By MATTHEW STARR
I’ve encountered just about every sort of pilot there is in my years as an air traffic controller. Air traffic controllers work with more pilots in a week than any five pilots do in a year.
There are pilots we could live without and there are pilots we absolutely love. Are you curious who those pilots are? Keep reading and find out.
The Sloppy Pilot
Slap some duct tape on it and let’s go! There are three extra bolts left over, but they spent two hours reassembling the engine and everything seems to be working fine.
Accurate phraseology is just a bunch of extra and unnecessary words. Just talk like a regular person and they’ll understand you better anyways.
Anyone know this pilot? I’m acquainted with a few.
The problem with this pilot is that nine times out of 10 everything works out fine. It’s no big deal. They sound cool and loose on the frequency, like a modern day cowboy: “Hey there Centennial Tower, 4AM coming in hot from the northwest, looking for some touch and goes before I fly back home.”
Life is good, until it’s not.
We have to remember that we are all the sum total of our actions. When we do something hundreds of times, it becomes second nature. And when it becomes second nature, that’s how we act when the proverbial doo-doo hits the fan.
In an emergency, will the sloppy pilot pause and think “What is the proper phraseology?” No. They will do and say everything they have always done and said before, which is sloppy.
This is not a best case scenario for an emergency situation.
Controllers recognize this danger and do not cherish their time with a sloppy pilot.
The Professional Pilot
This pilot checks on frequency and sets an impression right off the bat. They make calls with brevity. They are concise in their requests and read-backs. Their phraseology? On point.
They are cool. They are composed. You can all but feel their confidence, all but see them wearing those brand new aviators. This pilot puts the pro in professional.
When the professional pilot finds themselves in a bad situation, they don’t lose their cool. They remain calm, do the job, and ask questions later. There is a sort of steady patience in this kind of pilot. They know the process. They know the rules. They accept the responsibility.
Controllers respect this kind of pilot. They can count on them to get the job done and do it right.
It’s a relief to work with the professional pilot. We’ve all worked with someone who is competent and composed. Strive to be this pilot. Controllers will be pleased to work with you.
And keep this in mind: Just because you aren’t a professional pilot doesn’t mean you can’t talk like one.
The Grumpy Pilot
I don’t think I even need to go into this one. Nobody enjoys their time around a grumpy person. It’s a “drag” (see what I did there?).
I freely admit that I’ve been this grumpy guy before. It doesn’t feel good at all. It affects my performance. It affects my peers. It’s that way for all of us.
Negativity can even affect our health. Seriously, check this out.
It’s not easy sometimes, but always try and keep things positive. It makes a difference.
The Happy Pilot
I can’t think of a more pleasant experience than encountering a genuinely happy person. It makes my heart warm to know someone is enjoying their life.
A happy pilot is no exception. They “lift” the mood (can’t stop, won’t stop).
As most people know, air traffic control is often a stressful job. Stress affects all people differently, but it always has a negative affect. It can be challenging to manage that stress in our every day lives. So consider the relief that a happy pilot might bring to the table. You could very well make someone’s day.
Of course, not every day is going to be clear skies and smooth rides. We won’t always be feeling happy, but intentionally choosing to look past the negative makes a big difference, especially in a stressful environment.
This should go both ways, too. Pilots can have bad days and a happy controller may very well improve your day. Happiness is one of those things that builds upon itself and spreads around.
Also, I’d bet that if someone did the research, it would show happy controllers are more willing to hand out short cuts…just saying. No promises.
The Know-It-All Pilot
There are a lot of smart people in the aviation industry. You won’t last very long if you can’t grasp the complex concepts and regulations of aviation. Those of us who have found success in the aviation industry should be proud of our achievement, but we also shouldn’t assume we know everything there is to know.
There is always something new to learn.
One thing about air traffic controllers, I’m loath to admit, is that we can be Type A personalities and often quite arrogant. When we run into people who think they know more than us — and maybe they do — it rubs us the wrong way. It’s an ugly truth, but there it is.
I think pilots are similar in this matter. We both have a hard time working with people who think they know better than us.
So let’s all be a little more humble and do our best to be open to learning.
The Curious Pilot
Aviation is one of the most interesting and technical industries out there. It’s nearly impossible to learn everything there is to know, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try.
