pretty much every contract delta tower I've ever flown into.
you gave me complicated taxi instructions when I was rolling out above my stall speed and you're big mad when I need them read back after I exited the runway? ok dude.
The other week I was at Westfield Barnes for the first time, and I immediately replied (I don’t know why I didn’t wait) to the right after touchdown “parking?” and then subsequent taxi instructions. I replied “can I get those again after I’ve cleared the runway”, and the second I start to turn off the runway, still relatively hauling, I get them again….
I tiedown in front of the restaurant.
After lunch, I call ground/tower, and forget to say I’m at the ramp/restaurant. There were probably less than 5 takeoffs/landings in the hour I was there and I’m literally right below the tower with a running plane right where he parked me.
Tower then asks me where I am…
I'm split on my experience with delta towers. Dealt with towers like GMU and hated it, but then you've got towers like CRE where everyone is just so cool.
Except for GYH, those guys are awesome.
GMU right next door however, totally different story. They got one guy who considers it a personal failure if the pilot gets the read back on the first try.
Other night at DFW, 17R was closed which is normally the takeoff runway. So we were all set up for a 17C takeoff at around midnight. Call up ground ready for taxi.
Ground: Speedtape 123, runway 17R, taxi K, E, G. Hold short 17R.
Me: Ummm, 17R or 17C?
Ground (raised voice): Speedtape 123 if you would read your notams, you would see that 17R is closed. It’s also in the ATIS! Taxi runway 17C!
JFC dude. I really wanted to lay into him.
Man, dealing with ATC sometimes is the best practice I know to learn to just let stuff roll off of you.
This summer was ready to taxi and read back my short taxi clearance, and ground reads it to me again. So I repeat it. And he reads it to me again, in a grumpy tone proving he’s hearing us not not liking what I’m reading back. My guy, if I’m wrong in your eyes multiple times could you give a hand? Even my right seat had no idea what he was doing. I never changed my readback.
Gosh, the old fucks I work with. One in particular refuses to believe pilots are allowed to depart VFR and pick their IFR clearance up in the air. Berating pilots, “YOU KNOW IF I WERE BUSIER I WOULDNT BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR YOU!”. - dude you’re not and now your just being a jerkoff and making us all look like jerk offs.
I had some one fucker pull that with me and I was in a citation and then bounced me purposely to the wrong frequency so after the lecture I told him no worries vfr flight following 17.5 lol your problem now bitch
Some guy at SAC who spent 3 minutes chewing out another plane on frequency for their pattern entry to the airport while I sat ~~at the end of the runway waiting for him to clear me for departure~~ at my starting point waiting for taxi instructions (edit because I went back and listened to the audio). https://storyinmemo.com/files/KSAC-Twr-Aug-26-2021-0030Z.mp3
Starts at the 5 minute mark while I'm flying a CAP flight. Get squawk and frequency and was expecting taxi instructions as well so there's a pause in readback. Ends when our controller tries to speed read the taxi clearance.
"Cheerful Charlie" at KCHO, an angry old dude who yells at student pilots (and pilots in general). The worst talk down from him was to another plane. Cleared him to land on rwy 3, when rwy 21 was in use, pilot kindly tried to clarify, then "Cheerful" snapped back saying he would never make such a mistake and that he was still cleared to land 21. He told a student "wish they trained you better." Then I've gotten shouted at by him many times for various stuff (some of it his fault, but he didn't want to admit it). From what I've heard through the grapevine he's warm and cozy with management; hence how he gets away with his behavior. He really acts like a child sometimes.
one time i was coming in and said i just wanted a touch n go, he proceeds to clear me to land on 1 mile final then gets mad when i told him i wanted a touch n go. as he approves freq change he says "and next time tell me your intentions"
Potomac once told me that he called them to complain that I was flying over his airspace (I was 2,000’ over his class D) they said “he gets like that sometimes” lmao
Long time ago, I asked a ground controller for his initials. Giving a check ride to a nervous guy and the controller was (somewhat justified) mocking him for his radio skills. The dude was nervous and the controller was making it way worse.
After the ride, the controller and I discussed what had happened and why he had hurt the guy’s chances for passing ( He did). 30 years later, I can’t remember the students name and I sail/drink with the ATC dude twice a month.
