Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

What airport has the worst controllers?

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web
Register   Log in
Vector4fun said:
Typhoon, I've got a question for you. Some of the CRJs seem to take an awful long time to roll after taking the runway. Is that a checklist/procedures thing? Or do you think it's more likely junior crews.
Click to expand...
Don't know...although I have, on occasion noticed what you're talking about. As for ASA, the checklist that comes right after "cleared for takeoff" only has two items...so unless people are being really meticulous about (1) turning on the landing lights and strobes, and (2) checking the fuel quantity, I don't think that's the problem.

Have you noticed that the CRJ's wings are really close to the ground? That means that the flux gates are also very close to the ground, where all the rebar and electrical cables are. Seven times out of ten, you get on the runway and discover that the DG's are out of whack by six degrees or more. Maybe guys are taking too much time slewing them around.

My personal technique: I align the DG's once while we're waiting for the runway, then give them a quick tweak (if necessary) when in position. As soon as I hear a takeoff clearance (for us :D ) I wave for the F/O to finish the checklist so that by the time he acknowledges the clearance and announces "checklist complete," we're rolling.
 
And the losers are...
Worst by far is KLAS, if there is a cloud visible on the horizon expect 1 hour ground stop. I think KSLC is a close second "Salt Lake Tower SkyWest 3635 is ready to go". "....is that SkyWest 3635 calling". Of-course we are the only airplane even remotely close to the runway... "Yes it is, we're ready to go". "Oh , SkyWest 3635, hold short 34L, I've got a Cessna on a twelve mile final, I'll get you right out after him"

Now for the winners...
Best by far is any SoCal controller. those guys know how to "push tin" and are way cool as well. KSFO controllers are also quite good. they've got one tower frequency and twice the runways as KSLC and are ten-times more efficient.
 
Why hasn't anyone mentioned ground control at ORD? I don't know that they're the "worst," but c'mon: no readbacks, multiple clearances per transmission, punishment for those who request clarification...

I mean, it's the only place I tell my FO to "just say 'roger,' and we'll try not to hit anybody."

Does it have to be that way? :eek:

One more nomination: I'm pretty tired of AEX approach vectoring 250-knot jets to Hell and back in order to get a 90-knot Cub in. Yeah, I know he's got the right-of-way, but I've known controllers who could do this smoothly. Not in Alexandria, La., though!
 
I gotta put mine in now. The worst controllers are the one at Air Force Bases. In Whichita Falls on night I was in a hurry trying to do a quick turn with frieght so I key up tower to get my clerance and taxi in one shot. Nope...contact CL/DL....Okey dokey then. Pickup cleanace and go to gnd...its the same guy. So I taxi and switch over to twr and guess what...its still the same guy. Now I am pulling my hair out at this point and cursing the place .
 
Part 2 Andrews AFB
Jeez what a nightmare. I am flying a BE-200 in formation with the XV-15 and we are trying to tell the controllers that the XV-15 is VFR ONLY. That is right as we hit a cloud bank in FORMATION. Mommy... So i bank away a little hoping to be in the same place on his wing when I come out. Talk about having to remove the seat cushion from my butt on that one. Then also trying to convince them that the King Air (me) has to land first because of approach speeds. The XV-15 has a gear speed of about 90 kts and the King Air falls out of the sky at that point. So the tilt-rotor lands first and I hit his wake ( I gave him plenaty of room but it wasnt enough). Holy maccoronni bataman. I immedatley firewalled the engines and went around. The controller then bitches me about about doing touch and goes.I get him set staight n that one and enter the pattern. I turn base just in time to go beak to beak with each an AF G-II. Thanks to the controller. He gets the AF bird back on his runway and me on mine. Gee I couldnt wait to go to the hotel bar that day.
 
Re: The cards don't lie...

brew3departure said:
...when Miss Cleo is working ground at LGA.

-brew3
Click to expand...


AMEN!

Other than her....NY ATC is the best.