Curiosity is the first step in that learning.
Most air traffic controllers truly enjoy sharing their knowledge in aviation, especially to curious pilots. We find pleasure in it, because there is often a lot of misunderstanding about ATC.
We want to help people understand what we do, why we do it, how we do it, and how it helps them. Controllers take pride in sharing our knowledge and contributing to a more informed aviation industry.
A curious pilot gives us that chance to educate. A curious pilot improves their knowledge of the aviation system.
Wondering where you can channel this curiosity?
I wouldn’t recommend asking on a busy frequency, but there are plenty of times when the frequency is slow and you can say, “Do you have time for a question?”
The answer may be no, because a slow frequency doesn’t mean a controller isn’t busy with coordination or other duties, but it doesn’t hurt to try.
I also highly recommend scheduling a tour at a nearby ATC facility. Get a group of pilots together. Make a day out of it.
Can’t find the contact info to schedule a tour? Get on a frequency and ask for it!
Or violate some airspace and they’ll give you a number to call — although I strongly discourage the latter.
Either way, get out there and talk to us. It’s a great learning opportunity for everyone, ATC included.
Final Thoughts
These are all very loose and generalized examples. There is no black and white here. Everyone is different. The world is a myriad of personalities and opinions. But hopefully now you have a little bit of insight into air traffic controllers and their relationship with pilots.
Regardless, always remember this: Air Traffic Controllers are human. We eat, we sleep (poorly), we pay bills, and we have families. As long as you treat us well, we will treat you well.
Matthew Starr is a training and development professional with more than 12 years of experience in the aviation industry. When he is not controlling air traffic, Matthew works with organizations to develop and deploy training programs and eLearning materials to assist their workforce in improving business efficiency and effectiveness.
Being a 66 year old, 3 yr private pilot,scared of radios and trying to learn IFR at a busy field I am not the best just trying to get taxi clearance and remember to you use left or right. I appreciate the controller who is clear and concise but I find the one controller who is trying to see how fast he can talk a real pain. All the rest I say thank you for your patience, I will do my best to be professional and correct in my read back.
Everyone should be treated with respect and this goes with no exceptions. There are times on both sides (Controller-Pilot). I have lived in NC for just over 33 years, but I learned to fly on floats when I was 16 while living in Ontario, Canada. A lot of my time in the air in Canada was without the benefit of Air Traffic Control.
Respect given = respect returned.
There was an occasion when I was going to land at an Airport called Buttonville which is located just a bit north and east of Toronto. It was not a particularly busy day. However, I had issues understanding the Controller. His voice was sort of slurry and like his mouth was full of marbles. Other pilots were asking him to repeat his instructions almost continually. Pressure was building for those still in the air as I was getting closer and closer to having to join the pattern. No joy as to being able to know if I was cleared to land. Then all of a sudden, ‘right out of the blue’ a pilot who was experiencing the same challenge as I and everyone was said with a beautiful Texan accent: “Why don’t you remove the marbles from out of your mouth so that we can understand you?” Now as you may imagine, there was at least 15 seconds of silence before an woman Controller took over. (I’ve always been of the opinion that the female voice is far more effective in radio communication.)
Operations commenced without any Whammies. You know that that happened almost 35 years ago. I still remember it with an extended Thanks to the Texan!!
whammies
Knowing that some pilots dread calling up an air traffic controller help when they have a problem, I always tried to be the friendly, happy controller. In 29 years at the radar scope I had a nice collection of thank you notes from pilots I was able to help over the years. I was privileged to have a job where, every day, I was in a position to do good things for so many.
And finally, I’d like to leave a tribute to the best of the best. A former approach controller at ATL, the busiest in the world.
Buzz, you were the best. Hope retirement is treating you well.
Way back before ADSB and Class C, the local controller tried to identify me (16 year old student pilot out in the practice area) by saying Cherokee XYZ, “What is your current heading?” I replied with what I saw on the DG. He then said, “Hmm…turn…30 degrees left for me.” I did, and he then said, “OK, resume previous heading.” My DG must have been off by 100 degrees (D’oh!), and I’ve always appreciated him kindly not calling me out on the radio. Great learning experience with none of the embarrassment! I’ve never forgotten either!
Working relationships matter. And there’s no better way to develop them than being professional and courteous to each other.
