Top 10 List

[Spidey]

I know that pet peeves don't have to be based in logic, most probably are not, but by this line of reasoning why say anything at all?

"Denver, N12345, FL400".....well, they know that they're Denver; they don't need to hear that. They know who and where you are; they already accepted the hand off.

I'm just saying.....

Now, riddle me this: Why check in at all?

And the long moments of silence, and after the 3rd check-in, ya get, "I was on the other line." And they probably were, but I always think, "I woulda said that too." Because they ain't always on the other line, but it works. We're all human.

 

[Spidey]

This situation was semi annoying but doesn't happen enough for me to call it a pet peeve but did require extra transmissions. Fortuanatly enough for us we weren't in the middle of a rush.

to preface this, and those familiar with O'hare will be familiar....1st off, im on inbound ground.
I have an Eagle ERJ on Bravo between A11 and A12. Outbound has an Eagle ERJ coming out of the Hotel alley for A to head to T10,and an American MD80 on Alpha behind him. I told the Ealge on Bravo to cut in at Alpha 13 for the fox alley but to cross alpha behind the American MD80. His reply "Roger, we will pass beind company." Now im semi familiar with what regionals are owned by whom but for my clarification purposes I went back and said, "i want to verify you are going to cross alpha behind american." his response, Yeah, thats our company. Well, to alot of controllers they may not know that and probably don't care. Why couldn't he have just responded they way I said it, "cross alpha behind the american Md80." He actually sounded really dumb when he was trying to sound cool and we don't have time to play 20 questions. "Cross behind the american md80".......a simple "roger" would have been fine but "we will cross behind company" only adds to confusion due to the fact that the plane in front of the american MD80 was an Eagle ERJ. Not like if he had cut off american there would be a ground collision, it is possible, but I don't get what point he was trying to make. Waste of transmissions in the process. Next time i hear that, im going to change the route on the guy to head up to alpha 21 and double back as to be clear that the only thing I have to dodge now is spirit and delta which I doubt will be called company

There-in lies the reason you need the Alpha 1 or 2 callsign. It gets 'em all out of the way.

 

[svcta]

I dunno, perhaps because somewhere in the FAR/AIM it says you have to? "N12345, FL400" is probably about the bare minimum to get the point across, but isn't use of the agency's name and full call sign part of the initial call requirement?

Okay, but why does the FAR/AIM direct us to do this at all?

And I have to ask, do you hate the use of "checking in" or "AT FL400"?

P.S. I hate the switch-talkers, too.

 

[siucavflight]

My pet peeve is repeated calls to Center, after five minutes they say sorry, I was on a land line.

 

[samballs]

This sounds like most of the senior guys at Comair. We have one guy that is from the north but when he talks on the radio he talks like hes' from Texas, to make it worse he does the switch talk move.

 

[Spidey]

The Aussies have it right with datalink. Tho I love that smooth controlled accent from the ladies.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Guys that don't use "Flight Levels" when above FL180. "Twenty-Thousand" is annoying and incorrect. Also, when switching frequencies not giving any assigned headings, speeds and discretions...and then having to listen to ATC ask if we were assigned anything.

Joe Cool Pilot voice is bad as well. No need to lower your voice to try and sound like James Earl Jones on the radios.

 

[Spidey]

Guys that don't use "Flight Levels" when above FL180. "Twenty-Thousand" is annoying and incorrect. Also, when switching frequencies not giving any assigned headings, speeds and discretions...and then having to listen to ATC ask if we were assigned anything.

Joe Cool Pilot voice is bad as well. No need to lower your voice to try and sound like James Earl Jones on the radios.

Good one! "Atlanta, I'M YOUR FATHER, at twenty-thousand." Happy New Year Stif!

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Good one! "Atlanta, I'M YOUR FATHER, at twenty-thousand." Happy New Year Stif!

HA HA HA, funny. :laugh:

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

If ATC were to call me 2-3 times and I told them I was on the other line, would they be pissed?

I hate it when there is a stuck mic on freq. and after a few minutes people start saying, "Stuck Mic" or something like that. If it's your mic that is stuck, you won't here anything--so when there's a stuck mic, why make the squeal by keying your own mic?

 

[skyaddict]

This isn't a peeve to me but it does crack me up sometimes:
the guys who jump in with lightning speed (i.e. instantly) to say "blocked" - sometimes there are two or three of these "instant" blocked announcements that block each other, so you hear "bl..[squeeeeeel]."

Another thing that cracks me up are the fresh out of flight school regional pilots who append "full stop" on the tower or CTAF frequency, or "IFR" to clearance delivery.

 

[MCOE175]

I heard JAX controller ask an US Airways 757 pilot how long he had been flying yesterday. The pilot responded for 5 hours... the controller then stated stop asking every time you change freqs if there any ride reports when you knew all day that all altitudes were light to mod chop. Then Airways west came over and said, don't worry he's a junior guy! Thought we were about to hear a fight go down.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

Another annoyance...

