Changes with IFATC region staffing

ATC
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Recently, IFATC members have been opening positions at many airports, but not fully staffing all of them. Going forward, we will be looking to fully staff one or two airports before opening others. For example, take the SoFlo region. Instead of opening KMIA, KRSW, KFLL, KTPA, etc., we will try to open KMIA Tower, Ground, Approach, Departure, and Center, and the same for KTPA, before we open other smaller airports. This won’t always be possible because of the different qualifications of our controllers, but we will be striving for this. This method will start during this week’s FNF.

So, how will this impact you as a pilot? For starters, it will create a more realistic environment. Hopefully you will be vectored to your destination from the start of your flight all the way to the end, instead of following your flight plan. Of course, this won’t always be the case. It will also help you all get used to the normal flow of operations, with handoffs from Departure, Center, and Approach.

From the controller’s perspective, this makes our jobs a lot easier, especially during peak traffic times, like FNFs. This is because we will be able to vector aircraft into steady streams between airports, instead of radar controllers having to deal with aircraft coming from all directions at different speeds, altitudes, and headings. We will be able to get you to your destination more efficiently, and most importantly, safely.

I hope you all will enjoy this change to the ATC environment as much as I and my fellow controllers will. See you in the skies!

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I like this idea, but i think that dimishes the need for a flight plan.

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It does, which is actually a good thing for us because we can vector you in a line with other aircraft, instead of dealing with everyone coming from all directions. It also increases realism for the pilots. Of course, we won’t have all facilities staffed 24/7, so there will be plenty of opportunities for you to file and fly your own flight plan.

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Ok, thanks for the clarification.

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Not really flight plans should still be filed

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It isn’t as important now though.

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Yea it is if you don’t file a flight plan you can’t state intentions and the system can’t recognize what you want to do. I still see airlines filing flight plans and they deal with all these every time. Just because your getting vectored doesn’t mean your flight plan is useless

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Really? Can’t you just request vectors to your destination? I’ve never not filed XD

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No you can’t unless you have a flight plan

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As Brandon said, just because you will be vectored off your flight plan more often doesn’t make it useless. It makes it easier for you to request vectors and lets the system know what airport you are inbound to, which is helpful for us. So file away!

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I agree. I may sit at the gate for a few minutes but I always file FP when on TS or Expert. I’ve even had to go back and change mid flight to accommodate for wind variations since beginning of flight.

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And this is the result I’m proud of the effort and teamwork tonight in Denver.

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image1024×1024 105 KB

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Was just about to post this it was beatiful

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This is excellent, can be a heavy load for a tower controller to organise incoming aircraft when approach hasn’t been there to vector them in. With regards to vectoring off the flight plan, perhaps a “direct to” feature could make an appearance?

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That would be so great! However, we kinda have that feature already, with the purple “drag and drop” vectoring

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