‘MD’ here, ATCS from ’67 to 86. Nicely said – if a little incomplete. After my ATC career, I went into a (non-stressful) second career as a Deputy Sheriff in Reno, NV. As a cop, I even got a trip to the shrink once. His burning question: “WHY doesn’t this job adversely impact on your personal life or job performance?” “Simple,” I replied. “In my first career, I was an air traffic controller. NOTHING in this job, to include looking down the barrel of a gun, can compare to a busy radar session.”
Check out my book, “BROKEN CONTROLLER: an Air Traffic Controllers Story,” second edition. I was a great career – both of them, actually – I wouldn’t trade a minute of it for anything….
Thank you for ALL of your service MD. Congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished!
I’ll definitely be checking out your book.
Try a virtual tower (really a trailer on the ground) with no radar.
Good read however, as a arrogant, old pilot I’d like to mention one thought. Pilots and Controllers and folks in general are made up of all the positive and negative habits and quirks you mentioned in your article. Let’s face it, and be open minded about it. Because we as humans have the unique ability to adapt and overcome most anything we set our minds to, so don’t worry about the little stuff.
Most folks don’t care what you think of them, I am a old, grumpy, happy pilot, that’s sloppy and professional and I can live with that because I am human and old enough to not label a pilot or controller one way or another. On any given day we all can be this, that or the other. Your opinion is valuable and just like a holes, we all have one.
Standazation is imperative in commercial aviation… but having a style is important as well… being percieved as courtious, professional etc etc is a great personal skill, I get it…But if someone dangles a participel, or states they are coming in hot, its acceptable in my opinion. But keep in mind I am a old grumpy, happy, arrogant pilot with my personal humble opinion.
The point is…we are all different and accepting what we may precieve as faults and or short comings is a finely tuned personal skill that pilots and controllers alike should embrace… that’s true professionalism. Because flying and controlling in my opinion is more art than science… but not by much.
Short and simple… the best way I have heard it said is this… Judge not, lest thee be judged…
Now let’s go have fun and be human and learn to accept each other as we are… with all our faults, quirks, misspellings and bad grammer
100% Scott, and well said. If there is one thing the article lacks (demonstrating my own imperfection), is the acknowledgment that we all have room to grow, and to learn!
You missed one-the GRATEFUL pilot. As a HEMS pilot I’ve been fortunate enough to get some help from ATC when time truly was life or death. I can’t appreciate them enough. Seattle Center & Portland Approach I’m talking about you!! Thank you!!!! N432LF/LifeFlight14.
Stories like yours remind us how fulfilling the job can be. Thank you for sharing.!
I love this. Very well done.
Now for the other side:
An airline pilot for 39 yrs and counting, and a GA pilot for 46 so far, take every sentence with the word ‘pilot’ and substitute ‘controller’. Those are the types of ATC professionals that we like/dislike.
During a week at work, I deal with more controllers than a controller does in a year.
My point? Simply this, people are people.
Some good at their job and at life…and some not. The profession they are in has little to do with it.
Absolutely. It would be awesome to see an article like this from the Pilot’s perspective!
I appreciate curious controllers. Flying a vintage airplane, it is common to get some inquiries from a controller, which are always welcome. Also a happy controller will make my day. A bit of humor thrown in is always nice, especially when inconvenience is part of the ritual .
We should call this the types of pilot one controller likes.
In a career as serious as aviation safety (for both pilots and controllers) a little bit of levity goes a long way. Couldn’t agree more.
30 years experience in FAA air traffic at many different levels and jobs. Air traffic control is a complex and exacting business. The phraseology has been litigated for years. It is meant to be non-ambigous, I have never “enjoyed” sloppy phraseology. It leads to misunderstanding and danger. Keep it professional, on the ground and in the air. As a pilot, I learned to appreciate both ends of the business.
What is good for the goose is good for the gander. I have heard many very pleasant ATCers on my 50+ years of flying, but I’ve heard some real jerk ATCers, too—actually more of them than I’ve heard jerk pilots (although some of them, too). And when that has happened to me, there have been a time or two that I’ve followed up with a complaint—you may have the “I have a number for you to call for a possible pilot deviation”, but I can also contact your supervisor, or your supervisor’s supervisor, or even the FAA Administrator. There’s no excuse for mistreating anyone—and it can become dangerous. A single pilot in busy airspace can quickly become task-saturated, and being yelled at by a testy controller doesn’t help. When you get task-saturated, you can ask someone to take over for you—a single pilot can’t.