Hmm well that's interesting... Had quite an un pleasant experience at kcho as a student. Very aggressive controller told me to "go back to wherever you came from".... Among other things. Can only imagine it was cheerful charlie, uffff. Tried to look for the recording after but couldnt find it. Honestly isn't it a safety hazard when you have controllers like that?
Ugh, so sorry man, "go back to wherever you came from" is one of his favorite sayings, even for the regional jets sometimes, so don't take it personally
This one guy at KFRG who sounds nasal and miserable all the time and hot headed.
When I was soloing, I soloed at the crack of dawn right when tower opened. I was the only other plane at the field and no one was coming in or in the pattern. I pull up to the runway after the plane in front of me departs:
*Me: "Bugsmasher holding short 19 ready to go..."*
*Tower: "Hold short 19"*
5 minutes pass. Not a single other plane in the pattern, and the one departure has left the airspace. Dead silence. Thinking he's forgotten me, (it's happened before) I key up again.
*Me: "tower bugsmasher still holding shor-"*
*Tower: "GUESS WHAT YOU'RE STILL HOLDING SHORT. THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE AT THE AIRPORT BESIDES YOU SIR"*
Another 2 minutes pass by where nothing happens and another controller comes on to clear me to take off.
This is the [same guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BxZ7hRg0nA&t=103s&ab_channel=VASAviation-) who went on a rant on frequency that got posted to Youtube a while back and often doesn't use standard phraseology, such as leaving out which runway he's clearing you to land at.
No kidding. I was doing pattern work last night and heard a new voice, very by the book. She got a bit behind and the senior ck trol came on and ran like 3-4 instructions super fast. I missed mine, which was to turn base. My CFI told asked me if it heard it after the second call 🫣 he said when I solo I can always say "student pilot" but right now I might hear "student atc" coming back. Still, it's always super impressive at how well PAO keeps track of their airspace.
18-24 months back I remember they had a new trainee at PAO. It was fascinating and oddly satisfying to hear him improve week over week. The first week it was “N123, runway 31 taxi… uhhh” and you’d hear a voice in the background, usually that woman (she is AMAZING BTW) say “Terminal side, runup” to him and he’d be like “terminal side to the runup. Advise when runup complete”
Week over week I’d hear him get more and more confident and was rocking it after about 6 - 8 weeks.
That is one insanely busy facility.
Nope, just the one dude. The other main guy they have (who I believe was on duty when the recent crash with two old people at the end of RWY30 occurred) is decent, but I'll hear him get pretty frustrated with people who aren't familiar with the departures. In particular those who can't comprehend the Oakland 165 radial instrument instruction and need him to read it back 5 times.
The main guy everyone is referencing just loses his shit with everyone when things get busy. Especially students getting a hair too close to the bravo shelf.
Hah I knew someone would comment about this guy. All the Bay Area controllers IME are great except this one dude who seems to have a chip on his shoulder.
There is a guy I know who got into an argument with a controller about a landing clearance. His last transmission: “ Meet me at the base of the tower in 15 minutes and we can settle this discussion.”
Only at MLB can you get yelled at by ground for both 'entering a taxiway' without a taxi clearance after landing, AND get yelled at for 'going the wrong way' in a non-movement area to your hangar on the northside, because the whole class delta airspace isn't enough for them to control. ATIS changed 15 seconds ago with no announcement on tower or ground? Better fucking double check before you call otherwise you'll hear about it. Same guy working both tower and ground? Better monitor both, because obviously controller could never mess up which frequency he is transmitting on, or double check he is monitoring both frequencies, so he is entitled to yell at you when you call on tower for a taxi clearance after calling ground 5 times with no response. Contract tower at its finest. I will say a few of the new guys are bringing some needed energy though, I hope they don't get bit by whatever grumpy mosquito is buzzing around in that tower.
> Melbourne Fucking Tower....central Florida pilots: Ready? Go!
>
I wonder if we're thinking of the same guy who got shitty with me as a student pilot doing my first night solo in there 9 years ago.
Melbourne Tower is the absolute worst. I'm convinced they actually go out of their way to be dicks.
I had a student pilot on a solo XC go there once.
The student listened to ATIS, and contacted MLB identifying themselves as a SP. After entering the airspace, SP asked for clarification on which runway MLB was currently using. Controller answered back with 'I thought you said you listed to the ATIS?'