I read a clearence to a pilot and the readback is just the XPDR. Fine no problem, I don't care, pilot readbacks arent a requirment.

But it ticks me off when the pilot wants me to say read back correct......Not gonna happen. And It sounds stupid to say OH.....Skywest blah blah blah transponder readback correct.

Had a semi funny one today......read a clearence to a pilot today. He read everything back except the fix on the ORD1. I asked if he could at least tell me the first fix as he gave me all the other information. His response was "unable." I said, you can read everything back but the first fix? He then read it back, I don't think he originally understood the question. I thought it was funny.

bottom line is I can have a deal at home asleep because someone read a clearence back incorrectly and I didn't catch it. Its happend to controllers before. They are home sipp'n a beer and come to find out 4 hours down the road for the pilot they make a wrong turn, controller who read the clearence didn't catch in the readback and bang. Its a deal for the clearence delivery guy. So don't expect readback correct unless you give us all the information.

 

[Spidey]

I heard JAX controller ask an US Airways 757 pilot how long he had been flying yesterday. The pilot responded for 5 hours... the controller then stated stop asking every time you change freqs if there any ride reports when you knew all day that all altitudes were light to mod chop. Then Airways west came over and said, don't worry he's a junior guy! Thought we were about to hear a fight go down.

Not an Airways guy, flew a 757 you'll never fly...where spilt drinks are career killers...ride reports are good...and it is always smooth at JAX center at ground speed zero. You ain't flyin in the same air for 5 hours (well, maybe in your b1900), so let's not get so uppity. We're all in this flyin thing together. How does the JAX guy know what the 75 pilot is transmitting on, other than his freq, and if he knows, why doesn't he help...mmm...I'll bet he's got an IPOD in his ear also (just kidding, it's the fo)...that 757 is an incredible jet, 'specially when she has the big engines and only 45 seats'... Happy New Year to All-especially 757 drivers...and my ole high school girlfriend...2008!!!

 

[atl pilot]

As for that...."I was on the landline" expression. If the FAA would have forseen the looming controller retirements coming back about 8 years ago (and/or not voided our greenbook contract and imposed their unilateral workrules on the controllers back on labor day 2006 - which caused even more controllers who were eligible to retire because of the horrible QOL they caused) and hired new folks back then, I wouldn't have to work both the freq and the landlines. This is a symptom of the bigger problem which has been caused by the FAA.
Sorry guys, we all do the best we can with what the FAA has left us with!

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

ATL--I appreciate all you guys do. I flew in your airspace for a few years every day hauling cargo. Buzz was always nice to hear on the radio--always had a great attitude and sounded like he was happy to be there. Hope he's enjoying his retirement. *beer*

 

[Spidey]

As for that...."I was on the landline" expression. If the FAA would have forseen the looming controller retirements coming back about 8 years ago (and/or not voided our greenbook contract and imposed their unilateral workrules on the controllers back on labor day 2006 - which caused even more controllers who were eligible to retire because of the horrible QOL they caused) and hired new folks back then, I wouldn't have to work both the freq and the landlines. This is a symptom of the bigger problem which has been caused by the FAA.
Sorry guys, we all do the best we can with what the FAA has left us with!

You're right, you folks do a great job. And we appreciate it! Happy New Year!

 

[Thedude]

When you are talking to APP or DEPT, unless there is fire, flood, famine, locust's etc, there should be no reason to miss radio calls.

That is of course unless you have an f/e that doesnt listen the radio and the yells the items on the checklist and always seems to happen when ATC is calling you. Or flying under multipule callsigns during a weeks rotation or they use the 3 letter ID instead of the callsign.

 

[ATCT]

Before my list my background is CPC Level 12 Tower, Pvt Pilot SES-SEL...

1. I hate the low voice (unless you have one, which I can tell...)

2. I hate when people switch to ground when im on local ("tower") when I have said the phrase "remain this frequency" or "stay with me"

3. People who dont say runway hold short instructions in this manner "Hold short of runway 26L, American 123"

4. People who roll to the end with a full final without asking (...I think we know who im talking about...*cough*aal*cough*)

5. People who taxi like slugs (*cough*nwa*cough*)

6. People who switch freq's and key up instantly...

7. Most Mexican/Central-American G/A's....I have too many stories to re-count

8. Zoomers/Flibs (aka small G/a) thinking its cool to fly VFR or IFR into one of the world busiest airports (No offense, but I dont want a 172 on my final doing 120kts at full throttle with a 739 eating em up from behind at min app speed doing 149)

I really dont get mad with the g'days etc., im actually a pretty happy controller and usually say "have a great flight" etc etc.

ATCT

 

[atl pilot]

Great list ATCT! I am with you on all of these!