an embarassment

[journeyman]

Well, I can now say I've seen (or at least heard) it all. Last Monday, 6/13/05, I and a number of other pilots were caught on the ground at Dulles due a ground stop for thunderstorms surrounding the airport which shut down the high altitude jetways and transitions. There must have been thirty to forty aircraft just sitting on the runup blocks alone. Unfortunately, part of the stackup was caused by we pilots. I've found in ten years of airline flying that at times when the high altitude routes are shut down, the low altitude aircraft can still depart due they are not as affected by other aircraft deviating around weather. This is especially true these days with fewer turboprops. The turboprops might have been able to depart IAD and helped aleviate part of the traffic jam.....if they had been able to get a word in, that is. The fact that they couldn't was due to what 'seemed' as if nearly every jet sitting on the ramp was calling ground, but before the ground controller could respond, another airplane would call ground. So, for two hours straight, we were treated to ,"ground, United 712 heavy,""ground, Air Wisconsin 7523,""Ground, Trans States 7226,""Ground, november 1234,""Ground, Chautauqua 7605," etc., etc., etc., without any pilot ever giving the ground controller a chance to respond. I hate to sound like a sore-head, but in 19 years of flying, I have never heard such a display of selfish and inconsiderate radio behavior on such a grand scale. A lot of times I feel as if ATC controllers have a negative attitude towards pilots, but after this embarassing display last Monday, I can see maybe why. Finally, the ground controller gave up and didn't even answer when there was a gap, no doubt out of frustration. For my fellow airline drivers who were there that day: guys, let's try to be considerate of other pilots on the radio. . We all have passengers to get moving, and if help each other out, it makes doing so much easier. Thanks

 

[chperplt]

I have never heard such a display of selfish and inconsiderate radio behavior on such a grand scale.

Haven't been to LGA when Ms. Cleo is working ground lately, have you?

 

[Cardinal]

It can be a Pavlov's dogs type of thing. In DEN, when things get busy the Ground controllers will frequently say "I'll call you at the spots," and that works pretty well. But when immediately thereafter an aircraft calls up anyway, and then the controller clears him to taxi, the next three airplane do the same thing, get similarly rewarded, and it's a all-out, bar-style, slugfest again. The squeaky wheel should NOT get the grease. Parenting 101.

 

[SkyWestCRJPilot]

Don't try that in ORD.

 

[labbats]

DO try that in ORD. I could use a laugh. I love it when the ground control guy freaks out on everyone.

 

[njcapt]

Haven't been to LGA when Ms. Cleo is working ground lately, have you?

Amen, Brother. Why, oh why don't they institute a metering frequency there? Same thing as DEN, once she responds to a first time caller everybody tries to transmit at once. Its like when one dog in the neighborhood barks, they all get going.