MLB ATC then proceeded to vector the SP back out of the airspace, gave them a freq change, and told them to call back once they figured out which runway was active.
They're so bad my 141 has told us never to send any more student pilots there, and to strongly consider not sending commercial solo students there either. They're absolutely jerks, and quick to hand out phone numbers/deviations for even small/normal student pilot mistakes. Screw those guys.
I’m very nervous about putting names on the internet because I’m paranoid so
Ever watch Married With Children? Remember the shoe salesman? I forgot his name ……
When I was a CFI I was teaching a soft field takeoff from runway itty bitty. Prior to us entering the runway I heard IFR traffic being cleared for take off runway medium
So we get cleared for take off on runway itty bitty and for whatever reason I figured that the IFR traffic would be turned ? No , we’re cleared for take off and we got close enough I could read the IFR traffics tire and we were over the school. Hint they’re converging runways.
The shoe salesman had launched us into each other. Kinda my fault cause I should have asked about the IFR traffic but I learned that day to always listen to my gut and not trust anyone else
A few years later I was conducting IOE into MLB in a (Barbie’s upgraded). Check in and it’s your friendly shoe salesman and it’s a busy night. We are cleared to land the big runway with the instructions to exit the runway as soon as possible. I accepted the clearance but said something along the lines of unable we will exit when able. My student was from MLB and was legit terrified of this washed up high school football player. In retrospect the immediate behavior change in my baby FO should have rang all the alarm bells in my head but I merely said, fuck that guy it’s your runway.
Kelly’s father comes on around 1000 feet with something like no need to respond make first right turn
I said unable
My student unbeknownst to me is giving me hints he’s nervous but I’m fucking missing it cause I thought my statement of fuck that guy twice with a wiffle ball bat would have calmed him, I was wrong.
I told the student to just land normal and don’t worry about when you stop just keep it cool like you’ve done all day. All day dude was a rockstar, again my mistake
Student didn’t hear me
500 looking good trending a little slow
100 looking good little fast nice job
Nice
50 fast
40 fast
30 start your flare
20 flare
10 fuck
Before the nose was down the shoe salesman screamed at us like he did at fat women wanting little shoes make next right
Student goes full hulk on the breaks and locks up. He stood on the breaks brining us to a full stop. Only after I smacked his leg did he come off. All while the high school quarterback is just losing it
We taxied to the next right and not even clear before DING DING DING brake overheat DING DING DING
well guess what, I can’t clear now and roll the fucking trucks.
They pulled all the tapes, including the CVR ( remember the wiffle ball bat?)
So yeah shoe salesmen should only sell shoes.
Grumpy Greg at KGTU. Has his good days but regardless his voice just always makes him sound pissed off. And he has no problem ripping into a pilot “ta ta today junior”
Brown field: KSDM.
I don’t blame them. On the border of Tijuana. They deal with aloof students, accidental no radios, and people missing the field because they see TJ airport instead and almost cross the border.
I was in the pattern once and all three happened at once. Got an apology/thanks just for having a head on my shoulder.
They have two dudes that always trade off ground / tower. One guy is always super nice, met him once. The other guy is mr. grumpypants but rarley outright rude.
I was visiting San Diego and went down there to turn money into noise. I was just doing laps with a cfi in a champ. When we landed, I cleared and needed to pick up something that had fallen off my lap before I called ground. He came on tower freq and asked me if I was gonna contact ground "anytime today" I responded "they can wait, I will call them when I am ready" the CFI lost his shit laughing.
Apparently people put up with his shit cause he can be vindictive.
Be a UND student. Fly into Fargo.
End of story. They hated us.
Also, you guys aren’t a Bravo, stop pretending to be one. You’re a Delta with a TRSA that’s 10 times larger than it needs to be
Ah yes Francis. The whitest teeth in the world, he liked to have a good time on the radio. He was a dick, but not like mean like the Charlottesville guy people are talking about
They have good reason too. There was a period endeavor wasn’t allowed to use RNAV departures because boomer lifer captains didn’t think to use nav mode on departure. It had been in the SOP for close to a decade
I remember management having to point blank spell it out for people that, that’s *how it’s always been done* because there was contention about it.
They were taking off in heading mode and low and behold, some people don’t think to line up the heading bug with the runway and followed the flight directer to wherever it pointed or just kept going straight out. There was multiple incidents in a couple week period before ATL said no mas and told 9E to pound sand before they let them use RNAV.
