Cool controllers

[wildbill]

For the most past, I am partial to Atlanta center. I have had the opportunity to take a tour of the center in Hampton and sit down at a console. These guys and gals are sharp. My hope is that as the controllers we have grown to enjoy retire, they will pass along their sense of humor to their followers. There is nothing like flying along at night and a lttle tired and hear some of the cracks they can come up with. As to sexy voices, there is a controller at Denver and one at Memphis that can make you trip on your tounge.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

What controllers have you been talking to? I also work in Hawaii, and those guys are about as laid-back as one can get.

Most of them are, but there's one HNL controller who needs to go work at Lihue tower or something...he's easily overloaded and becomes a prick as soon as things get the least bit tricky. One day we were approaching 8L at Lima and he said something that made no sense to me or my partner and so we said "say again..." He got all pissed and told us we'd just have to wait. When he finally cleared us to takeoff, at about 40 knots he tells us something like "get your act together, xxx" That's when it went from being perplexing to just plain funny. He's usually there in the afternoons, just when things start to pick up! Then there's the high-talker....great guy till you call him ma'am.

 

[English]

Most of them are, but there's one HNL controller who needs to go work at Lihue tower or something...he's easily overloaded and becomes a prick as soon as things get the least bit tricky. One day we were approaching 8L at Lima and he said something that made no sense to me or my partner and so we said "say again..." He got all pissed and told us we'd just have to wait. When he finally cleared us to takeoff, at about 40 knots he tells us something like "get your act together, xxx" That's when it went from being perplexing to just plain funny. He's usually there in the afternoons, just when things start to pick up! Then there's the high-talker....great guy till you call him ma'am.

That might explain it - I always works AMs.

Oh, and the high talker...I almost did the same thing until my captain explained the controller's choice of sexuality to me...D'oh!

 

[Flynfish]

Buzz in Atl is the best. No matter the weather, congestion, or time of day, he is always in an amazing mood. It's a direct contrast to the guy in ATL tower who sounds like he is being sarcastic and grumpy.

 

[Flyingdutchman]

. As to sexy voices, there is a controller at Denver

Check!



I check in with her every Sunday morning (0600)! She always makes me wonder what she looks like.. This last time she asked me to contact her at 128.** and my response to that was: “Wouldn’t it be easier if I just call you on your cell?” She chuckled a few time on that one..



The folks down at KPUB are also always great by the way!

FD

 

[Flibmeister]

...I agree 100% that you must hear the magic words "cleared into the class bravo."

Unless you hear the words "cleared as requested", instead (which is an acceptable alternative, as specified in the 7110.65).

 

[minitour]

Unless you hear the words "cleared as requested", instead (which is an acceptable alternative, as specified in the 7110.65).

I'll agree to that. But an "affirmative" doesn't cut it for me.

Maybe y'all "professional pilots" can handle that, but all the controler has to do is lose separation and there was no "cleared..." on tape...yep its on you bud...that'll ruin your day

MHO.

-mini

 

[johnpeace]

I'll agree to that. But an "affirmative" doesn't cut it for me.

That's what I was thinking...especially without saying my tail number and having about 5-8 other aircraft on frequency.

 

[Flibmeister]

...all the controller has to do is lose separation and there was no "cleared..." on tape...yep its on you bud...

Actually, no. If the supervisor investigating such a loss of separation finds that the controller clearly intended for you to be where you were, he couldn't care less about whether there's a "cleared..." on the tape-- heck, he probably wouldn't even notice it.

In my 25 year ATC career, almost all pilot violations that went to FSDO (or GADO, or ACDO) were extremely solid ones that also caused a loss of separation-- altitude busts, etc. It's a lot easier to just write up the controller than to convince a FSDO inspector to pursue a case against a pilot who was doing exactly what he was told to do-- particularly if the controller used improper phraseology to tell him!

That said, I agree that "affirmative", without a call sign, was insufficient and required further confirmation.

 

[U-I pilot]

Ptk

Is there still a guy there that puts out a funny voiced ATIS? I remember as a student my instructor always pointed it out and got a kick out of it.....I was concentrating too hard on getting all the numbers to listen all that closely.......

 

[minitour]

Actually, no. If the supervisor investigating such a loss of separation finds that the controller clearly intended for you to be where you were, he couldn't care less about whether there's a "cleared..." on the tape-- heck, he probably wouldn't even notice it.

