From my armchair. Cute.
If I, or anyone I worked with, instructed the center to put a MEDEVAC on a STAR when they called to tell us they were direct - we wouldn't be certified to work there. Likewise, if our center controllers could not display the aptitude to protect the flight path of a MEDEVAC that we cleared direct, they wouldn't be certified to work there either.
What your describing is not how it works everywhere. Hence, my opinion that it was perhaps a regional thing.
Contrary to your experiences, there are controllers who will focus their time and energy on working together to move airplanes rather than focusing it on pissing contests.
Arm Chair Jesus, Cowboy, Controller. It's my word of the day.
And that's exactly why we're here. Making change is often regarded as pissing contest when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.
Attitude reflects management and our Leaders here wouldn't de-certify you unless you shot someone. (Figure of Speech)
ASR Range? We use fusion RADAR out here. Basic ATC bro.
It's an inside joke. So CaL yelled at us one night and their response was that they use fusion which was totally irrelevant to what we asked and ABQ yelled at us one night for something completely retarded and told us "it's basic ATC bro". Inside joke meant for me man, get over it.
Everybody knows our airport here in PMD is dirt and we're just "real controllers" waving flash lights to guide planes to the runway.
Fusion Flashlights.
C'mon, It's Basic ATC BRO.
ME FIRST, ME FIRST!
Back to why I came here...
if stuff gets real out of shape, saying we are "critical medevac" seems to give expedited handling ... I find that politeness to ATC helps a lot
We are bound by a very clearly defined set of rules and a very narrow amount of phraseology. No where in the .65 does it say CRITICAL gives you MORE priority. You don't have to say it because the use of the call sign binds us to our Duty Priority to GIVE IT.
I ask if you want direct as a technique. If you say yes, EMPTY or not, I'm busting my back to give it.
Provide expeditious handling as safely able. That's the job right there ... I hardly see anyone here telling medevac planes to go pound sand.
Come take a tour, 100% of the Medevac’s we have encountered in the past 45 days have been Unabled, Re-routed, and had controllers chastised by Management and their peers for Providing Priority Handling.
One went as far as to say "Medevac’s shouldn't be flying a POS "King Air" anyways. They commonly berate "worthless organs" as not being high enough on THEIR list of priorities when they've clearly forgotten and never been held accountable for their Duty Priority.
When you have 2-3 dozen aircraft on frequency, it's bound to happen. Pilots can listen on frequency for a few seconds like they're supposed to, hear nothing, and then transmit. 3 or 4 or 2 dozen other pilots could be doing the exact same thing.
Its call the law of averages folks. It's going to happen. You can't stop it. It's not unprofessional; it’s a crime of circumstance. Stop getting mad at the pilots and just say "Say Again" or how about "Air Craft Checking in... IDENT".
He is okay with adding those miles to the trip, because sometimes the Medevac pilots block other pilots when they check in? Absolutely not. Not on my watch. No way am I going to let him give the rest of us a bad name because he is too lazy to handle Medevac flights appropriately.
I think you completely missed the point. And what you wrote above is completely inaccurate. It's bizarre that you would even conclude that from my post. If that's what Matt told you in person at work, he's made his mind up without even talking to me.
I'm so glad you joined so we could do this online instead of in person tomorrow night. Your indignation is unwarranted, man. I agree with you! I issue more shortcuts to regular flights than most others in the area, and I certainly am not "too lazy" to expedite Medevac flights. Go back and read my post. Two pilots keying up at the same time is different from not listening and beginning your transmission when someone else is already talking, which is the event I was talking about. Chill out, and realize we're on the same side.
You know, it's funny: I think I can remember back when I was typing the original post, I went back and added "traffic permitting" after I had typed out the rest, thinking someone might get upset if I didn't reference the NOTE that Matt provided from the 7110. I never imagined someone would take that qualifier, or even that post, and twist it so morbidly to fit his pre-existing vendetta. The thread was just an anecdote from one day at work, and that qualifier was intended to increase accuracy, not meditate on situations where traffic might not permit priority.
I didn't insinuate this to him; the original post did that all by itself. It's bizarre that we'd conclude that? Your TRAFFIC PERMITTING comment is what set me off. It's indicative of the cultural "Arm Chair Jesus" mentality that ZLA and SoCaL controllers have. When I found out this came from you and I took my shot, you walked away. Hence the "DB" remark. I don't personally know you but I've seen that attitude a thousand times. I used this forum instead of tomorrow night because this is where the MedEvac's are. I've got a Bar to discuss this with you. I've only got a forum to get it out to them.
My indignation isn't unwarranted it's Justified. This isn't a Pre-Existing Vendetta; it’s a Crusade for Cultural Change. I didn't twist TRAFFIC PERMITTING to be anything but what it is. A scape goat an attorney got stuffed into our directives so when things hit the fan and you went under the microscope YOU HAD AN OUT.
Traffic Permitting is great when it's properly used. PROPERLY. But it's abused more than it's used for the reason it was claimed to have been created for. It's a shield for weak controllers to justify their unwilling or obstinate actions more often than it's a tool for when you're actually too busy.
If you intended for the "qualifier" to increase accuracy then I'm sorry Kid. You improperly used the English language there, it misconstrued your point and I called BS! I'll admit when I'm wrong but unfortunately for this situation, I'm backed by fact and too much determination to make change. So It's not gonna happen.
Its cute though seeing Center people even begin to pretend they know what an IAF is ... I've never encountered a controller where it counts who wouldn't stand up for an LN. I also happen to have an inkling that any LN pilot worth anything would not hesitate to declare ... Guess what? If there is a question, I'll ask!
You've obviously never flown through the area's you moaned about because those "center puke" controllers provide approach control services all day, every day from the Coast to the Grand Canyon. And don't forget who spoon feeds all those shiny little airplanes into a line for SoCaL Approach. That is after we've apparently only read the weather and got ready to hand them off. Since we just say hi and goodbye at LA Center.
Come take a tour and I'll personally drive the BUS and let you look out the window at all the controllers thrown under it for not standing up for Medevac’s.