What about the guy that works clearance at LGA on the weekends...it takes him like 45 minutes to read it to you...then when you read it back you get:

"Ahhhhhh CHQ3808.............rrrrreadback corrrrrrect........contact grrrround for the push...........sayyyyy the gate?" Guy cracks me up.


By the way...PHL Approach is the worst.
 
Last edited:
Lion Flyer

My brother used to be one of the signature ramp controllers at ORD but he's over in Baghdad now (in the army) so there's probably some new people there.

The morning guy sux huh? What kind of stuff does he do?
 
Worst: Masirah, Oman. Not like they have much traffic to deal with, but they are pricks and will make us wait forever when the Omani Air Force is out demonstrating Darwin's laws of natural selection. These guys try and trick you into landing without a clearance just so they can yell at you.
The funniest thing I ever witnessed was a crew initiated go around in Bahrain after a particularly impressive bounce. The Bahraini controllers had a meltdown trying to figure out why this crew went around and what they would do about it. I think there may have been one other airplane in their airspace at the time.
 
Typhoon1244 said:
...90-knot Cub in.
Click to expand...

90 knots on a good day with a tail wind. Alot of times it's faster to drive than take a Cub.
 
TUS is getting pretty bad. The tower guys do a good job, but the approach controllers suck balls.

They have a boatload of ANG F-16 traffic, and they have no idea how to sequence the fighters with airline traffic. On arrival a few days ago, while overhead Davis-Monthan, the guy turned us out to the west to follow an F-16 on a 13 mile final. We motored out to the west, called the guy in sight, cleared for the visual to follow him. He's going sloooooow, practice ILS I suppose. I call Flaps 8, 20, 30...still a 40 knot overtake...slight S-turns for spacing. Check in with tower, cleared to land...as the guy does a LOW APPROACH!!! We could have done a short approach and parked at the gate before the F-16 got to the runway, but no...they'd rather put an airliner on a 10 mile final behind a fighter just practicing. I was furious, and asked the tower guy about how approach does the sequencing. He had no idea but felt our pain...offered a phone # to call and ask them about it.

Well, they do have one approach guy, 'the whisperer', who does a good job. He's funny to listen to.
 
Mama told me if you don't have anything nice to say...don't say anything at all.... with that....

ORD controllers are the best, next to DCA. At DCA you gotta do everything the FAA tells you not to.....

At ORD you can throw out the proper terminology book, (AIM/Controllers Handboook) and it still works. Nothing like getting a complex taxi clearance and responding with Wilco or copy that. Heck, you can get away with word up, peace out or Rog.

Now, to switch gears there was this smokin girl whose voice would just make a man melt. Ran Toledo ATC at night in 90's... Yummy!
 
Last edited:
JBcrjca said:
TUS is getting pretty bad. The tower guys do a good job, but the approach controllers suck balls.

They have a boatload of ANG F-16 traffic, and they have no idea how to sequence the fighters with airline traffic. On arrival a few days ago, while overhead Davis-Monthan, the guy turned us out to the west to follow an F-16 on a 13 mile final. We motored out to the west, called the guy in sight, cleared for the visual to follow him. He's going sloooooow, practice ILS I suppose. I call Flaps 8, 20, 30...still a 40 knot overtake...slight S-turns for spacing. Check in with tower, cleared to land...as the guy does a LOW APPROACH!!! We could have done a short approach and parked at the gate before the F-16 got to the runway, but no...they'd rather put an airliner on a 10 mile final behind a fighter just practicing. I was furious, and asked the tower guy about how approach does the sequencing. He had no idea but felt our pain...offered a phone # to call and ask them about it.

Well, they do have one approach guy, 'the whisperer', who does a good job. He's funny to listen to.
Click to expand...

Guess where Tucson approach is located???? That's right at D-M, and you wonder why you're shooting a 15 mile final to follow military traffic.
 
501261 said:
Guess where Tucson approach is located???? That's right at D-M, and you wonder why you're shooting a 15 mile final to follow military traffic.
Click to expand...

Yeah I have had the same experience at TUS. Get vectored WAY out to the west, when could have easily gotten in there without it, if approach could competently vector.

