Originally Posted by
TonyWilliams
Well, imagine that you were the controller on the "landline" talking to a controller at another facility about BigIron 123. Bug Smasher 234 keeps calling (and going over the speaker) while you're discussing what speed / heading / altitude the other ATC facility will take BigIron at.
Do you then return to immediately tend to BugSmasher, or issue the control instruction to BigIron?
Obviously, your answer should vary based on the circumstance. If BugSmasher is yelling "MayDay", sure, go to him. But a vital control instruction trumps saying hi to a guy just checking in.
Bigiron 123 does not have a higher ATC priority than Bugsmasher, except for spacing purposes. At least that's how I understand it. My point is that a simple "Bugsmasher 123, standby" would eliminate a lot of wasted air time and result in fewer blocked transmissions.
I base this my having worked overseas where they did that and there were a lot less blocked callsigns, etc.
Not a whine, really, just a way I think it could be improved. That's all.