A NetJets plane was told to go around due to traffic on the runway, only to reject that request, on grounds of low fuel… which was never previously disclosed. Yet the air traffic controller’s claim of traffic on the runway was questionable in the first place, so one wonders what was actually going on here.…
Continue reading: Bizarre: NetJets Pilots Refuse Las Vegas Go Around For Fuel… Did ATC Lie?
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This reminds me of an interaction between a rude MEA pilot and an African ATC controller many years ago.
MEA was being condescending and correcting the prononciation of some words due to the controller's accent. The controller was annoyed but didn't say anything directly.
MEA established on the localiser and requested approach. ATC put him in a hold due to traffic and advised he was number two for arrival.
"Number two for arrival? Can you advise location of traffic for number one?"
"Affirm number two Cedarjet, traffic is 17 miles behind you"
Poor Cedarjet flew a holding pattern while the plane behind him overtook him and landed. I noted with amusement that another pilot handled the ATC comms from that point as well.
No one should be treating each other that way. Obviously, shame on that MEA pilot; but, also, ATC ‘punishing’ them isn’t ‘great,’ either.
You’ll notice we have some wise-guys on here who occasionally denigrate flight attendants (mocking safety, misogyny, etc.) So, I often mock them, saying, ‘please, do tell your crews exactly how you feel about them, preferably before meal service.’ Drink/eat up! Yum.
Now, I recognize it would be unprofessional, say, for the crew to then spit in their drinks, but… see what I mean? Not ‘great.’
Pretty much the bottom line summed this up. If NetJets hadn't previously declared a fuel emergency (or at least "MINIMUM FUEL") then it's NetJet's Fault.
If they had, then that's an ATC coordination issue.
New YouTube channel with a retired ATC: Kennedy Steve, who has done some good videos with what looks like professional help. He partnered with the retired pilot, Steeve, for one on his channel. Subscriber count is growing rapidly.
Not declaring low fuel ahead of that approach is suspect.
If he really wasn't low fuel, jeopardizing the safety of others by lying.
I don't know what happened but from the viewpoint of the greatest common good, it would make the most sense for the A330 to get priority for a direct landing and have the NetJets private aircraft perform a go around, if it wasn't a fuel emergency. Because of the size difference that would burn less fuel, create less pollution and green house gas and delay the fewest people.
It's kinda absurd that private aviation has equal priority to high capacity commercial flights at commercial airports.
Alaska was that traffic. Apparently the separation between NetJets and Alaska was a concern, and one of those should go around. Controller attempted to make NetJets go around, and when it didn't work, had to make Alaska go around instead.