Quote:
Originally Posted by Platapus
In the military flying club I got my learnin at, there was a similar program for pilots and ATC. Pilots would be invited to observe ATC and ATC people would be invited to ride along. It gives people on both sides an appreciation on what the other does. It was eye-opening.
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This should be encouraged as much as possible.
I like to see pilots visiting us for familiarisation sessions, and I know it really helps me to ride up front and see things from the other side whenever I fly. This was last week in Amsterdam, got to ride in a SAS MD82 before they retire them all!
Any sort of visit is an eye-opener.
Pilots tend to be amazed at the amount of traffic in the sector, and controllers are shocked by the endless checklists and cross-checking that goes on. It's easy for pilots to think they are the only ones in the sky (at least until the Approach crowd gets their hand in!), and it's just as easy for controllers to think the pilots do nothing but wait for the Voice of God to give them instructions. We forget they have other things to do, and they forget we have other aircraft to take care of. A bit of experience across the frequency helps everyone get along
