This is sort of hilarious -- the most infamous controller at New York Kennedy Airport (JFK) called out Delta pilots when they seemingly weren't paying attention, and he asked a sarcastic question. Someone then told him not to be rude, which of course wasn't well received. I have to say, this is a case where I actually sort of side with the controller, even though there was no need for his sassiness.
If you have enough time to pull this kind of crap on frequency, you're clearly not too busy. I seriously don't understand the lack of any standards or professionalism among US controllers. Do this in Europe more than two or three times and you'd be fired. It's an ATC frequency, not a chat group.
Eh, no group is a monolith, but, yikes, this freakin' guy... it's a ramp, not a Friars Club roast.
Her struggle to still repeat the instructions back at the very end…?
Ben thank you for complimenting the most premium aircraft in the sky, appreciate it
"It's not being rude..." (It was being rude.)
"It's a safety question..." (Nah, that was 'rhetorical' at best...)
The flight to Los Angeles left the gate at 9am but did not takeoff until 10:47am. The pilots were being paid to listen for instructions, but they might have been few and far between, and they could have been discussing the cause for delays in good weather. Same delay happened the following day for this flight.
This morning there are 20 flights scheduled to depart JFK between 8:40am and 9:01am. Is that physically possible? One every minute? Maybe if every crew is paying attention.
When are we finally going to move past WW2-era analog voice ATC communications and institute digital communications where the message can be verified, acknowledged and fed into aircraft guidance while still under human oversight?
We DO have that, and use it with route clearances etc in cruise (called CPDLC - "Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications"). But we don't use it in the terminal area (working with approach, tower, and ground controllers).
The act of typing down an instruction, sending it, receiving it, reading it, and acknowledging it takes WAY longer than "speak - speak back" and isn't practical in time-critical communications.
The sass in this article is spectacular, love it! More of this, please 😀
If I'd bothered counting, it would literally be in the many hundreds of times I've checked in with ATC (new frequency, had a request, etc.) and the call goes unanswered. I think my personal record is five "no response" calls in a row on the same frequency (not blocked by other aircraft). When they finally answer, they act like nothing happened.
Then, of course, when WE miss one of their calls (because we're working a checklist, briefing an arrival, or talking to the flight attendants in the back - or maybe in the case of Delta, talking on Comm 2 with ramp/ops to confirm the gate) ATC is primed to light us up.
Fine, whatever. It happens. But being snarky just to win internet points is completely unnecessary.
No answer from ATC, second call....then "I was on the landline"
When the controller repeats instructions to me, because I missed the first call, I say "sorry I was on the land line" and we laugh and laugh.
The problem is that controller just made the hundreds of pilots listening on the frequency irritated and angry at the controller. And causing mass irritation is a bigger safety issue than one aircraft inadvertently missing instructions twice. Sure the pilot could have said sorry and defused, but end of the day, professionalism should not be too much to ask for.
Of course, when the entire ATC profession is seemingly under attack every day for political reasons, not exactly going to create the best atmosphere.
Also, if you scold someone on frequency like that, you may throw them off balance (which seemingly happened here), increasing a chance of that pilot making further mistakes - either critical or just annoying.
I seriously don't understand what are these controllers trying to achieve. They're making everyone miserable and their own job harder.
Yikes, and she still has trouble on the readback. I'm not sure if if it's just the recording but I did have trouble making out what she said a couple of times. Hopefully it was much more clear to the ATC and other pilots. I know on their side comms are much more clear and easier to understand but this wasn't even muffled, just seemed like she missed a couple of things. Both could've done things a little differently/better
imho it is never a good idea to apologize to these types of personalities, whether it is warranted or not
One day, this guy is going to cause an accident, but it will be fine because he'll be "right."
And it might not even be aircraft-related. We don't have to wonder what kind of driver he is. New York is lousy with that type.
First of all, Ground ATC Controllers are there, staying on the ground. They do not go on the flight that the now pissed off flight crew is taking one hundred plus souls on a flight away from someone who had to act as AITS. Pilots are not God. ATC Controllers are not God. The last words and tones spoken can make for a good flight. Or a tragic one. Don’t be the AITS. Be professional.
From a retired air traffic controller, airline pilot, and aviation lawyer this JFK controller seems to lack the temperament and judgement to be a professional. He got upset that this poor baby had to repeat himself and waste valuable air time; yet, he consumes valuable air time thereafter mocking the Delta crew. It is disappointing this clown works traffic at JFK; it is his good fortune that JFK badly needs controllers.
Can someone get him an attitude adjustment ASAP
Pilots busy applying PREMIUM bailing wire and speed tape to keep the 28 y/o POS airworthy?
It doesn’t matter how good he is. He is a risk.
Clearly the Delta pilots were 'engaged' in something other than what was required such as listening to the radio, especially at a super busy airport like JFK. The controller while often having a bit of an attitude, is doing his best to keep things running smoothly. Not an easy thing to do. Pilots at busy places like JFK, LGA, EWR, ORD, ATL etc. need to give the controller a little leeway. One thing I've learned about him over the years is he gets their attention and he gets things done. Don't blame him for making a pilot mess up later in the flight because they didn't follow protocol. If nothing else, he's entertaining which can relieve a lot of tension during these times.
Baada Bing ! Rough talk in that part of the country, but its real and for good too.