As an aviation geek, I love interesting air traffic control interactions. Well, here’s one of the saucier ones I’ve heard, which is more in line with what you’d expect on Jerry Springer than on an air traffic control frequency.
In this post:
Cargo jet & private jet pilot get into argument
VASAviation has air traffic control audio from a recent incident that happened in Southern California. It involves two aircraft — N323EZ, a Cessna Citation, and ABX Air 3111 (callsign ABEX 3111), a Boeing 767 operating a cargo flight on behalf of Amazon.
Both planes were on the same air traffic control frequency, shortly after departing the region. The Cessna Citation was ahead of the Boeing 767, and that meant the 767 had to slow down a bit for spacing. When the 767 was given instructions to do that, the pilot of ABEX 3111 responded “I need to go fast cause I’m too fat to be going this slow.”
Eventually ABEX 3111 gets a frequency change, and that point, N323EZ says to the air traffic controller, “hey center, now that ABEX isn’t on our frequency to whine about my speed, 323EZ, can I get higher?”
As it turns out, ABEX 3111 was still on the frequency, so he chimes in and says “maybe you should get a faster airplane and shut the f*** up.” Ouch. Eventually the pilot apologizes, saying “I apologize about that, I just didn’t like that guy arguing with me.”
However, the pilot of N323EZ decided to have the last word — “he was whining because I had to slow him down, cause I’m in a slowtation, but maybe that’s why he’s a cargo dog and not working for a real carrier.”
You can hear the communication for yourself below.
Both pilots were being immature in this interaction
This is one of those interactions where I think there’s enough blame to go around, and neither party was acting professionally.
The pilot of N323EZ started the drama, by talking about the other pilot “whining.” Of course the pilot of ABEX 3111 then took it to the next level, by telling the guy to “shut the f*** up,” which crosses the line, and then some. But go figure that the pilot of N323EZ still needed to have the last word, calling the other guy a “cargo dog” who isn’t working for a “real carrier.”
All petty drama, but it makes for some good listening, eh?
Bottom line
It’s not often you hear one pilot tell another to “shut the f*** up” on an air traffic control frequency, but that’s what recently happened in Southern California. The Boeing 767 pilot wasn’t happy about having to be slowed down by a Cessna Citation, and it escalated from there.
What do you make of this air traffic control interaction?
If ABEX is not a real carrier, both are not a real carrier.
An apology followed by " I just" or "but" is NOT an apology, it is an excuse.
Best one I heard on one of my sorties a few years back...on 121.5...
"Get off of Delta common frequency!"
A colleague of mine was a fighter pilot. He was in a large Canadian city for an airshow with "his jet". The jet was relatively new. He was testing its limits. ATC was being monitored. The Pilot of an also new but commercial jet was flexing his ego. "ATC, this is Commercial Jet at 43,000 feet. Checking in." ATC responded, "Thank you. Be aware of traffic at 49,000 feet." Not exactly SR71 level of put...
A colleague of mine was a fighter pilot. He was in a large Canadian city for an airshow with "his jet". The jet was relatively new. He was testing its limits. ATC was being monitored. The Pilot of an also new but commercial jet was flexing his ego. "ATC, this is Commercial Jet at 43,000 feet. Checking in." ATC responded, "Thank you. Be aware of traffic at 49,000 feet." Not exactly SR71 level of put down, but there was no further communication from the new commercial jet pilot (Dreamliner I believe).
The chav-chariot jockey, should have been aware, or, made aware of the necessity for him to maintain a separation speed consistent with operating speed of the following skywagon.
ATC, AWOL again perhaps?
As for the colourful language …. only in America? …. :-)
Unessential radio chatter is frowned upon by ATC and the pilot community i believe in the interest of safety. The 767 pilot was also unprofessional by promoting more of the same too though.
Usually when two men go at it it's about who has a bigger penis.
This seems to have been a fight over whose was smaller.
Exactly like TravelinWilly vs. Arps Skadden
Shit like this is why I work at a top law firm. At all times - even if you call us at 3 in the morning on Christmas Day - we conduct ourselves with the finest class, grace, and the character and fitness becoming of a high-end professional.
True of Davis Polk & Wardwell, as well.
Blud has a schizophrenia :(
…. and I thought that it was Walter Mitty syndrome bro …. :-)
The first word of your comment says more about your "class, grace, and the character and fitness becoming of a high-end professional" than any other thing you could possibly say ever will.