches send ground stops or en route delays (e.g., slowing or holding) through the system. I realize that certain weather phenomena, such as thunderstorms, require avoidance and hence affect the ability to accept the normal rate of arrivals. However, the 1,000-foot overcast baffles me: Why does this seemingly benign condition create havoc on the operation? I am hoping that someone can provide ATC perspective on what we cannot perceive from the flight deck. When everything seems routine to us, what is triggering delay?
Sometimes conditions are CAVU . . . and we have the privilege of logging a hold over one of the arrival fixes. Are these delays due to traffic volume? If so, it is amazing to consider that such conditions exist when airlines have reduced flight schedules and are no where near full strength.