Flying Life: Pilot versus ATC

I do the majority of my flying out of Olive Branch, Mississippi—a Class Delta airport that lies just underneath the Memphis, Tennessee, Class Bravo airspace. Over the years, I have come to know our tower controllers on a first-name basis. We wish each other happy holidays and pleasant weekends. The tower folks are exceedingly patient, considering that a large portion of their traffic is generated by a flight school on the field, with student pilots who make their job anything but easy.

Sooner or later we have to realize that we are just two groups of people working toward a common goal.Because controllers either work up in the tower or in dark radar rooms and pilots operate in cockpits, both sides often know very little about the day-to-day pressures the other is facing. In an effort to try to close the gap between these two sides—pilots and air traffic controllers—I have spoken with both and have come up with a list of the most annoying things we do to each other. Perhaps if we can minimize some of these frustrations, we can work together as a team, making each other’s jobs easier in the process.

What controllers say

1. Please, use proper phraseology. Don’t say “affirmative” (which means yes) when you actually mean “wilco” (which means will comply). This leaves some confusion as to whether or not you actually are going to do what we asked you to do. Also, don’t say “roger that” or “over and out” or anything else you may have heard in a movie. While this serves to entertain us immensely, it’s counterproductive. And, don’t ramble. Think about what you are going to say before you key up the mic. We are trying to keep 10 different aircraft separated from each other. When you take up unnecessary radio time, it is hard for us to keep you safe.
2. A word about the hold short lines. If we ask you to hold short of a runway, you must actually repeat back all hold short instructions. It is important. “Roger” does not work in this case and will cause us to query you again until you actually confirm that you will hold short. Also, when exiting the runway, please make sure that you get your entire airplane across the solid side of the hold short lines before you stop to do your checklist. The runway can’t be used for anyone else until you are completely clear.
3. We really do want to work as a team. When we ask you to look for traffic, please actually look for traffic. Also, report anything you think would be helpful for us to pass along, including cloud bases and tops, or turbulence.

What pilots say

1. Grouchy controllers. Please go home and take a nap, then come back to work. When the irritation shows up in your voice, it adds stress to what is already a stressful situation. We are not deliberately trying to frustrate you, but flying an airplane can sometimes get hectic. If we miss a call, it was not on purpose.
2. Keep it as simple as you can. Our feeble minds can only process so much information at one time. If you give us three instructions to comply with in one radio call, we may have a hard time keeping it all straight. Also, please avoid giving us instructions as we’re taxiing off the runway. If you wait until we stop moving, we can devote our attention to what you are asking us to do.
3. Please be considerate with vectors. If our cross-country route takes us to the south, and you send us 10 miles north before allowing us to turn, we have just wasted time and money. If the airplane rental rate is $150 per hour, we just spent $25 going in the wrong direction. That money could have gone toward two tacos and a beer at dinner. No bueno.

As pilots and ATC, sooner or later we have to realize that we are just two groups of people working toward a common goal. So, let’s put ourselves in each other’s shoes and learn to work together as a team, so that we can get what we all truly want: a safe and efficient airspace system. AOPA

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