And yes the whispering guy is pretty funny. Sometimes has been hard to keep a straight face when talking to him on the radio.
 
Story goes like this:

UAL B744 Captain says to the tower at YSSY (Sydney, Australia) as he gets handed off: "I would like to say farewell to the world's second best ATC - This is my last flight before retirement"

YSSY ATC: Well, thanks. By the way, who's the best?"

UAL B744: "Everyone else"
 
There seems to be the greatest amount of variation at the small town CTs. Most are excellent, but there are a few that seem to operate with an 80kt mindset, and if a jet or a commuter shows up, everything falls apart. It gets especially interesting if all the Cessnas are on a runway that is perpendicular to the one you are using.

I can second being scared in Wichita Falls, Texas. That's the training facility for the Air Force, for both pilots and air traffic controllers. Most of the pilots are flying T-38s, and they're trying their best just to stay in formation and keep their heads above water. A few years ago, someone had the bright idea of painting the Talons camo grey instead of white, so now it's officially the hardest-to-spot airplane in the world. If it's a cloudy day, the plane might as well have a cloaking device! The students' hot-dogging and doing 20,000 fpm zoom-climbs doesn't help either.
Most of the controllers there are students, so there is a lot of extreme overcautiousness and gigantic vectors. Sometimes the controller will give you a clearence that is immediately countermanded by their instructor. That gets your attention!
 
I actually learned to fly in Wichita Falls. Didnt have too many problems with controllers there myself, but I can easily see it happening. Gotta love that "hong kong curve" into rwy 17 so you dont overfly the usaf ramp and taxiways.
 
Philly.

they suck balls.

getting in? i dont think theres a tighter virgin airport. you can talk your way in all you want, and youll get vectored around all over gods countryside. but youll only get in AFTER youve burnt off your turnaround time at the gate.

getting out on a busy day? you can request any runway you want on a light wind clear skies day. just as long as its 27 left.

cause thats the only one youll get unless you can liftoff in 1500 feet with 2 props. they must assume since youre a jet, you have to have 10,000 feet.....weve been denied 35 as its not in use....and then a bunch of dash's and what not lift off of 35 ....WTF-over?

i honestly dont think its the controllers so much as the runaway/ramp/terminal configuration was designed by a down-syndrom afflicted blind engineer. if i were a new controller there given the configuration to work with that they have, i'd have no choice but to quickly become retarded on the job.

theres no excuses for dip$hits

ever depart on 9L?....on a slow night? one takes off........wate a minute......wait 10 miutes...then another takes off........wait 10.

southwest is gonna go in there and say "well no wonder theyre loosing their ass here....philly sucks"

on another note. i hear the phillies got a 100mph fastballer this year.....dat true? if so, way cool. cant wait to see him throw.
 
Last edited:
so what about new york approach?

btw, i agree with the post before about AA pilots deviating around weather. it gets pretty insane when every other a/c in the sky will fly through level 1 and AA needs to go 45 miles out of his way to get around a cell. good point about southwest descending too...lets throw in all the asian carriers on that one too, oh and "speed"bird!
 
The amount of distance between the airplane and the thunderstorm is proportional to the amount of animosity between labor and management at that airline.

It's in the FARs.
 
You know what guys and girls, you can bash us controllers all day long. We don't care. Some are excellent, and some cant handle two airplanes. Keep in mind that very shortly the FAA is gonna say screw it, too many retirees, and we have no money to hire, so they are gonna contract. And when they do, its gonna be absolutly chaotic. There will be loss of seration all day long, and more then likely alot of close calls and maybe even a few planes banging together. Keep in mind also that alot of you out there that think your hot **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** cause you fly 121, that your really a bunch of freaking idiots...not all of you, but on a daily basis i get my fare share of idiots. I had a part 135 carrier yesterday call in and I told him to report a 5 mile final cause I was busy and didn't have a whole lot of time to be watching the radar to sequence this idiot so the 5 mile call would have given me ample time to sequence him properly...No 5 mile call was ever made....so...i saw him on a 3 mile final, sequenced a few behind him, never gave the guy a landing clearence....when he landed i asked to report his position.....A, sir im on runway14...."oh, i must have missed your 5 mile report." "oh, im sorry i didn't hear you ask for that" "did you hear me give you a landing clearence" "No, i didn't" "then what the hell are you doing on my runway?" Constant, never ending crap all day and all night. So, now its my turn to fire em back

