By
Jordan Webb
Hi all, I hope you guys are well in these difficult times.
Recently I have come across a number of controllers mostly at EGCC, of varying positions, who have all elected to use a runway totally contrary to that in use IRL.
On a number of occassions the latest METAR was reporting variable winds, such as VRB04, leading the controller to elect the written preferential runway of 23R as the runway in use. However, could we ask controllers to check both FR24 for what they're using in real world and, more importantly the TAF? I ask this for a number of reasons;
1) Just because the surface winds are calm, it does not mean that the upper winds reflect the same. I myself have encountered significant tailwinds down the ILS23R (both in reality and on VATSIM), and when reporting this to ATC IRL, frequently a runway change is implemented soon after.
2) With light and variable winds, one slight increase to push the half hour average into one runways favour could lead to a controller flip-flopping between which runway he/she chooses. This is totally inefficient. The TAF gives you a decent foresight into the longer term forecast. EGCC 141420Z AUTO VRB04KT 9999 NCD 11/M03 Q1033 NOSIG would suggest preferential 23R, but looking at a TAF of EGCC 141054Z 1512/1618 09011KT 9999 FEW045 highlights that above the ground, it's going to be in 05's favour.
3) If we're striving to be as real as can be, is it so difficult to check FlightRadar24 at what is still a fairly busy airport? This gives the controller an immediate insight to the current situation of both meteorolgical and operational requirements, without the need to check forecasts, NOTAMs etc.
As a EGCC local both in terms of residence and profession, I don't want you to think this is a bleating rant at the quality of the training/controllers at Manch. See it more as a nudge in the right direction towards the realism we strive for.
I welcome your feedback,
Jordan
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