Screaming_Eagle_ATC
Well-Known Member
For those who work in an En Route facility, how realistic is it to expect to use the non radar skills I'm learning real world?
Big Eazy
Big Eazy
We have maybe 10 airports with radar below ~8-10k up here. 500+ airports. Almost all approaches and departures are non-radar. In OR and WA, along the coast there's rarely radar below 8k and MEA's are 3-8k, so you can end up with airplanes on airways well below coverage. In fact it's that way for most D and E airports west of the rockies.
Had a funny one the other night. Flew an approach to mins, went to cancel through the RCO on the plate once on the ground, couldn't get anyone.... sat phone wasn't working.... uh well.... guess we'll ask a native to use their phone. Lookup up where the RCO on the plate was physically located later... oh just about 150 miles northwest on the other side of the brooks. Ya, we should totally be able to get that on the ground, nice job Jeppessen!There are huge enroute gaps through Southeast still, over Wrangell and Petersburg radar starts around 18k. I give Anchorage Center a lot of credit for patience in the summer.. About once a week there is a private pilot or corporate crew throwing a fit about why they can get VTF. Not that radar would even help, the minimum vector altitudes are 6-7k at the lowest.
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Take non-radar seriously. Not only does your performance on the non-radar exams count toward your final grade I believe (things have changed since I went through in `10), but it helps you develop fundamentals of working the radar associate position, which is the bread and butter at the academy. You'll be in the FAA a loooong time before you ever issue your first radar vector, they don't train you to do that at the academy.
For those who work in an En Route facility, how realistic is it to expect to use the non radar skills I'm learning real world?
Big Eazy
What is the intensity level like at the academy? Is it like trying to drink from a fire hose?
Big Eazy