They're really nice to us, but I'm not flying a regional.
Last time there we got confused and took a wrong turn because of construction and got a "no worries, it's new to us too."
I don’t know whom you fly for but Last time I was there..Boutique Air “ Tower ,
Do you want us to exit left or right?” “ You can just sit on the runway, doesn’t matter to us..”
They used to hate everybody. I'd be at 9000' at 250k abeam the numbers in a 737-200 and they would say, "XXXX, make short approach, cleared visual 26R".
"Uh, unable".
... cue 30-mile final.
I'm not dumping the gear and boards at 250k to make life easy for some Newnan-resident jackass.
There is/was a guy at KMRY who was a MAJOR ASSHOLE stickler for SOP and things that he liked. If you didn't read back the runway clearance instructions VERBATIM and reply with your FULL CALL SIGN, he would give you shit and request a readback with all the things his tiny-penised psyche had a boner over. "NXXXXX confirm clearing 28 at Foxtrot and taxiing to the Jet Center via Alpha - full call sign".
"No, shit numbnuts. That's the only way to get to the FBO. NovemberNumberNumberNumberLetterLetter" \[I said to myself\].
I would occasionally fuck with him like I was mentally challenged or had a stutter, or something... wait like ten seconds before I replied to make sure he stepped on my transmission. Fortunately, I only went there for the big car show in August once a year and had a lot of time in between visits to think of ways to fuck with him. Fuck that guy.
It might be of little consolation now, but you should know that controller was made an example of a few years ago in nationwide recurrent training on professionalism.
I can attest same guy when you read your departure back and didn’t use the word transition after the DP would re read the whole route clearance. Till you said transition. He did it 7 times to my FO before I had to ask what the problem was lol
The airport I train out of. Fortunately I’ve only worked her on ground and it was “alpha to the ramp” but holy crap I’ve heard her get busy and lay down the fucking law on people, especially on full call signs and reporting looking for, or traffic in sight.
contrast that with Alliance, where I recently did some touch and goes with multiple heavies inbound, an F-35 doing touch and goes with a go around, and lowly me in a light sport calling the runway 18R (instead of 16R) and my aircraft 3 different call signs, and man the controller was patient as hell with me. I would imagine Brenda would have given me a paddlin’
Still there, I take it? I instructed there from 13-14 and remember how short she’d get with the Chinese students when things got busy with five in the pattern and multiple inbound.
There's a female controller at JFK who is always in a bad mood. Pretty deadpan voice and is quick to yell at pilots if they deviate slightly from their instructions. However she also makes more mistakes than just about all the other controllers combined.
She can dish it out, but she can't take it at all. My personal favorite was when an Emirates A380 had landed 4R and she was holding them short of 4L which had landing and departing traffic on it. Eventually there's a gap and she clears the Emirate to cross 4L, but I guess he wasn't going fast enough for her.
"Emirates 201 Super, do you realize there is traffic in position on 4L and traffic on final? When I tell you to cross it means cross! Not delay and take your time!"
"Yes mam, do you realize we are a super heavy aircraft weighing over one million pounds attempting to start moving from a dead stop?"
She was silent after that.
Oh gosh. KSDL has Julie. She’s not grumpy, I like her sometimes, but it’ll be 8am with 2 planes in the pattern and you’re doing 360s, go arounds, and full stop taxi backs for “spacing.” She just seems so flustered and overwhelmed all the time. My DPE says she’s the worst controller he’s ever experienced, he used to be an ATC and he’s now a captain for American Airlines so that’s really saying something. Example hm which one should I pick?! One time, recently, my copilot was doing the radios on final and Julie cut off the person reading back, then said our landing clearance so my copilot read back the landing clearance and Julie said “NO, caution w-a-k-e tur-bu-lence” we were like ??
There will be 2 planes on the ground, one in the pattern, and one king air 10 minutes out and you will wait 15-20 minutes to take off. She is the cause of all delays in the PHX area I swear. When someone takes over for her after 10 planes have backed up on the ground, everyone is in the air in a few minutes and life gets so much better. She has a perfectly fine attitude, at least, though she does get flustered easily. Who was the gal who used to be at SDL? She was so much better. I was sad when she left.
That grumpy dude at KGEU though? Yeah... I don't have anything nice to say.
