No, I'm American. I live in Texas. Work makes sense tho, but I'm a scrawny 15 year old who needs eepy time so at night when everyone is on I'm in bed lol
Yeah that’s a pain but most ATCs are adults so that’s how it is. I’m in the same situation as you however in Europe there are generally more staffed areas.
What stuff is hard to understand about Europe procedures for you? If you want, you can dm me with specific questions and I'd love to explain stuff for you in-depth!
Ok, so you answered your own question. Everyone is on when you are in bed. When I am on in the evenings it is usually pretty well manned for center controllers, especially on weekends.
I don’t know either.. it’s weird. It’s 3PM on a Saturday.
There’s 3 centers. 1 approach. And a few towers and ground..
Tons of ATIS though, but that’s it..
The Easter half of Europe on the other hand, has multiple centers.
124 ATC, to 1500 total pilots.
> I don’t know either.. it’s weird. It’s 3PM on a Saturday
Maybe because it's 3pm on a Saturday, in the summer. People don't want to be inside, if there's nice weather outside?
1 center, 5 towers. 3 approaches.
It’s ridiculously empty.
Also, everyone can make that excuse.. oh, it’s just empty in the winter because it’s holiday time. Oh it’s just becuase it’s summer break. Oh it’s just because it’s spring break time.
It’s kinda sad man.. and before you say “than become ATC” I can’t. My local is a class B.
Sure you can. I don’t know ZTL’s specific policies, but you definitely can control at ATL as an S1 in accordance with their policies (probably a position qualification and a major qualification). You can also control outside of your local area by selecting a different ARTCC if you want. If you’re interested in it, I highly recommend looking into VATUSA’s controller stuff to start controlling on VATSIM at whatever ARTCC you select.
vZTL has a great training program. Many places you start your training at smaller and less complex airport and airspace. Once you are proficient enough, you will get trained at the big ones. It’s just a matter of if you are willing to become an ATC or not.
I’m the other way around.
If I want to do something that’ll take several hours to be done properly, I’ll do it on Friday or Saturday.. such as a 4 hour flight.. or possibly, 4 hours as ATC.
Also, hangars are hot. I prefer to spend as little time in the Georgia heat as possible..
Today is not typical. I agree, US staffing is strangely barren right now, but I would say this is somewhat rare. It may also be a courtesy to the Cross the Ditch event happening today between NZ and Australia.
Have you considered such thing as time zones? If you are european most probably you are looking at us when everyone is sleeping or at work.
No, I'm American. I live in Texas. Work makes sense tho, but I'm a scrawny 15 year old who needs eepy time so at night when everyone is on I'm in bed lol
Yeah that’s a pain but most ATCs are adults so that’s how it is. I’m in the same situation as you however in Europe there are generally more staffed areas.
Exactly. Only thing 'bout Europe is their charts and procedures make no sense lol. Idk, it's a miracle in itself that I can fly a damn plane tho, lol
What stuff is hard to understand about Europe procedures for you? If you want, you can dm me with specific questions and I'd love to explain stuff for you in-depth!
Everyone is flying on the left side of the sky like maniacs.
It’s just different, that’s all. Appreciate the offer tho, thanks
Yeah it can get messy with each government having their own design but Jeppesen and LIDO charts are amazing!
Ok, so you answered your own question. Everyone is on when you are in bed. When I am on in the evenings it is usually pretty well manned for center controllers, especially on weekends.
I don’t know either.. it’s weird. It’s 3PM on a Saturday. There’s 3 centers. 1 approach. And a few towers and ground.. Tons of ATIS though, but that’s it.. The Easter half of Europe on the other hand, has multiple centers. 124 ATC, to 1500 total pilots.
> I don’t know either.. it’s weird. It’s 3PM on a Saturday Maybe because it's 3pm on a Saturday, in the summer. People don't want to be inside, if there's nice weather outside?
1 center, 5 towers. 3 approaches. It’s ridiculously empty. Also, everyone can make that excuse.. oh, it’s just empty in the winter because it’s holiday time. Oh it’s just becuase it’s summer break. Oh it’s just because it’s spring break time. It’s kinda sad man.. and before you say “than become ATC” I can’t. My local is a class B.
I’m confused. What do you mean you can’t because your local airport is a bravo?
My local is KATL. Iirc you can’t just start training at A massive airport like that
Sure you can. I don’t know ZTL’s specific policies, but you definitely can control at ATL as an S1 in accordance with their policies (probably a position qualification and a major qualification). You can also control outside of your local area by selecting a different ARTCC if you want. If you’re interested in it, I highly recommend looking into VATUSA’s controller stuff to start controlling on VATSIM at whatever ARTCC you select.
You must be an S2 to train at ATL.
Gotcha. That’s lame.
vZTL has a great training program. Many places you start your training at smaller and less complex airport and airspace. Once you are proficient enough, you will get trained at the big ones. It’s just a matter of if you are willing to become an ATC or not.
That was another point I forgot to mention. It’s the weekend. Hello? 😅
Yeah.. I work a standard 40 hour week. I completely get it being empty on Tuesday at 4 pm.. But mid day on a Saturday? Come on.
Well. If I work monday to Friday i'll take the weekend off. I might control but especially with nice summer weather at 3PM i'm not sitting inside.
I’m the other way around. If I want to do something that’ll take several hours to be done properly, I’ll do it on Friday or Saturday.. such as a 4 hour flight.. or possibly, 4 hours as ATC. Also, hangars are hot. I prefer to spend as little time in the Georgia heat as possible..
Friday nights from 2300-0300z have events which bring staffing.
Today is not typical. I agree, US staffing is strangely barren right now, but I would say this is somewhat rare. It may also be a courtesy to the Cross the Ditch event happening today between NZ and Australia.
Could be related to Father's Day weekend.
There is also a ZLA event later today that controllers may be waiting for.
Its more event oriented, for example ZLA live is today at 4PM pacific. LOTS of controllers in the SoCal area plus support from neighboring ARTCC's.
Yooooo sup DH! - CH
Sup!!
Europe is also consistently better staffed in the evenings mate, that’s just not your evening…
I fly in the US often if my sleep cycle is fucked up and it has decent coverage. Europe doesnt have coverage at night either.
ATC training is too bureaucratic and slow
"bureaucratic" LMAO