"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in news:1lkEh.3797
:


"Judah" wrote in message
. ..

Actually, when I listened to the edited tape on the WFAA report, my
initial
reaction to the inter-controller phone call was that the word "emergency"
was
not mentioned. Basically, controller #1 said that "American 489 is
requesting
17C" and controller #2 said "Unable."


But that would still be an ATC error.

Oh - I absolutely agree. But it makes the error a communication error caused
by a failure of Center to effectively communicate the Emergency to the Tower.
For whatever reason, that seems to be a much more realistic training issue
than an arrogant controller who refused to accomodate a plane involved in an
emergency issue, which is IMHO more of an attitude issue that may not ever be
corrected by training...