Weird thing happened yesterday, i took the 747-8 from Los Angeles to St Maarten (I have flown in and out of St Maarten on live ATC in the 747-8 many times). This time i was asked to hold above another airport and slowly circle/descend for 20 mins. After that, you took me to the 6 mile final then told me my aircraft was too large? Weird since i obviously quit and joined a new session at St Maarten, joined in the 747-8 and saw other players taxxing on ground in 747-8s… pretty weird and frustrating you made me circle and wait when you can see my aircraft from the beginning. What is up with that? Given that other 747-8s were in the airport at the same time? Also was flying a private livery and had 10% fuel and barely any weight in terms of passengers/cargo, so landing would of been no problem what so ever. Thanks!
DM the controller
I dont know who the controller was, but have timestamps and the replay.
The replay will show the controller as well.
Just use 🔍 😉
To clarify from an IFATC supervisor perspective:
Across the board as a supervisor team, we have maintained and enforced as best as possible the standard that the 747-8 and A380 aircraft types are too big for TNCM. Unfortunately, I don’t believe the enforcement of these size restrictions was consistent over the course of the day, leading to incidents similar to this one. Of course, given the high traffic levels present, controllers were under a great deal of stress — of course, this isn’t an excuse, and I think further clarification internally would be useful in future cases where the airport is featured prominently.
I was supervising the airport at the time of this particular incident, so if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me or the controller.
Well I am not sure now what can be done, I wasted 7 hours of my day yesterday just to get to the 6 mile final and since in the middle of the Caribbean in a 747-8, didnt give me much opportunity to divert either. In future cases, can the ATC realize their error and permit the landing? Again it was I, that paid for someone elses misjudgement.
In May when we had TCNM, I also arrived in a 747-8 without issue, now you are saying that any attempt on ES to fly to TCNM in an A380 or 747-8 will not be accepted for landing?
Again, like the other post, we go right back to discretion - as being the root cause of the problem and confusion.
In the other topic, you vehemently discussed your objections with the fact that controllers were not issuing violations for reportable offenses. The reason the aircraft are too large is because of wingspans that may cause your aircraft to strike other aircraft or objects. The taxiways at the airport are simply not large enough for Class F aircraft.
As I mentioned, we will take the necessary steps to clarify this with controllers when TNCM is featured, in order to prevent future incidents. However, if you are going to hold the perspective that reports should be used to the maximum extent possible, you cannot then go ahead and ask that you be made exempt from what is likely a reportable offense in itself.
Thank you for your hard work. I may come across as a a-hole here and if so Iam sorry in advance., that isn’t my intention. Since I am not familiar with the airport in the sim. I look at it like this, if you can spawn in that particular aircraft you can land it. Unless it was a specific ATC restriction at the time. People want realism and it will go to does this aircraft fly tere IRL, yes\no if yes is it N IFATC restrictions in place?
Haven’t been able to do much flying the last couple days due to the extreme weather here on eastern Ontario Canada. My tablet was constantly overheating and crashing.
No, since for London City and La Guardia for example, you have special NOTAM restrictions stating clearly the size/type of aircraft allowed. Hence, I would never try and land a 747-8 in London City. So if you can use restrictions on certain airports for certain sizes/types of aircraft, rather than make someone circle aimlessly for 20 minutes to be rejected for landing, maybe you can introduce a similar system for TNCM too? Again, there is no NOTAM for TNCM, discresion was used as there was too large of an aircraft waiting to depart, meaning a potential collision, again, that is not my problem, is it?
One of the IFATC Rules instructs controllers to determine what the largest aircraft that can operate are and enforce size restrictions if necessary.
Some airports have incorrect spawn sizes or may only accommodate specific aircraft within a Class.
FWIW, I’ve requested the editor of TNCM to correct the spawn size limits.
Again, I apologize for you having to fly the approach and wait in the arrival line, I can assure you that this was addressed with the controllers after they had closed.
However, with that being said, TNCM’s size restrictions are not subjective. Class F aircraft are not approved to operate at the airport, regardless of traffic levels.
I will add this point on my list of announcements to give the team today as well as the violation unification