Quote:
Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er  If a pilot didn't file the preferred routing, why not just issue a FRC, and be done with it? It almost seems childish to take the bad routing, and then have it "denied" by the ARTCC, making everybody's day miserable! |
It's not always that simple ... when the basic route is close to the pref, sure, that works. BUT ... if the A/C came off with bad routing it can be many sectors away from where it should be. That is where the problem lies.
A notorious example of this would be an A/C flying ACY to ALB. Very often they file out to the east then north over JFK. No good ... all ZNY sectors are instructed not take A/C that way. They are head on with all the NY metro departures, The pref takes them west then north. 99.9% these bad routing's are caught, but on occasion someone gets off filed this way and with the wrong people working (controllers, Sup's) there can be a lot of problems. A/C have been turned around and sent back to ACY more then once ...
I agree with you, just issue a FRC but things are more complicated behind the scenes, especially in the Northeastern US.
If anyone thinks they may have been treated unfairly, provide me with the departure point, arrival airport, filed route, type A/C, and any other details and I will see if I can get more info. In today's FAA climate information is not as easy to come by but I still have some friends in high places.