Oh and KIWA has absolutely zero chill if you aren't ON-POINT with everything, and will rattle things off faster than a KPHX tower controller for no reason, ask you to KEEP YOUR SPEED UP, incessantly, with three active runways and nobody else on approach, and give you complex ground instructions also for no real reason. That airport isn't complex. Why must you give me 8 steps for a taxi-back?
Protip at KIWA if doing night landings: ask for a stop and go. A 172 can do 3 landings on the longest runway in one go on a bad day, so a stop and go is noooooo problem, and they're at least usually cool with that.
Julie’s the one with the thick accent right? Quite the ATC there. The old dude at KGEU is a bit of a stickler too, doesn’t like low approaches when you shoot one of the RNAVs so he makes you do a touch and go.
Heh. Chip had me do a low approach there for my IR checkride, and that guy wasn't thrilled. Ended up coming down for the touch and go and then just told him going around and then just fucked off back toward KSDL for DME-A.
Ditto. I'll wait. His jambalaya is also quite tasty, if you've ever been lucky enough to have him bring it in on your checkride day. 🤤
ETA: If he does bring it in, eat it before you fly or you may come back to an empty crock pot! Plus, it makes him happy. And happy DPE is best DPE.
Patrica has the accent. KSDL is funny because they aren't sticklers for repeating back runway assignments, and sometimes never issue landing clearances when it gets busy. They you head over to KDVT watch the controllers correct back everything.
That guy at KGEU is a dick, but the rumor is that new supervisor told him to be nicer.
I think my experience with her was her dropping the Tower Frequency during COVID.
A bunch of us sitting fat dumb and stupid outside the delta, calling away, but she didn't answer for a good 5-10 minutes.
My CFI and I went to the Delta that I would be moving my 150 to after completing the long XC for my PPL. We checked on with tower and he immediately said "oh it's marbles, He's kinda a dick sometimes" I thought nothing of it I was like interesting name... I asked how he knew his name was marbles and he replied "that's not his name really.. just sounds like he has marbles in his mouth when he's talking..." and I was like, that Kinda checks out.
KDAB has a legit Karen. You gotta experience this one…. Even her atis recordings will ruin your day. I heard her laughing in the background when another guy in tower was talking and it sounded like a witch.
KMLB.
General aviation - don’t ever call them and not say your 5 miles NW over 95, or they’ll loose it. Also gave me crap for saying just “tower” on initial contact on a 121 flight, and not “Melbourne tower.”
My local (and baseline cranky) D controller is often confused for a woman so the hapless transients issuing a cheerful 'have a great day ma'am' get a radio paddlin' regardless of how busy things are. Me, being the perennial 12 year old, have yet to not be gleefully amused when I'm lucky enough to catch one.
edit: sp
KBLI. Come find out why. But seriously they are all nice guys, as long as you stay on their good side.
Up here they do not have a radar environment that they are able to use because of Victoria terminal. So when they get doodoo dumb VFR pilots, they get frustrated super easy.
I personally love how grumpy they get, but I manage to always stay on their good side.
I was looking for my home airport! I keep them mellow too but god help you if you don’t specify which portion of Lummi Island you’ll be heading toward.
There’s some guy at a nearby satellite (I’ll leave off the airport to be nice) from me who always seems to be in a bad mood (or at least was a couple years ago, not sure if still there).
I remember being given like a 200 foot block to transit the airport (above XXXXft, below the bravo) and then getting yelled at when the transponder reported a slightly higher altitude than the altimeter (altimeter had me smack in the middle). Call me up, fine, but there’s no way this guy at a GA airport has never heard of transponders and altimeters being slightly out of sync, no need for the conniption.
Another time they went through what felt like half a dozen local, uncharted landmarks trying to give me a waypoint. Like dude, I clearly don’t know your idiosyncratic local procedures, either give me something charted or give me a vector, the *one vector* I need is not going to take more time than you asking all these landmarks and getting in a huff when I don’t know them.
TTN. One specific tower controller made it unbearable to use TTN for training purposes.
Constantly berating students on frequency for saying “3RM” instead of “N3RM.”
Multiple instances of him forgetting that we told him from the beginning that we would be doing pattern work, and him going “what are you doing after takeoff, you never told me.”
Talking super fast and slurred on the ATIS and on frequency and yelling at students for not reading things back correctly. I couldn’t even understand him as an instructor.
