RC Hold for WX.. What's the record?

eek · Post by **eek** » Sun May 18, 2008 4:20 am

Just did PAC807 EHAM-KATL. Using archived wx from AS for 3 May '08, RC had me hold for 1 3/4 hours.

I finally had to declare minimum fuel, after it told me to expect another 10 minutes and I was down to 20,000 of fuel. I've had holds that lasted 30-45 minutes, but never this long. The strange thing was, ATL had some rain earlier, but the WX was fine when I got there. Just a few clouds. Gentle wind out of the west.

Other guys online must have thought I was asleep at the wheel. But, there I was, wide awake, beer after beer, flying over Gwinnett in circles between hwy 316 and 985.

An 8 hour flight became a 10 hour flight. Is there such a thing as MORE real than it gets

Brogs · Post by **Brogs** » Sun May 18, 2008 7:29 am

Did you upset somebody at Vatsim?

yoni63 · Post by **yoni63** » Sun May 18, 2008 9:13 am

And you know you got the red A-- from Fisdo for declaring min fuel! Did you not? "Hi this is Hal with Fisdo, I understand you had a fuel problem." Ya Hal... I couldn't have carried all this beer if I would have taken on more fuel! Now you guys have a problem with that?

eek · Post by **eek** » Sun May 18, 2008 11:38 pm

Last time I was delayed, it didn't give me a choice between vectors and hold. It just gave me vectors. I was really glad it gave me a choice this time, so I could set up the hold in the FMC and enjoy the scenery. Two hours of vectors would have sucked.

I didn't have to hear Hal's crap, since I turned off the radio when I got to the gate.

I had plenty of fuel when I got to ATL due to favorable winds.Way more than the required 45 minutes. Hal can kiss my beer can.

I just wondered if this was a bug that was introduced with the last update, along with not giving me a choice of hold or vectors. Sometimes it doesn't give me the PD option either, when told to descend. That didn't happen with the previous version.

yoni63 · Post by **yoni63** » Sun May 18, 2008 11:50 pm

Ya, seems like I remember not getting the option once or twice on holding, but then all the sudden I did get the option. I have also heard what you said about not getting PD on descent clearance. I think sometimes its just a luck of the draw. Strange though, I think you should get the option on holds, especially when you are holding for that long. Holy crap! I would have gone nuts holding in vectors for that long!

eek · Post by **eek** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:32 am

I think I would have declared minimum fuel before I actually reached it, if that were the case.

I'm thinking he may have introduced a bug with the holding. He now says if Otto has the comms, you will only get delay vectors. That wasn't the way it behaved before, because Otto always had the comms and I always flew the hold. So, that's definitely changed. Now I take over the comms at 250 miles out. That should give me options on descent and holds, but it doesn't always work, now.

If Otto had the plane, then I would understand not getting an option. But, we should get the options when he has the comms. Who wants to hit the "1" key 87 times in a 10 hour flight? Oh well, it still beats the default ATC.

Over, Under... Roger, Roger... What's our vector, Victor?... We have clearance, Clarence.

yoni63 · Post by **yoni63** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:10 am

I agree on that. I think you should get the option. Just because Otto has the comms is no reason for a mandatory vector delay. I mean anyone can answer a radio, even Otto

I think Otto and Hal are both a bit light in their loafers though...

eek · Post by **eek** » Mon May 19, 2008 1:32 pm