Air site visitors controllers have demanding jobs, and a overwhelming majority of them go above and past to be skilled. However then you may have this one dude at JFK, who simply can’t assist himself. JFK is infamous for having air site visitors controllers with a little bit of an angle, however this man in some way at all times manages to steal the highlight (for those who take heed to JFK ATC with any frequency, you’ll instantly acknowledge this man’s voice).
Air site visitors controller’s “you’re on request” causes confusion
Let me begin by saying that that is hardly essentially the most offensive interplay that this man has had, however it’s so indicative of an pointless hostility.
This incident occurred within the early morning hours of March 2, 2025, and entails the pilots of an All Nippon Airways Boeing 777, who have been making an attempt to get taxi clearance. After the request is made, the interplay goes as follows:
Air site visitors controller: “You’re on request. As quickly as this plane lands, I’ll get you shifting.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “All Nippon Airways 159 heavy, sorry, say once more.”
Air site visitors controller: “You’re on request.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “Oh, we request runway 31L, All Nippon 159 heavy.”
Air site visitors controller: “You’re on request.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “All Nippon 159 heavy, request taxi through A1, left flip A…”
Air site visitors controller: “All Nippon 159 heavy, I don’t know for those who’re not acquainted, it looks as if you’re not. When any person says ‘you might be on request,’ meaning they’ve your request. That’s it. Simply wait.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “So that you imply we will taxi by our personal, All Nippon 159 heavy?”
Air site visitors controller: “All Nippon 159 heavy, completely not. ‘You’re on request’ simply means simply wait. You don’t say something. You simply anticipate the controller, which is me, okay? Simply wait.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “Okay, holding place, All Nippon 159 heavy.”
Air site visitors controller: “Sure, I’ve your request. That’s what meaning.”
You may take heed to the interplay for your self under.
The vanity and stubbornness is astounding
Air site visitors controllers have demanding sufficient jobs beneath regular situations, however in some way this man likes to make extra work for himself.
Right here’s the factor — you could be considering “properly this All Nippon Airways pilot must work on his English,” or one thing. That’s not the core subject right here. The ICAO publishes the usual language that air site visitors controllers are supposed to make use of, and this man isn’t following that, however is as an alternative utilizing his personal phrases.
Like, “you’re on request” isn’t an ordinary time period to inform pilots to face by for his or her taxi clearance. By no means thoughts that the grammar of that phrase doesn’t make a lot sense. How about one thing like “I’ve your request, standby.”
However this controller has clearly determined that’s how he needs to speak, and he likes to name out anybody who can’t interpret what he’s making an attempt to say. The air site visitors controller isn’t an fool — absolutely he realizes that the pilot is having a tough time making sense of what he’s making an attempt to say, no? However somewhat than making an attempt to make the pilot’s job simpler, he doubles down, and tries to be condescending and educate him a lesson.
JFK is among the most worldwide airports on the earth, so that you’d assume it will even be an airport the place use of ordinary phrasing is especially necessary. There are undoubtedly some pilots within the airspace who most likely aren’t proficient in English (just like the under Air China 981 pilot clip), however I believe the problem right here is the controller, and never the pilot.
Backside line
Air site visitors management audio at JFK could be actually amusing to take heed to, for higher or worse. There’s one specific controller who will get numerous consideration for his angle. On this case, he argued unnecessarily with an All Nippon Airways pilot, who didn’t perceive his non-standard phrasing. Fairly than switching to language the pilot may perceive, he doubled down.
What do you make of this JFK ATC interplay?
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