What was controller implying??

Bill J wrote:

Yesterday I was on an IFR flight about 50 miles from destination. The
area was getting covered with TS, including my alternate 20 miles futher
west. Home base was 150 mi to the east. I realized I might have to
reverse course to escape, but did not have enough fuel to get home for
sure.

So, the last chance to land before the TS got heavy was coming close.
When about 15 miles from this new "alternate" I told controller I wanted
to change destination. I expect a vector to the final, and I was needing
to start descent. Nothing happened. Finally when maybe 5 miles out, and
way to close to get a vector, controller quizzed me with "I need to know
what is the reason for the change in destination??"

From the tone of voice I could tell I caused him a problem. The traffic
was not heavy. I have never had anyone question a change like that. When
over the airport VMC opened up briefly, I cancelled and landed.
Wondering what might have caused the query.


I don't know what problem your request caused him, but why didn't you
just tell him why and ask why he asked why? :-)


Matt

I agree with everything except "ask why he asked why." Frequency time and
controller attention time is too valuable to be taken up with dialogue.

Bob Gardner

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
Bill J wrote:

Yesterday I was on an IFR flight about 50 miles from destination. The
area was getting covered with TS, including my alternate 20 miles futher
west. Home base was 150 mi to the east. I realized I might have to
reverse course to escape, but did not have enough fuel to get home for
sure.

So, the last chance to land before the TS got heavy was coming close.
When about 15 miles from this new "alternate" I told controller I wanted
to change destination. I expect a vector to the final, and I was needing
to start descent. Nothing happened. Finally when maybe 5 miles out, and
way to close to get a vector, controller quizzed me with "I need to know
what is the reason for the change in destination??"

From the tone of voice I could tell I caused him a problem. The traffic
was not heavy. I have never had anyone question a change like that. When
over the airport VMC opened up briefly, I cancelled and landed.
Wondering what might have caused the query.


I don't know what problem your request caused him, but why didn't you
just tell him why and ask why he asked why? :-)


Matt

"Bob Gardner" wrote in message
...
I agree with everything except "ask why he asked why." Frequency time and
controller attention time is too valuable to be taken up with dialogue.

Bob Gardner

Well, depending on the situation. I fly around the West a lot, and sometimes
there are long enough gaps between calls that I can listen to a whole side
of Stevie Ray. And, at least where I fly, the controllers initiate a lot of
the dialogue, often pointing out interesting planes and places to me such as
in-flight refuelings or the Winslow crater. You can usually tell if a
controller is open to "off-topic" questions.

Michael

Bob Gardner wrote:

I agree with everything except "ask why he asked why." Frequency time and
controller attention time is too valuable to be taken up with dialogue.

That all depends. I've flown on many a trip, even here in the
northeast, where it got quiet for so long that I called the controller
to be sure that my radio was still working. Sure, I wouldn't ask if
communications were hot and heavy, but that isn't the case all the time
unless you are talking to an approach or tower controller at a busy
filed. Centers are often pretty quiet, especially on a Sunday when it
is IMC across 6 states.


Matt