Originally Posted by
jmcmanna
If you call once or twice and we don't answer, it's because we're busy. We don't just talk on the radio; sometimes talking to the center or tower takes a minute. You hear dead air, but we might be relaying important information on the landline.
Also, if you were handed off from another controller (say, if you're IFR), and I don't get to you right away, be patient and stop blocking the frequency. I never understand when pilots keep trying to check in 40 miles from the airport and keep blocking the frequency as I am trying to turn someone onto the localizer or something. We see you....if it's busy and you don't get the chance to check in, I will reach out to you when I need you to do something.
Understood. But 10 miles to the airspace happens REAL quick at 120+ knots of GS, and some pilots are held responsible for every extra minute of hobbs time that is seen as unnecessary. At $2k/hr for the plane, a five minute delay doing a lazy 360 waiting for ATC acknowledgement/clearance is $166, which can buy a lot of gas. It all adds up, believe that.
I know that's not a concern for a controller, but it is to a pilot with his boss looking over his shoulder. Some bosses don't care who is at fault, the pilot will get the heat...and sometime the expense, too.
Just sayin'...