In my 25 year ATC career, almost all pilot violations that went to FSDO (or GADO, or ACDO) were extremely solid ones that also caused a loss of separation-- altitude busts, etc. It's a lot easier to just write up the controller than to convince a FSDO inspector to pursue a case against a pilot who was doing exactly what he was told to do-- particularly if the controller used improper phraseology to tell him!

That said, I agree that "affirmative", without a call sign, was insufficient and required further confirmation.

Well thats a good thing to know.

Call me paranoid, but I'm always worried about busting some kinda reg somewhere...thats probably why I like knowing what the controllers of the world are thinking too. Kinda lets you into the "other side" mindset. Always a good thing for comparison...

Thanks for the post and the info!

-mini

 

[Freebrd]

BUZZ at ATL Approach is the best! I recall when we lost a Brasilia in BQK years ago Buzz came down to operations w/ a sympathy card. Class act!

I was on an FAA site, ATL FSDO perhaps, and clicked on ATL Approach, which had a selection for celebrity cpntrollers. Clicked on that, and there was Buzz and Smiley, who is probablly the opposite of Buzz. Both, however, are very good controllers.

 

[FracCapt]

I check in with her every Sunday morning (0600)! She always makes me wonder what she looks like.. This last time she asked me to contact her at 128.** and my response to that was: “Wouldn’t it be easier if I just call you on your cell?” She chuckled a few time on that one..

Trust me...just keep wondering. I used to be based out of an airport with quite a few female controllers. I talked to them everyday for several months, and then one day went to the tower/tracon to visit. Well, it was at that point I realized I should have just kept wondering, and NOT made that trip up there....it ruined everything for me! Of course, I'm sure they felt the exact same way!

 

[tuna]

I know that it has been said, already. But, I have to say that roger, in Chicago, is the coolest. I checked in, the other day, and we spent 10 minutes chatting about our dogs. (He owns Greyhounds, and I have a Cattle Dog/Sheppard, mix). I am sure that there were plenty of people that were p!ssed, they couldn't get a word in, edgewise. But hey, life is about the simple, little pleasures. (Take them, where you can get them!).

Tuna

 

[FSB99]

Trust me...just keep wondering.

that's no joke.

years ago the airport i flight instructed at had one controller, her voice just melted you. made hours of touch-n-goes so much more tolerable. took some students to visit the tower one afternoon, and there she was. about as wide as tall, and had a thicker mustache than i could ever dream of growing!

 

[Heathen]

Well if ya've flowin' round ATL ya might have run into BUZZ.
He is an icon 'round here and well respected.
Long time ago he vectored us thru WX. We were little tense, and he was cool as a cucumber. He got us thru and bid us farwell....Thanx Buzz.

 

[TrafficInSight]

You know I always wanted to hear:

"Well it's 2257 zulu and it's time for information mike, I'm your host..."


so far no one has done it

 

[flyboycmsu]

The evening ramp controler (Foxtrot & Ghetto gates) at IAD is awesome, great sence of humor in the best monotone controller vioce

 

[Flyinjunk]

What controllers have you been talking to? I also work in Hawaii, and those guys are about as laid-back as one can get. That's a very perplexing statement you make. I've have really good interaction with the HI controllers, a conversation every now and then - always very very helpful friendly and professional.

You want uptight? Go fly the East Coast for a while...

Hey hey hey malHALO bro dont be dissing the real coast

 

[sqwkvfr]

We had IMC two days ago around PHX. It's such a rare thing here that we moved a planned xc to TUS in order to take advantage of the IMC.

My CFI told me that they were having probs with PHX TRACON getting clearances out of our non-towered field, but I gave it a shot.

The controller I spoke with was very accomodating, but couldn't give me a void time of more than 2-3 minutes. He asked if I had a cell and advised me to call back after I had done the run-up and was ready for a immediate take-off.

I did so, and he gave me a 1.5 minute void time!! We made it, (with about 1 minute to spare) but I had been told to expect serious delays and NO cooperation from the PHX TRACON guys.

This fella went the extra mile for me and I really appreciated it. It was my first flight in actual and what a rush!!! I was more stoked than I was after my first solo.....what blast!