PHL ATC question

moxiepilot

moxiepilot

Well-Known Member
Okay, I'm looking for a little advice.

I drop jumpers from 15,000 outside of PHL, and coordinate with approach. Most all the controllers either allow me to keep the same squawk for a few runs, or if they are busy - have me squawk 1200 on the way down until the next run.

I'm normally in the air for 10-20 loads each day weekdays, and 20-40 each day on the weekends. Needless to say, checking in with ATC by saying, "King Air xxx 3 miles east of xxx with jumpers," queues the response "squawk 02xx, and ident."

Even the trainee on over the weekend figured out whats up and how to handle things. So on to my question - how would you respond when one controller responds with "well, what would you like?"

It's only this one controller. It's my understanding that as per the regs, I have to coordinate with ATC before dropping anyone. I usually just tell him I'd like traffic advisories and I will give him a two minutes to jumpers call, as well as a jumpers away call.

Since the DZ is in the approach corridor for arrivals coming out of 10,000 feet, and I get the same nonchalant "whadda you expect me to do about you attitude" every time he's on - would you handle things any differently than telling him traffic advisories, and will advise two minutes and jumpers away calls?

What do you think is going through his mind from his perspective? I'm just trying to see both sides so things flow smoothly.
 
Probably the same guy that wouldn't give me an approach on an IFR flight plan in VFR conditions. I'm sure there was much more going on, and I would have been happy to hold, but flat out told me no.
 
I personally would call up the approach themselves and speak to the manager. Just nicely explain to him the same thing you told us and explain to him your safety concerns, people in the air by the approach zone, don't want the people hit by the planes, blah blah. See what he says. I bet that fixes a few things.
 
You the guy out by VCN? I did turns out of PHL a few weekends ago and it sounded like an elevator ride.
 
Not sure you can do much. Calling may help, but the best bet is just to be by the book and brush it off, explicity state what you need and if it is denied then you have a formal complaint case.

I work with some guys who it seems go out of their way to be absolute dicks to pilots completely unnecessarily and it is frustrating. Unfortunately they are often the salty ones who complaints won't do much in the way of changing them. You may get lip service apology from a sup but in reality short of a safety problem there isn't much more than a written slap on the wrist that can happen.
 
Just tell them you see a cloud approaching from somewhere over JST or IPT. That usually shuts PHL down for a few hours. Everyone will be holding and you will have the skies to yourself!

-mini
 
When I flew jumpers out of a DZ near philly, we had a letter of agreement with philly tower that gave us call signs and a series of assigned squawks as well as assigned routes to fly. So we simply dailed in the assigned squawk and called in using the assigned call sign at the required times. Went very smoothly most of the time. So I assume you're not flying for that DZ. I also assume your boss isn't interested or is unable to obtain a letter of agreement.

If it were me, and the controller was 'phoning it in' as far as giving me service, I'd likely phone it in right back to them. Make one call that contains all the information required by the regs. "Philly approach, be advised king air Nxxxx is xx north of xx and will have jumpers away in the next 5 minutes over x 15k and below.' If you feel that safety is being compromised as a result of this controller, talk to your boss about it and have him or her talk to supe at philly tower about it.

BTW, do you need to provide 02 in the back in order to take them to 15k? Our SOP was to put the monkeys out at 13.5k. They would have big event weekends where they would do big ways from 16k or 17k but we'd have to rig all the planes to have 02 available to every seat in the back.
 
BobDDuck said:
You the guy out by VCN? I did turns out of PHL a few weekends ago and it sounded like an elevator ride.
Click to expand...

Nah, I'm out between PHL and ABE, but the descent at 3000+fpm is always a joyride, especially when the gliders are out in force at Philly Glider Club...

Joe Gremlin said:
I also assume your boss isn't interested or is unable to obtain a letter of agreement.

BTW, do you need to provide 02 in the back in order to take them to 15k?
Click to expand...

Yeah we've tried for a LOA, but it's never worked out. I only carry to 14.5, so no O2 is necessary.

Thanks for the advice all
 
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