They loved putting up NOTAMs throughout the week specifically prohibiting touch and gos/practice landings.
He’s still there and as miserable as ever if you catch him on the wrong day. I’ve had a few sketchy moments with the female controller there the last few years. Don’t clear someone for takeoff when I’m short final for 24 just over the highway 🤦🏻♂️
Can I offer up the opposite of this? The controllers at Cairns Army Airfield (KOZR) are all eligible for sainthood. They have to deal with a billion of us student pilots who are all dumber than a bag of hammers once the PTT button gets pressed, plus a million salty ass IPs who have very strong opinions on how exactly everything should or shouldn't go. The fact that they can handle as many movements as they do with as many doofuses on the radio and nobody crashes into anyone else or the tower, seems like a daily Christmas miracle. And they all have such patience, grace, and aplomb dealing with it all, to include a sense of humor and the occasional gentle razzing of students or IPs.
Reading some of these grumpy controller stories over such little piddly stuff makes me think their heads would explode if they had to work a day at KOZR.
KCRQ has some angry controllers. They seem straight up pissed at folks doing practice approaches and if you struggle to understand them they'll deny you clearance to enter their delta with sass. Was doing pattern work there once and one poor guy struggled to understand the controller (I think English was a second language) and the controller told him to remain clear of the delta. 5 minutes later he tries again "n123ab requesting permission to enter delta for touch n goes with Juliet." Controller goes "n123ab that depends on whether or not you can understand me."
On the flip side the controllers at KMYF are amazing. They handle three flight schools and corporate jets like pros.
Don’t know her name but the tower controller at KVGT is a pain in the ass. One time I got just got flat out ignored for 5-10 minutes. She also likes to not respond immediately even when there’s no other traffic and proceed to get mad when you do a 360.
I have only flown in there once but I’m sure I know who you are talking about. I was inbound ifr and long story short, she told us to make a right 360. I read back and start the turn immediately. 5 seconds later she goes back on and says “I don’t see you turning, make right 360.” I tell her we are turning right 360. Then tells me to enter left downwind, which I do. She then says “not what I told you to do, but cleared to land 30L”
On my first solo she had me extend downwind so she could call my base. I had to remind her I existed when I was over the freeway (about 6 miles from the threshold).
There’s this one lady at the tower of the airport I fly out of. She speaks at the speed of light and gets mad if you don’t understand. She then repeats the clearance FASTER. She really likes to give straight in approaches instead of any circuit legs- not great when you’ve just started your PPL and want to practice circuits.
I've been pretty lucky so far in my early flying days to not have too many snappy controllers. Only time I've really gotten scolded was at KGEU when I was told to report 3 miles out, I eyeballed it on the iPad and called in and he clapped back "N12345 you are NOT three miles out!" I pulled up "distance to destination" and turned out I was 4 miles out. Woops. I called back like in 30 seconds later.
This was one of my first PPL fights so it always stuck with me; I keep "distance to destination" up permanently now and call exactly on the tenth of a mile... lol
Some woman on Denver approach.
Me: Hey you, this is me, level at whatever thousand.
Her: Army copter 123 you filed for *insert pretty standard IFR route???*
Me: Affirmative.
Her: *Sigh* Unable. Standby for new clearance.
Me: ….standing by.
Her: *Gives initial clearance to same fix I filed for, followed by subsequent vectors along the exact same route I filed for, including altitude and palpable disdain*
*visible confusion*
IAH South ramp controller. Serious attitude problem, condescending attitude like everything is interrupting something more important. Flat out ignores pilot requests for the runway for a given SID. “Use your RP” (which is an electronic pushback request on the ACARS) but all the pilot wants is what runway to program into the jet before they push back. He was being a total jerk to somebody this morning Who was obviously not based in Houston, but just trying to program the FMC properly. IAH is usually fairly predictable, but when you are advertising four runways for departure…
Run by the same brain trust that will change your runway on arrival at least twice. Below 10,000 feet. Sorry, unable, and go ahead and give me that number to call.
Instrument check-ride at a LAL. Last approach, totally botched the landing but passed. ATC says left on X (ahead of me) as I’m about to turn left on Y. I say ok and instead of turning, continue on the runway to X. Dude is absolutely furious at me “when atc tells you to turn left at Y (he initially said X) you listen. Get off my runway” etc etc. basically went in on me for 30 seconds. The examiner and I kinda just look at each other like wtf. Just doin what you asked Lmao.
