I typically share air visitors management clips of fascinating interactions between pilots and air visitors controllers. Effectively, right here’s one which I’m undecided what to make of, as a result of the circumstances are so unusual.
GlobalX Airbus A320 unable to land in Phoenix, twice
The wonderful VASAviation YouTube channel has uploaded air visitors management audio and a visualization of what occurred on the night of Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA). It facilities round GlobalX flight G66136, which was arriving from San Diego (SAN). The flight was operated by a 17-year-old Airbus A320 with the license plate N630VA.
First for some context, GlobalX is a constitution airline based mostly in Miami, which was based in 2018 (at the least in its present kind). The airline operates a fleet of almost 20 jets, and it does loads of contract work for the federal government, together with army charters and even deportation flights. Heck, GlobalX planes had been featured in Trump’s cinematic, promotional video about current deportations.
Anyway, that’s neither right here not there. Lengthy story quick, the GlobalX A320 seemingly struggled to land in Phoenix, and… we don’t actually know why? It’s weird, as a result of climate circumstances had been nice, with good visibility and lightweight winds. Regardless of that, the aircraft carried out two go arounds.
Through the first try, the aircraft was cleared to land on runway 12C, however then the pilots knowledgeable the tower controller of their intent to go round. When requested for the explanation for the go round, the pilot merely said “unstable.”
The aircraft was then lined up for a second strategy on the identical runway, and the pilots as soon as once more carried out a go round.
Whereas then making an attempt a 3rd strategy, the pilots all of a sudden began flying the fully fallacious heading, with out air visitors management permission. Whereas they had been imagined to be flying a heading of 120 levels, they had been as an alternative turning to a heading of 360 levels.
In a while, the pilots claimed to have a “laptop downside,” and requested to carry their “current place” (which… while you’re within the air…). Nevertheless, for no matter purpose, they agreed to proceed with the strategy, regardless of their preliminary hesitation.
This time round, the pilots landed efficiently, although not earlier than an Allegiant jet behind them was compelled to carry out a go round, as a result of them not making the taxiway flip they had been requested to make.
Your entire clip is value watching, as there are much more particulars, and the interplay between the pilot and the controllers is admittedly what makes this so fascinating.
For what it’s value, beneath is the trail that the plane flew round Phoenix. As soon as the aircraft landed, it stayed on the bottom for 3 days, earlier than working its subsequent flight. Nevertheless, I don’t assume the aircraft was taken out of service as a result of any points, however as an alternative, GlobalX planes have fairly a little bit of downtime between journeys.
What’s going on with these pilots and/or this aircraft?
That is such an uncommon state of affairs, and I’m undecided what to even make of this. Was there really some main malfunction with the plane? Or was there some minor laptop problem, and the pilots simply struggled to truly fly the aircraft in good circumstances, quite than simply programming the pc?
I’m not saying it’s the case right here, however I do know one of many frequent complaints about lots of the newer pilots these days is that they battle to truly fly the aircraft, and as an alternative, are simply good at working the computer systems, since coaching is so closely centered round that.
A number of issues stand out right here:
- Through the first strategy, the aircraft had a big lower in its descent fee on its base leg, because it dropped to 2,500 toes per minute at a low altitude, so I’m undecided if these pilots had been simply rusty hand flying the aircraft, or what…
- The pilots did a extremely awful job advocating for themselves, and/or speaking to air visitors controllers what they wanted; through the third strategy they indicated they wanted to increase their downwind or maintain, and so they type of bought talked into accepting an strategy
- The pilots appeared actually distracted all through, which in all probability will get on the poor job they did speaking, and advocating for themselves
- That air visitors controller working P50 W was form of a jerk, because it ought to’ve been apparent to him that these pilots had been struggling and had been working via one thing, when he virtually sarcastically communicated how there have been three 10,000 foot runway they need to see
I hope the corporate at the least appears into what occurred right here, as a result of this undoubtedly looks like one thing out of the abnormal.
Backside line
Earlier this month, a GlobalX Airbus A320 seemingly struggled to land in Phoenix, regardless of good flying circumstances. The pilots requested two go arounds, first claiming an strategy was “unstable,” after which claiming there have been laptop issues. I don’t know what precisely occurred right here, but it surely positive is unusual…
What do you make of this GlobalX A320 state of affairs in Phoenix?
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