Cool controllers

[shamrock]

Haven't heard him in a while, but Buzz in ATL is cool.

"Candler 551, cleared ILS 26 Right, tower at Ajjay, Grrrrreat day sir!!!"

Don't know how anybody can be that chipper all the time.

 

[millhouse21]

The guys at ORD make me laugh. The other when it was really busy (I know, what else is new) The ground was like "Hey everybody remember the golden rule here in Chicago. Moving airplane good; Stopped airplane bad." Cracked me up.

 

[FN FAL]

FN...you talking about Roger P.?
2000Flyer

Yea, that's him! I've had breakfast with Roger over at the jet room in MSN. Heard his voice over at another table and introduced myself to him by giving him my flight number. He enjoys being part of our coffee klatch in the morining when he's working 8 or 9 of our flights northbound.

Even though I know I'm biased, the controllers at MSN are very friendly and there's one fellow in particular who has such a unique "(commercial) radio" voice, I would think he could have made big bucks doing that, instead.

I think I know who you are talking about, he leases us a hanger out at the drop zone and has another hanger at the airport as well. I don't remember what airplane he owns, but he is one heck of a nice guy in person as well.

 

[minitour]

In all three instances you cited, you were the problem, not the controller.

In the first instance, you admit that you couldn't tell what the controller assigned to you, so, instead of querying him, you just flew whatever you wanted.

In the second instance, the controller clearly gave you a clearance into the class B. What's the problem?

In the last example, you filed a flight plan over the radio instead of by phone, tying up the frequency.

I'll agree with you on #1 and #3, but the "Cleared into the Bravo" is what the controller should have said. He had every right and reason to request the "magic words".

Its the same that controllers have asked people on ground to "say the magic words (hold short)".

Just as responding to "hold short runway 7 landing traffic" with "roger" doesn't cut it, neither does vectors and an altitude for a Class B clearance.

I guess my response to "what part of affirmative don't you understand?" would have been something similar to:
"...the part where I need your initials, your sup's name and a phone number. And while you're at it I need to hear 'cleared into the bravo' thanks."

Not really something to get the guy/gal in trouble for with the sup, but definately something to straighten out. Its not their ticket on the line, its yours.

But thats MHO.

Anywho...cool controllers?

There's a guy at KYNG where I did my primary training who is awesome. Seems like he'll do almost anything to help ya out. From short approaches, to landing on a "wrong" runway to save some time, to putting us in the computer so we had flight following the whole flight.

Last time I flew out there was a (late) night XC. I was out to an uncontrolled field to the east and then up to CLE. On the way back in he was working the whole thing (approach, local and ground) and basically asked me what I wanted. So we got straight in to runway 14 (even switched the ILS so I could monitor the LOC) taxi all the way down the runway, he even called FSS to close out my VFR flight plan for me while I taxied in. Awesome guy!

Unfortunately you also have some guys out there that seem like they're just DYING to violate someone....oh well.

-mini

 

[English]

Good point about the magic words.

While I was always taught to do the same, and would have been uptight about that as a student, I've learned since that in the real world, if I ask a controller a question and he answers in the affirmative, that is good enough for me. I'm not going to get all tied up in the semantics.

But, as a student pilot, I agree 100% that you must hear the magic words "cleared into the class bravo."

 

[Vector4fun]

The KAUS controllers are fine, but for the life of me not a one has made my heart want to dance.

Awwwwww, Jim;

Not even a little bit????

 

[Indapool]

Phx

Bubbles

Nuf Said

 

[jumppilot]

There's an approach controller at LEX that always says "Good afternooooooooon" when you check on. Always given me whatever whack-job request I've asked for.

Also was on my way back into LAF one night IFR and Chicago Center cleared me for the GPS 28. Once I got on the ground I called them on the radio to cancel and the controller said "Tell my son to get out of the bars and go study." Got a healthy laugh out of that one.

I think I know the guy you're talking about...I picked up a buddy a couple years ago in MDW to party in LAF and we were talking s*it on the way home and got off course, which the controller noticed....

Controller: 55908, you know you're heading to CMI now, right?
Us: uhhhhhhh, yeah, we see that
Controller: You go to Purdue?
Us: uhhhhhhh, yeah.
Controller: Well, my son is going to purdue in the fall and I hope they don't teach him how to fly like that!

It was 55908, so maybe I can blame it on that, but the reality is I'm a crappy pilot.

 

[jumppilot]

Good point about the magic words.

While I was always taught to do the same, and would have been uptight about that as a student, I've learned since that in the real world, if I ask a controller a question and he answers in the affirmative, that is good enough for me. I'm not going to get all tied up in the semantics.

But, as a student pilot, I agree 100% that you must hear the magic words "cleared into the class bravo."

English,

Good point. As student pilots, you expect to hear everything by the book ("Cessna, 69ME, cleared into the Bravo"). As professional pilots, you see the radio as what it is......two way communication.

"Am I cleared into the bravo?"......"Affirmative"

Who else would he be talking to?

f*ck it.

 

[EX_CV580FR8Dawg]

PTK people are good, my dad trained a lot of them that came from DTW when my pops was at Metro...... Metro has some great guys too

 

[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!