Sometimes kids will run into their parents in passing, when they weren’t expecting it. However, it doesn’t typically happen on an air traffic control frequency, while both are at the controls of different aircraft. This is a ridiculously cute story, which can’t help but put a smile on your face…
In this post:
Dad & daughter pilot different planes at Dulles Airport
A 45-second air traffic control clip has been posted to social media, highlighting a fun recent interaction at Washington Dulles Airport (IAD). Specifically, it involves one of the pilots of UA108, a United Boeing 787 bound for Munich (MUC), and one of the pilots of UA4977, a United Express Embraer E145 bound for Syracuse (SYR).
Long story short, one of the pilots of UA108 communicated with air traffic control, and I guess that voice sounded familiar to one of the pilots of UA4977, and that’s when the fun began:
Daughter: “Pops?”
Dad: “Hello, where you at?”
Daughter: “About to depart 1R, safe travels.”
Dad: “Buh-bye.”
ATC: “That’s your daughter?!”
Dad: “Apparently.”
Daughter: “Yeah, CommuteAir 4977.”
ATC: “So your daughter’s a pilot, aren’t you proud, papa?”
Dad: “Sort of.”
ATC: “Is she still living in your house?”
Dad: “Oh no, but she is on my cell phone plan.”
ATC: “Hey, she’s not allowed off your cell phone plan until she gets married.”
Daughter: “I am single.”
What a feel-good ATC interaction!
All too often I post ATC interactions because of a disagreement or bad attitude between pilots and controllers, so it’s nice to once in a while have a story with a positive interaction.
I can’t help but be curious about the backstory here. Was this a complete coincidence, and the daughter had no clue that her dad was operating out of Dulles Airport that evening, until she heard his voice? Or did she have a sense of his schedule, and then connected the dots as she was taxiing? Either way, well played to all!
Bottom line
A dad and daughter recognized one another over the ATC frequency at Dulles Airport. The dad was flying a Boeing 787 to Munich, while the daughter was flying an Embraer E145 to Syracuse. While we hear all kinds of unusual ATC interactions, this has to be one of the more adorable ones…
What do you make of this Dulles ATC conversation?
I love it! We should all have the privilege of watching our daughters soar. Quite literally for this Dad. Proud of you both.
I think this is wonderful.....
She also asked him : "Does my hair look OK ?"
"Sort of"
Some great dad love there. Ha.
I woulda said "hell yes!" But I guess pilots tend to be kind of reserved, especially on ATC frequency.
Unrelated: @Ben, look at EK's new Y+ seat!
https://www.emirates.com/media-centre/powering-privacy-in-premium-economy---emirates-unveils-the-worlds-first-electric-premium-economy-seat-with-full-height-privacy-screen/
This was literally a J seat not many years ago.
While Business Class might have plateaued, there's still room for a (r)evolution in the Premium Economy space.
If not a total lie-flat, then certainly a deeper recline akin to a true La-Z-Boy. Cathay's outgoing recliners seem like the perfect platform to build from if going that route. Northwest's World Business Class back in the day or JAL's existing SHELL FLAT NEO would make a great Premium Economy product.
At least they’re correctly calling it ‘Premium Economy.’ No joke, we need an international convention for unified naming of cabin classes. Call it the Miami Convention in honor of Ben. There’s Economy, Premium Economy (recliners), Business (lie-flat), and First (when there’s lie-flat suites with doors ahead of Business). I say we convene in 2027. Bah!
that looks really nice- cant wait for them to charge more than most airlines do in J
Now THIS was a fun way to start Thursday!
They should use this interaction to retrain that horrible ATC man at at the JFK ATC center.
And before someone disagrees to scream that the ATC channels should "OnLy Be UsEd FoR aTc!" just...don't. Every job has some room for levity.
I agree that the job has room for levity, but I would note that one of the arguments against that JFK controller has to be dropped if we're giving leeway here... namely that his commentary/transmissions are a distraction and thus unsafe.
In other words: whether it's being kind or being a jerk on frequency, it's not done at the expense of safety.
@JoePro - Exactly, just because it's cute doesn't mean it's any less unprofessional. It's an ATC frequency, not a debate club. Anything unrelated to operations doesn't belong there.
@Samo, calling any non-operational transmission "unprofessional" comes across as rather pedantic. Might as well try to ban "g'day" on frequency.
Every pilots know that we have a privat Feq unused for traffic so ..
I often talk to my wife who was flying # route as the copilot was listening the ATC so no safety issue ..
Willy - she may have used the opportunity to ask for an increase in her allowance .
That’s precious! (And, a bit better than the ‘meowing’ near DCA from earlier this year.)
'We should fire all three of them and replace them with AI, even though there is no AI that can currently replace them.'
...Eskimo, probably.
Got'em! (I'm mostly here for the inside-jokes and memes.)
Heh. yeah, I wonder if they were ever scolded by their chief pilot, or whatnot?
It's good to read lighthearted stories every now and then. Reminds me of the interaction between Cathay and Cargolux years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8MV_GBCXM4&pp=ygUPY2F0aGF5IGNhcmdvbHV4