On the other hand, when a controller has been ultra-helpful, it can make a dicey situation so much easier and more pleasant—and it takes no more time to be helpful than to be a hindrance. Hmmm. Maybe I should write an article about ATC from the pilot’s perspective! I can think of really great examples of both very good and very questionable controllers.
I would love to read that article. Reach out anytime if you want to brainstorm or need someone to proofread!
matt@atcforpilots.com
Great article Matthew. Thank you. Flying is a great way to make a living. We can all help each other, to make our day happy and safe. Thanks again, see you on the radio 👍
I appreciate that, Dennis! There wouldn’t be a job for controllers if we didn’t have you pilots in the sky. See you there!
After having been a controller for 4 years and a pilot for more than 40, 98% of pilots and controllers are friendly and know how to communicate, but the 2% are really a pain. you get what you give and that is true about everything in life.
Hear! Hear!
100%
You forgot the ‘lost pilot’, not lost navigationally but in the wrong plan for thier accent! Much more common now than even 5 years ago. Then if you heard a German accent you knew to look for a Lufthansa flight, British accent look for a SpeedBird or American look for a DAL or AAL…. But now!!! You get Irish guys on Ethiads, Germans on VIR flights and Americans on RYR!!! All very confusing!!
I loved this. I really enjoyed the humor tossed in, and what a great idea to learn from ATC – it’s kind of a black box of its own – at least to me! It just magically works…
I saw someone comment on it going the other way as well for ATC individuals, and that’s true of everything. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The stellar ATCs aren’t the ones who are remembered. Thinking back, the best experiences with the tower are the ones that are extremely easy to forget because everything worked how it should. I’m glad this is how it is the overwhelming majority of the time.
The unforgettable Drunky-McDrunk at my former local tower only earned a nickname because of how /abnormally/ difficult it was to understand him.
Excellent article.
I flew worldwide off and on for 49 years.
I have always held ATC personell in very high regard.
Drunky-McDrunk! I laughed out loud at that. Best of luck with that fellow. Haha.
It is not your job to punish a pilot because you read a long clearance rapidly. Even though you might be quite busy you do not gain anything by having to repeat it. You are there to help the pilot navigate safely through the system. You read the same clearance many times a day while this could be the only time the pilot has flown this congested routing. BIG DIFFERENCE
Years, decades ago when I started flying primarily form uncontrolled fields I found it good to declare myself “student pilot”. This would quickly reduce the rapid cadence of the controller. Now 40 years later I would do the same if I found myself having to talk to a controller.
Who said anything about punishing a pilot?! If a controller says “clearance available, advise ready to copy” (standard phraseology) and you reply “ready to copy”, then be ready. Can’t tell you the number of times a pilot is expecting some easy route and isn’t ready even though he says he is.
Additionally, if I’m reading such a clearance that I need a pilot to copy it, it’s definitely not a clearance I’m giving all day every day. Your take on what a controller is there for is quite comical too. I feel like you must fit into the grumpy pilot category mentioned above. Hilarious!!
All of this can very well apply to a controller. I have encountered some really good controllers and some not so good. I do my very best to conduct myself professionally but so many times my professionalism is compromised by a controller. Many controllers have never flown a plane, and therefore, don’t understand the challenges we face in a busy environment. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Yes, we are all human. We do our best.
I became an Air Traffic Controller in 1972. Worked in RAPCON, tower. PAR, Approach Departure, and centers worldwide, at 7 facilities. I loved my job and miss it. I never judged a pilot or a fellow ATC person. We all are human and have good days and bad ones. ATC should recognize that fact. So what if there is a grumpy pilot under your control. That’s when he or she needs some TLC. Likewise for a controller. Then just move on to the next thing at hand. I lost an aircraft once. I had more bad days in about 2 years than I could count. People sometimes can’t process things like this. Everyone, treat ALL of your counter parts with the dignity and respect they deserve. WE have all earned it.
You’ve got that right! Many controllers would benefit immensely from a bit of time in the cockpit.