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dickburns

Well-known member
Joined
May 23, 2006
Posts
265
What's up with you guys always beggin' for shortcuts? Seems like every other transmission out of an RJ is "XYZ checkin' in, lookin for shortcuts" "XYZ with you, lookin for shortcuts" "hey center, got any shortcuts for Regional123?"

'fess up, fellas (and ladies if any of you post on here).
 
Lots of reasons....from trying to save fuel you may need or trying to make up for the long ground delay you just had. Those would have to be the top two reasons. Keeping schedule integrity is tough....as soon as you get just a little off schedule, it snowballs. And a lot of the time, it's due to something beyond our control. Maybe you don't like it, but the pax appreciate the effort.
 
What's up with you guys always beggin' for shortcuts? Seems like every other transmission out of an RJ is "XYZ checkin' in, lookin for shortcuts" "XYZ with you, lookin for shortcuts" "hey center, got any shortcuts for Regional123?"

'fess up, fellas (and ladies if any of you post on here).

Umm, why wouldn't you want a shortcut? Saves time, saves gas, more time in the hub to grab a bite to eat, able to catch an earlier flight home, etc...
 
But you guys don't think that just maybe, MAYBE, center gets sick of you asking every 5 minutes?

Maybe they do, but I get sick of them asking me to slow to 250kts too!
 
But you guys don't think that just maybe, MAYBE, center gets sick of you asking every 5 minutes?

Air traffic controllers are there for safety and to provide a service to the aircraft using the system. Providing a service includes listening to requests from aircraft "looking for shortcuts" and issuing them if able. Whats the big deal and why does it bother you so much?
 
but flyby, you're forgetting that center has you by the testes satchel. Their wish is your command. So you're better off keeping them happy, no?
 
What's up with you guys always beggin' for shortcuts? Seems like every other transmission out of an RJ is "XYZ checkin' in, lookin for shortcuts" "XYZ with you, lookin for shortcuts" "hey center, got any shortcuts for Regional123?"

'fess up, fellas (and ladies if any of you post on here).


because you touch yourself at night.
 
Only people I've ever heard ask for "shortcuts" on a regular basis are Southwest and American pilots. If I'm looking to get somewhere faster, I usually ask for a specific fix that cuts a corner.

I get tired of the friggin' straight-wing Citation drivers slowing me down in the high twenties and low thirties, but you don't see me bitchin' on Flightinfo about it.

You must really hate ride reports...
 
Straight wing citation drivers are only passing throught the twenties and low thirties to get to altitudes you RJ drivers can only dream of. o.
 
I have no problem with ride reports, since at 410 it's usually PRETTY D4MN smooth and I don't have to worry about an RJ getting in my way!
 
Just the thoughts of an idiot CFI:

Granted, I'm not exactly the most "experienced" guy on this website, but I had always thought that ATC knows that you want direct, at least in my little Boston Approach/Center corner of the world. I've never heard of it upsetting a controller to ask for it. They are expecting you to ask. They know you want it. Eight out of ten IFR legs, I get direct without asking for it.

But then again, the controllers for Boston are top notch. Haven't had the same experience with that other Approach further south...

-Goose
 
Yeah, but afaik, not all controllers can give it to you. You might not be in their airspace, direct might take you through airspace that's unavailable, etc. I think your point is valid goose egg, that folks should expect that the controller knows you want direct, so will give it to you if able, so don't waste your time bugging him for it. And I agree with you, Boston Center Controllers are probably the best in the world, top notch indeed.

Btw, how you doin with the CFI'in? Still considering hte ho'train? Feel free to PM me.
 
Umm, why wouldn't you want a shortcut? Saves time, saves gas, more time in the hub to grab a bite to eat, able to catch an earlier flight home, etc...

Maybe it turns you INTO the 150 kt. headwind. I'll give you more time to eat and commuting, after that, who cares. Like Pinnacle is going to single you out for saving 100 pounds. I get paid by the minute, if they plan my worthless 328 at .56, I'll fly it .56 and make my extra buck.
 
Maybe it turns you INTO the 150 kt. headwind.

You can easily determine that by looking at the wind direction indicator on the MFD before asking for the shortcut. Not rocket science.

I'll give you more time to eat and commuting, after that, who cares. Like Pinnacle is going to single you out for saving 100 pounds. I get paid by the minute, if they plan my worthless 328 at .56, I'll fly it .56 and make my extra buck.

I don't care if they "single me out." I save the fuel so I can have it at my destination in case I need it, and I save it so it's more money in the company's bank account for me to take during contract negotiations. All of our flights are so overblocked anyway that there's very little chance of going over block and making extra money unless you have to deice or have a long ground stop after blocking out.
 
You can easily determine that by looking at the wind direction indicator on the MFD before asking for the shortcut. Not rocket science.



I don't care if they "single me out." I save the fuel so I can have it at my destination in case I need it, and I save it so it's more money in the company's bank account for me to take during contract negotiations. All of our flights are so overblocked anyway that there's very little chance of going over block and making extra money unless you have to deice or have a long ground stop after blocking out.

You do know where the block times come from, keep making the flights shorter and shorter and watch your blocks get a little shorter.

Disregard if you need to catch a flight, are hungry, or tired and want to go home.
 
You do know where the block times come from, keep making the flights shorter and shorter and watch your blocks get a little shorter.

Disregard if you need to catch a flight, are hungry, or tired and want to go home.

Our contract has guidelines for adjusting the trip values (credit block times). You have to underblock consistently by a decent margin before the trip value is reduced. Basically, the winter flying with the deicing prevents it from happening.
 
Um, yes, whats wrong with shortcuts? Going and coming from CLT every day you need it, the controllers there are the only ones I know who can change you from 10 mins early to 30 mins late on a dime. Seriously, whats the big deal with asking for it?
 
Just the thoughts of an idiot CFI:

Granted, I'm not exactly the most "experienced" guy on this website, but I had always thought that ATC knows that you want direct, at least in my little
-Goose

Some of the time we don't want the shortcuts because we are at "Overtime Cruise" power.
 
But you guys don't think that just maybe, MAYBE, center gets sick of you asking every 5 minutes?

Oh, how I love flying in the middle of the night!

We took of from MIA about midnight. The first center controller we talked to gave us a heading for direct VUZ, which is on the arrival into MEM. We didn't even have to ask. 2 hours of easy navigation. That's great service. :beer:
 
Maybe it turns you INTO the 150 kt. headwind. I'll give you more time to eat and commuting, after that, who cares. Like Pinnacle is going to single you out for saving 100 pounds. I get paid by the minute, if they plan my worthless 328 at .56, I'll fly it .56 and make my extra buck.

If you have to get to point A to B, even if it points you straight into the wind it still will save time than having to go thru C, because the wind is still going to ultimately affect you ultimately the same, plus added distance sans the shortcut
 

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