Mesa.....alrighty...Worst airline by far. More runway incursions then anyone. Way to go.
United....as a customer id rather take greyhound.
America West....next inline on runway incursions after mesa...I don't mind flying you guys though.
DELTA....you rock! The only airline i actually go out of my way to fly.....

And all you GA pilots that have like 100 hrs total time, buy your little turbine powerd bonanza's and centiorions, call on a 5 mile final out of 5000ft, get cleared to land and request a 360 cause your too high......get a head of the **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** airplane you idiots..
 
MOTFLMAO!!!

I can just picture you angrily banging out that message on your keyboard....finally, a chance to vent!!:D

I'm with ya, though....you couldn't pay me enough to sit in your chair.
 
Lrjtcaptain said:
You know what guys and girls, you can bash us controllers all day long. We don't care. Some are excellent, and some cant handle two airplanes. Keep in mind that very shortly the FAA is gonna say screw it, too many retirees, and we have no money to hire, so they are gonna contract. And when they do, its gonna be absolutly chaotic. There will be loss of seration all day long, and more then likely alot of close calls and maybe even a few planes banging together. Keep in mind also that alot of you out there that think your hot **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** cause you fly 121, that your really a bunch of freaking idiots...not all of you, but on a daily basis i get my fare share of idiots. I had a part 135 carrier yesterday call in and I told him to report a 5 mile final cause I was busy and didn't have a whole lot of time to be watching the radar to sequence this idiot so the 5 mile call would have given me ample time to sequence him properly...No 5 mile call was ever made....so...i saw him on a 3 mile final, sequenced a few behind him, never gave the guy a landing clearence....when he landed i asked to report his position.....A, sir im on runway14...."oh, i must have missed your 5 mile report." "oh, im sorry i didn't hear you ask for that" "did you hear me give you a landing clearence" "No, i didn't" "then what the hell are you doing on my runway?" Constant, never ending crap all day and all night. So, now its my turn to fire em back

Mesa.....alrighty...Worst airline by far. More runway incursions then anyone. Way to go.
United....as a customer id rather take greyhound.
America West....next inline on runway incursions after mesa...I don't mind flying you guys though.
DELTA....you rock! The only airline i actually go out of my way to fly.....

And all you GA pilots that have like 100 hrs total time, buy your little turbine powerd bonanza's and centiorions, call on a 5 mile final out of 5000ft, get cleared to land and request a 360 cause your too high......get a head of the **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** airplane you idiots..
Click to expand...



Careful, Lrjt...you keep getting that worked up and ALL of your hair will fall out;) Hope all is well out west...take it easy.

KAK
 
chilly, i shave my head so it doesn't have to fall out....
hows Comair? Corey Adams called me the other date with all the usuall stuff.....Deosn't sound like an upgrade for him anytime soon. even though his been an fo for 3 years. SAD SAD. Let me hash alittle about comair while im on the subject.

YOUR CRJ's ARE JUNK!!

im done.
 
Lrjtcaptain

That was hillarious!
Overall, I've seen far more pilots do stupid things than I have controllers. My hat's off to you guys. I could never do what you do.

YOUR CRJ's ARE JUNK!!
Click to expand...

Careful!
The RJDC will be on you like a pack of wolves! ;-)
 

Share this page

Latest posts

Latest resources

Latest media

Carbon Cub FX-3 Shenandoah Valley
Carbon Cub at Kittyhawk
FX-3 in the backcountry
IFR Panel in a Carbon Cub FX-3
Cub-Provo-UT-c.jpg
Back
Top Bottom