Ksat atc

[satpak77]

Is it just me or is KSAT ATC going downhill?

The other day we were cleared for the ILS, I am tracking the GS downstairs, and the female approach controller tells me "maintain XXXX till FAF"

I was like, uh, WTF. Then she tells Continental behind us to "track the localizer and glideslope inbound"

they were like "uh maam, so we are cleared for the approach then?"

 

[GravityHater]

Can you be sure the clearance was 'Cleared ILS 12', because both sat and aus are apparently giving 'track the localizer' a lot lately, and NOT saying 'maintain 3000' or anything like that (holding altitude is implied).
I think its because they have a/c on approach ahead of you (watch your tcas) and need the altitude separation when you are that close together.
Honestly I think they are doing a good job with the loads of traffic they have sometimes, couple of weeks ago at aus there were 8 of us jostling for the congo line and they got great spacing and it all worked out great with no delays.
Cant answer the second point about Co, that sounds like a beginner.

 

[satpak77]

Can you be sure the clearance was 'Cleared ILS 12', because both sat and aus are apparently giving 'track the localizer' a lot lately, and NOT saying 'maintain 3000' or anything like that (holding altitude is implied).
I think its because they have a/c on approach ahead of you (watch your tcas) and need the altitude separation when you are that close together.
Honestly I think they are doing a good job with the loads of traffic they have sometimes, couple of weeks ago at aus there were 8 of us jostling for the congo line and they got great spacing and it all worked out great with no delays.
Cant answer the second point about Co, that sounds like a beginner.

It was cleared ILS RWY 3. We pick up the GS then female approach controller tells us to "maintain 3500" till REDOC.

Almost like Mexico, where I got cleared for the visual then was told to maintain best forward speed to the marker

WTF



by the way, KSAT is not KSAT of yester-year. It is extremely busy, and is basically a one-runway airport 90% of the time, even tho three pieces of pavement shaped like runways exist. For corporate planes and bigger, it is basically a one-runway airport.

 

[pilothouston123]

I flew cargo there every night for a year in 1999 and it was below average then and I still dread going in there now in the G2.
I was told the other day that SAT is a Training facility.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

There is no such thing as a training facility....

 

[Colonel Savage]

"...couple of weeks ago at aus there were 8 of us jostling for the congo line..."

Haven't heard the term "congo line" since I read "Airport" in the 70's! It referred to the line of snow plows clearing the runways. Since you were in AUS I assume you're referring to something else; the line for T/O?

 

[stupidpilot]

I know lots of guys that still call it the Conga line.

 

[GravityHater]

"...couple of weeks ago at aus there were 8 of us jostling for the congo line..."

Haven't heard the term "congo line" since I read "Airport" in the 70's! It referred to the line of snow plows clearing the runways. Since you were in AUS I assume you're referring to something else; the line for T/O?

Try to stay up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEhv4DJLN7M