Air Traffic Control Issues

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Gez . Hope you stick around and contribute, esp on ATC issues.

 

[Lux]

I was on QF1298 from Melbourne to Coffs Harbour on 20 Sep. We waited for 30 minutes after doors closed to start moving.

When we finally made it to the main runway the pilots hit the gas and we start speeding for take off.

After a small amount of time (maybe 100 meters) they slammed the brakes and aborted. Plane made some pretty unruly sounds.

It was pretty scary (keeping in mind I am a stressful flyer on take offs and landings).

No word from anyone on the PA. Plane looped around and joined the line for a second attempt. I saw some others holding hands in fear / praying.

About 15 minutes later the Captain came on and suggested it was the Air Traffic Controllers that caused the “reject..”

Not my version of fun, even if it happens a lot.

 

[ellen10]

Not sure if it is an air-traffic-control issue.
But we were flying home last night from Perth to Sydney on QF650. Descending nicely and nearly down, when suddenly the engines roared and we were suddenly ascending at quite an incline and speed. Up and up at an angle. We continued ascending and levelled out, the Captain then announced that we could not land and had to go around again, as there was traffic on the runway. He said these were standard procedures, but it was a little scary at the time. And we were glad to touch down safely.
It could have been the weather as it was pouring rain when we evenutally landed 23 minutes late.

 

[JessicaTam]

Hi Melburnian1.
I respond to your opinion as you touch on a number of issues that I can directly answer.
I’ve been an Air Traffic Controller for 17 years in Australia, but ten years ago I changed careers and went to University to study Paramedicine.
I subsequently worked as an Advanced Care Paramedic in Qld for three years, having previously worked as a Senior Firefighter in QLD for seven years before starting ATC.
Thirty years ago I worked as a commercial pilot in General Aviation.
I can honestly say, in all of my years in frontline emergency services, nothing prepares you for the stress of controlling 30 odd aircraft at any given moment.
In Fire and Ambulance we worked as teams, and could always count on back up on the way when we had any more than two patients or more than a rubbish bin on fire.
In ATC in Australia, we often work as a single controller, with limited ability to get assistance when it hits the fan.
Air Traffic Control in Australia is far more complex, fatiguing, and challenging than I ever experienced as a Paramedic, Firefighter or Commercial Pilot.

Welcome to AFF @Gez and thanks for your insight and comparison.

Incidentally my wife used to a paramedic in the ‘Switch. Maybe your paths crossed.