Radio 'altercation' with ATC

I'm amazed at all the responses in this thread to "Call the supervisor once
on the ground".

Although I agree that arguments or disagreements should be held over the
phone or in person, rather than over the air, I totally disagree that the
first thing you should do is call the supervisor.

I've been flying for many years and much of it in and out of extremely busy
airspace and there have been a few instance where I've been asked to call
the tower, and some where I've taken it up on my self to call. Some of them
my fault and some of them the controllers.

But the point is, I have never been called by a supervisor, and I have never
called a supervisor. I have always been able to speak directly to the
controller involved and settle it on the spot with out it going any further.
I know I'm happy it's been done like that and I'm sure there are a few
controllers out there that appreciate the same.

For me I have learned just as valuable a lesson by talking to the controller
without it having to have escalate in to anything else. I would suggest
that anyone who has a beef with a controller try talking directly to that
controller first. Then after that if you are not satisfied, consider
calling a supervisor.

JMHO,
PJ

============================================
Here's to the duck who swam a lake and never lost a feather,
May sometime another year, we all be back together.
JJW
============================================

Actually this thread reminds me of a some what funny incident that happened
to me once at Merrill field in Anchorage.

Merrill has a published pattern (which is some what tight in comparison to
most other airports) because of all the other aircraft activity in such
close proximity. Merrill is also a very busy airport. It used to be rated
the busiest general aviation airport in the US, but I have no idea if it
still holds that honor.

Anyway, a regular pain to pilots who know and follow the published pattern,
are pilots who fly huge, 747 patterns which ultimately mess up the timing of
everyone else attempting to fly the published pattern. Amazingly there are
two flight schools on the field who are notorious for teaching their
students this '747' pattern.

One day I was giving tailwheel instruction to a student and following behind
one of the other schools planes, which also had a student and instructor on
board. I was in a slow plane, a super cub, but because I was flying the
published pattern and much closer in that the 747 student in his C152, I was
gaining on him on each lap.

Finally about the 4th time around the controller asked me if I saw the other
traffic in the pattern ahead of me. (He was technically ahead of me, but
about a mile to my right - about 2 o'clock)

I replied that I had him insight to which the controller became rather
snotty and made a point to make sure that I knew that I was supposed to be
FOLLOWING that aircraft. I made no verbal response, but looked behind to my
right and then made a hard right turn, 90 degrees from my downwind heading
and started flying south.

After flying almost 1 mile the controller again called me and very upset
said "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

I calmly responded "Following the other aircraft in the pattern"

The next words out of the controllers mouth was "other aircraft, bring all
your downwind legs in about a mile, your to far out".

I continued flying with my student for about another half hour or so and
when we landed the controller asked me to call the tower. I called him up
and he apologized.

No harm, no foul. We're all human, we all make mistakes, we should help
each other out and learn from them.

PJ

============================================
Here's to the duck who swam a lake and never lost a feather,
May sometime another year, we all be back together.
JJW
============================================

How can you talk to the controller on the telephone while he is working
traffic?

PJ Hunt wrote:
But the point is, I have never been called by a supervisor, and I have never
called a supervisor. I have always been able to speak directly to the
controller involved and settle it on the spot with out it going any further.
I know I'm happy it's been done like that and I'm sure there are a few
controllers out there that appreciate the same.
For me I have learned just as valuable a lesson by talking to the controller
without it having to have escalate in to anything else. I would suggest
that anyone who has a beef with a controller try talking directly to that
controller first. Then after that if you are not satisfied, consider
calling a supervisor.

"john smith" wrote in message
...

How can you talk to the controller on the telephone while he is working
traffic?


He multitasks.

Dial the number. I've done it plenty of times. If it's slow they'll talk to
you and on the radio at the same time, if not they'll have another
controller fill in for them for a minute.

PJ

--

============================================
Here's to the duck who swam a lake and never lost a feather,
May sometime another year, we all be back together.
JJW
============================================

"john smith" wrote in message
...
How can you talk to the controller on the telephone while he is working
traffic?

PJ Hunt wrote:
But the point is, I have never been called by a supervisor, and I have
never
called a supervisor. I have always been able to speak directly to the
controller involved and settle it on the spot with out it going any
further.
I know I'm happy it's been done like that and I'm sure there are a few
controllers out there that appreciate the same.
For me I have learned just as valuable a lesson by talking to the
controller
without it having to have escalate in to anything else. I would suggest
that anyone who has a beef with a controller try talking directly to
that
controller first. Then after that if you are not satisfied, consider
calling a supervisor.