There are 10,000+ air traffic controllers in the United States, who have incredibly stressful jobs that keep our skies safe. Among those air traffic controllers, there’s one guy at New York Kennedy Airport who has made a name — or perhaps more accurately, a voice — for himself based on his attitude. Here’s the latest…
Continue reading: Stubborn JFK ATC Punishes LOT Polish Airlines Pilot For Not Being Ready
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Maybe not rush hour at JFK, but if you're #1 for takeoff, you need to be ready to go. Honestly the controller was a pro. Moved them back onto the taxi way to get themselves sorted and then released them.
@ China -- All of that is fair, except they ended up being ready to go before even entering the runway.
"it’s worth acknowledging that pilots should be ready to go when they get to the runway" - WTF????? That's not how it works. Nor ATC nor any other entity tells pilots when they should or shouldn't be ready. ATC is a navigational service and it needs - must - respect operational constraints.
Honestly, the LO pilots should've just refused that moron's instruction and camp at the beginning of the runway until he either issues a takeoff clearance or the supervisor comes in and fires the idiot in the tower. If it takes two days, be it.
The US ATC is way out of line, unprofessional beyond belief. I'd rather fly to Uganda than to JFK.
To be fair: ugandan airspace is a bit less congested than JFK, so the controllers are probably a bit more chill
Stupid obese yank ATC gets mad at professional European pilot, nothing new to see here...
Cool. I'll try to convince my boss that doing a more complicated job is an excuse for being less competent.
Hmmm...I don't necessarily agree. Air Traffic Controllers are in short supply in the US. They are overworked in a system that is underfunded and relies on a lot of old and outdated technology. They just spent a month+ without pay thanks to an idiotic government shutdown that puts enormous burdens on ATC and everyone else BUT the lawmarkers who create the political impasse to begin with. If the LOT pilots were not ready, then they have good reason to ask for more time, but 1-2 minutes is a long one in complex airport operations. Whatever their reason was, back in the taxi line it is.
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I would imagine it's a really tough job controlling planes at JFK. I'd cut the guy some slack. I doubt anyone criticizing this controller would last a day in that job.
Rubbish. Being overworked is not an excuse to take a course of action that will create even more workload for yourself and everyone else. Clearing them for take off would be easier for the crew, for the controller and for everyone else involved.
The controller in question simply lacks basic professionalism on a level that would prevent him from even making burgers at my local McDonald's. Such person should not be responsible for human lives.
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Obsolete and flawed humans teaching another obsolete and flawed humans.
This would easily be prevented by present day technology.
I'm team ATC. If you can't comply precisely when requested you've got to do what it is ATC wants you to do. YOU don't get to decide you need "2 more minutes" and hold everyone else up, the airport doesn't work on your schedule. The other assumption is that "1 minute", "2 minutes" is precise enough ATC is somehow supposed to take that for granted. You're either go or no-go and ATC makes decisions based on that. Takeoff is not a collaborative process.
the problem is before the guy even entered the runway he made clear he was ready for takeoff and ATC made him go around in the queue again when he could have easily cleared him for takeoff.
Power and control is an ego issue, not a safety issue, which it was not according to the article. Sounds like a long vacation is indicated for the ATC operator.
Can't prevent weirdo copying an alias. The fake with your inferiority complex needs to leech on the great Eskimo name to get attention.
Another flawed human issue.
Having flown in and out of the US for years the controllers are globally amongst the worse with egos like glass. Just listen to LHR v JFK controllers - nothing to prove vs a crisis of masculinity!
Isn't the most likely option that the controller had already resequenced the takeoff queue, and so inserting the LOT flight back in would actually make things more complicated?
Chad, your argument would apply if this happened on RWY. But it didn't, by the time LO reached it, they were ready for takeoff. They weren't holding anyone back.
The lesson for LO's crew should be that when departing from US airport they should not try to make ATC's job easier by proactively informing them about a possible disturbance. If they haven't, they would take off as planned. Just keep the information to yourself until you're on the runway, only then inform the ATC if the problem still persists.
US ATC is unprofessional beyond belief and someone needs to do something about it.
I'm going to disagree that "U S controllers are the worst." Airlines have specific procedures, certified by their airline their "FAA" and IATA that are accomplished at specific times. Now, I will say that in my 28 years, the New York area approach, tower and ground controllers are, many times, curt with the pilots. The controllers forget who controls the aircraft AND the that captain (by law) has the final say as to the operation of the aircraft PERIOD! The LOT captain said, "two minutes". That is an estimate, by the way. The pilot can take as much time as necessary to SAFELY prepare the aircraft for whatever task is required. I know that one SVP of corporate safety personally called the FAA Administrator and contacted the two Senators of the carrier's state for a formal complaint against ONE NAMED controller. That controller was put on administrative leave and a notation in his personnel record.
I don’t understand why the USAF just doesn’t take control of the air traffic. I mean, they probably have much better training and situational than some fresh out of college video game junkies or old people nearing retirement.
I have a 34 years ATCO career.
That Controller is a dick and shames his craft.
When we get into the 20th century (yes 20th) and let computers take over this traffic control job. Computers take off, fly, and land planes; they can easily track hundreds of planes while determining any concerning situations. Humans can at best handle a few with high stress fatigue etc ( and cost). Computers drive our cars, fly our planes, guide our missiles etc. long overdue.
If Sean Duffy really wants to bring civility back to flying maybe he should start with his controllers at JFK and LGA.