Air visitors controllers at JFK are recognized for typically having an angle. Nevertheless, on this case, I believe there’s sufficient fault to go round…
JFK ATC & JetBlue pilot get into it over… effectively, nothing
This incident occurred on Saturday, March 8, 2025, and entails the communication between one of many pilots of JetBlue flight B6815, an A321 headed for San Francisco (SFO), and the tower controller at New York Kennedy Airport (JFK).
There have been roughly a dozen planes awaiting departure from runway 31L. Planes have been queueing in two totally different strains, with some on taxiway Z, and a few on runway 22L (which wasn’t getting used for departures or arrivals). There was some extent the place the planes have been merging, and one of many JetBlue pilots within the queue appeared to assume there was confusion concerning the order wherein planes have been alleged to merge onto the taxiway.
Particularly, the JetBlue pilot appeared to assume that the Ethiopian Airways jet queuing for takeoff wasn’t pulling ahead all the way in which, as a result of the pilots have been confused concerning the right order. That’s when the heated dialogue started:
JetBlue pilot: “They’re not pulling up as a result of they don’t know your sequence, sir.”
Air visitors controller: “Say once more?”
JetBlue pilot: “They’re not pulling up as a result of they don’t know your sequence, sir. They’re afraid they’re gonna minimize somebody off.”
Air visitors controller: “Who’s talking? I would like a callsign.”
JetBlue pilot: “JetBlue 815, sir, there’s a merger right here, between a runway and a taxiway. They’re undecided, in order that they’re hanging again.”
Air visitors controller: “Okay JetBlue 815, I thanks on your enter however they have been instructed to observe the plane in entrance of them. So they’re conscious of their sequence.”
JetBlue pilot: “They don’t know if their sequence is behind or in entrance of the man to their proper.”
Air visitors controller: “Would you want to come back and do the job for me?”
JetBlue pilot: “I’d similar to you to do it higher.”
Air visitors controller: “You’d like me to do it higher, sir? I’ve a quantity so that you can name whenever you’d like.”
JetBlue pilot: “That’s nice. I’d love you to reply it.”
A number of minutes later, shortly earlier than it was the JetBlue airplane’s flip to take off, the dialog continued as follows:
Air visitors controller: “JetBlue 815, do you want some extra time, as a result of we’re nonetheless ready on you to name?”
JetBlue pilot: “I’m able to go, sir.”
Air visitors controller: “No, are you continue to gonna name? Do you want a while? Otherwise you’re able to depart?”
JetBlue pilot: “I’m able to depart. I used to be planning on calling you from the opposite facet. I’m on an lively taxiway. Wasn’t planning on making a cellphone name right here.”
You’ll be able to take heed to the audio for your self beneath, and see a visualization of the placement of all plane.
Why do some males should be so insecure?
Usually once I share air visitors management audio, there’s one facet that’s much more at fault than the opposite. On this case, I believe there’s sufficient fault to go round, and neither occasion is harmless. It needs to be extra obvious than ever earlier than that we have to have a very good security tradition with correct and clear communication.
The best way I view this interplay:
- There was nothing incorrect with the JetBlue pilot chiming in, if he thought there was confusion; nevertheless, he ought to’ve recognized himself by the flight’s callsign, as a result of his nameless suggestions got here throughout as a bit peanut gallery-esque
- When the air visitors controller acknowledged the JetBlue pilot’s suggestions, the JetBlue pilot shouldn’t have argued additional, talking on behalf of different pilots, and he actually escalated issues when he instructed the air visitors controller to do his job higher
- Then there’s the entire pissing match over having a quantity to name; that appears pointless, as there wasn’t any pilot deviation right here, however slightly it looks as if the equal of “oh yeah, I dare you to say that to my face”
- It’s ridiculous of the air visitors controller to anticipate the JetBlue pilot to name him from an lively taxiway, slightly than when the airplane lands
Is it an excessive amount of to ask for these two to only do their jobs, chill, attempt to be pleasant, and to not actively hunt down battle?
Backside line
A JetBlue pilot and a JFK air visitors controller received right into a heated alternate. The JetBlue pilot tried to offer some suggestions, however then egos have been mutually bruised, and finally the JetBlue pilot steered the air visitors controller ought to do his job higher. That went over about in addition to you’d anticipate…
What do you make of this interplay between a JetBlue pilot and JFK ATC?
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