Dear Pilots,
To ensure smooth and efficient ground operations across all airports within the Infinite Flight community, I would like to address some critical points that will greatly benefit both pilots and IFATC controllers. By following these guidelines, you’ll help maintain the realism and flow of operations, minimize delays, and contribute to a safer ground environment.
1. Plan Your Gate Arrival Before Landing:
As you approach your destination airport, it’s important to prepare for your arrival well in advance. One key aspect of this preparation is selecting your arrival gate before you land. When you plan your gate ahead of time, you can quickly and confidently request it from ground control once you’ve exited the runway. This will prevent the common issue of stopping right after the hold short line to look for a gate, which can create congestion for aircraft behind you. Planning ahead keeps the traffic flow steady and reduces the risk of unnecessary delays for everyone involved.
2. Always Request a Specific Gate (Not Parking “Any”):
After landing, when contacting ground control, it’s essential that you request a specific gate rather than just selecting “Taxi to Parking (Any).” IFATC controllers are not allowed to assign a gate to pilots. Therefore, it is your responsibility as the pilot to select and request the gate you intend to taxi to. This step is crucial in ensuring that your taxi route is clear and optimized for both your aircraft and the overall traffic at the airport.
3. Benefits of Requesting a Specific Gate:
Requesting a specific gate does more than just get you to your parking spot—it actively contributes to the efficiency of ground operations. Here’s why:
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Prevents Ground Conflicts: By requesting a specific gate, ground controllers can better manage taxi routes, keeping arriving aircraft separated from those taxiing for departure. This helps maintain a clear and organized flow on the taxiways, reducing the chance of conflicts or delays.
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Supports Efficient Traffic Management: With clear requests for specific gates, controllers can plan more effectively. Knowing exactly where each aircraft is headed allows us to direct traffic more smoothly, balancing arrivals and departures and avoiding bottlenecks on the ground.
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Reduces Controller Workload: Specifying a gate reduces the guesswork for controllers, who then don’t have to try to figure out where you’re heading. This minimizes the need for additional instructions or corrections, lightening the controller’s workload and allowing them to focus on other critical tasks, such as managing conflicts and ensuring safe operations.
4. Conclusion:
By taking a few moments before landing to plan your gate and ensuring that you request a specific gate when contacting ground control, you contribute significantly to the overall efficiency and safety of operations. Your cooperation helps maintain a realistic, organized, and enjoyable experience for all pilots and controllers in the Infinite Flight community.
Let’s work together to keep our airports running smoothly and efficiently! Thank you for your attention to these details and for your continued dedication to professionalism within Infinite Flight.
Safe skies and smooth landings!
Best regards,
Jose_Oscana
IFATC Controller