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Post by larrytmo on Jan 20, 2011 16:58:04 GMT -5
As a retired Air Traffic Controller I have many stories. This is one of my favorites. It dates me also. I was working a Piedmont B737 into KORD ILS 32L. The outer marker in those days was named River Grove and we often referred to it as the gate. I cleared Piedmont for the approach and asked him to keep his airspeed up as long as possible. He asked how far I wanted him to keep it. I replied "all the way to the gate if you can". He replied, "OK, but you better warn Ground Control".  |
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Post by afy46 on Jan 20, 2011 18:43:20 GMT -5
That's a good one Larry! My brother was an Air Traffic Controller and was always good for some funny stories. I'm sure you have many more. Working KORD had to be a busy day's work. A couple years ago, I was working in Des Plaines and staying in Motel 6 in Elk Grove. Sometimes I'd jsut stand out on the balcony and watch the planes on final approach to 14R. On a busy evening I'd time the separation and was surprised that there was only about 50 seconds or so between medium sized aircraft. You could always tell a heavy was landing, because they got a separation of about 90 seconds. Not a whole lot of time if something went wrong. Those pilots really have to be on que and approaching at the same speed at that point. Of course it was ATC that got them there to that point. I've always been amazed to see that kind of efficiency in the real world. I'd love to see the FS process AI aircraft that fast and have the ability to slot into the traffic like that. |
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Post by Dutch Owen on Jan 21, 2011 0:30:22 GMT -5
Great story. Let's hear more!
It's particularly interesting to me because I happen to be flying the Piedmont schedule from 1974 in the very 737-200. Oddly, haven't had any flights into ORD yet though.
Dutch
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Post by davidk on Jan 23, 2011 15:20:15 GMT -5
I'd love to see the FS process AI aircraft that fast and have the ability to slot into the traffic like that. A few days ago, under FSX's built-in ATC, I found myself sharing a final with a Fokker turboprop. Had to decide whether to be realistic and abort, or try sneaking past without jeopardizing my descent. I managed a quick screenshot of my decision before having to turn my attention back to landing:  (Yes, that little blue window is FSPassengers.) That wasn't as eyebrow-raising, though, as having FSX's ATC then land me in foggy conditions on a runway featuring a 737 in position for takeoff at the opposite end. Re ATC stories, I imagine the "I have that little Fokker in sight" and "[long pause]...Wasn't I married to you once?" stories are old news... David |
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