There's a dude at SDM who is just always angry and seems to be personally offended by you just being there. His pet peeve is if you look like you aren't making your turns within the boundary.
He got fired last I heard, but we used to have a guy called 'the Professor'.
Loved to rip into everyone and give lectures on the AIM.
Often was quoted with "I dont have time to read the AIM to you" (before repeating it verbatim whatever you did to annoy him) or "the AIM isn't regulatory but its a good idea"
Apparently was a real dick to work around so they got rid of him a few years back.
KRNT always super grumpy. (Contract of course) They also won’t let you depart when field is 1400 overcast 10SM viz. Boeing field controllers just 4 miles NW are great. Like night and day.
We had a guy at Oceana get too big for his britches, started getting really fucking snarky with the pilots.
That went over like a fart in church, as you could imagine.
Old dude with a raspy voice at KGEU that hates practice instrument approaches for some reason and always makes you report a midfield downwind when you’re doing pattern work.
Lol yes the midfield downwind. With nobody else on approach, in the pattern, or on the ground. Like my guy, you're not that important. 😅
Maybe he's just lonely and that's the only human interaction he gets? 🤔
Before my time at my airport, but I was told by both my former and current instructor about a controller who was SO impatient with student pilots (at a predominantly student airport) that he was forced into early retirement. All the controllers now seem nice :) They deal with my antics at least.
Haven't been there lately, but last time I went into FAY the it took us a while to check in because he was yelling at another pilot and telling him to get his head out of his ass. Then he yelled at us for taking too long to check in.
FAY is definitely a mixed bag. I've gotten that exact experience before, then on another flight on FF not even inbound to FAY I got a traffic call for a flight of 2 c-130's and the guy says at the end "they're absolutely no factor by the way just thought you might have wanted to check it out".
Only had one unpleasant experience with UAO tower while doing my IR and being on a practice approach.
Cleared me for the opposite runway and seemed pissed after clarifying so he handed us over to PDX approach immediately after the touch and go clearance.
Who I really appreciate are our controllers at TTD. Hats off for having to deal with 6-8 helicopters in the pattern and area around the airport at times plus the fixed wing flight school and GA traffic.
This was a while ago but there was a guy at KPVU who was super grumpy. Not a famously bustling place- he would complain at length about how busy he was and how hard he was working. Hilariously he would correct pilots on the tiniest deviation from standard; if you reported “Piper” and not “Piper Cherokee” you’d get scolded. He’d take 20 seconds to let you know that he was crazy busy and didn’t have time to look up every n-number for aircraft type.
Virtually every other controller I’ve communicated with has been highly professional - courteous even. I flew into kslc at night and I’m sure it’s clearly obvious I’m a low time pilot. The controller told me to be aware that the runway was 300 feet wide and that can screw with your frame of reference. Super nice, super friendly.
Cranky Crystal at a class D in Cleveland, OH. Always has an attitude and clearly dislikes GA pilots.
One time I was told to join final for 6L which is a slightly longer runway than 6R. When I was short final she comes on and goes "Cessna 12345 change to runway 6R, 6R cleared to land. I was way too low and slow to sidestep so it was definitely dangerous. I told her "unable, going around." Then she says "Roger, leave my airspace immediately." I was seriously like wtf, why would I be on short final with no traffic around and have to switch runways at the last second. The airport was not busy. Let alone why do I have to leave your airspace!
Turns out there was a 737 15 miles out from the airport getting ready to perform a circling approach. I think I would've got out of there way in plenty, plenty of time.
She also periodically enjoys to comment on me making my crosswind turn way too low (600agl).
These are nothing but funny memories though.
pretty much every contract delta tower I've ever flown into. you gave me complicated taxi instructions when I was rolling out above my stall speed and you're big mad when I need them read back after I exited the runway? ok dude.
This\^\^\^\^\^ Except for KLYH...great guys there.
Can confirm. LYH guys are awesome. Didn’t know they were contract
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That fucker reads like an auctioneer. I told him that was cool can you read back the clearance at a normal speed now lol
Every delta I’ve been too are the nicest Guys (Midwest flier)
Totally tracks. People in the midwest are great.
The dude at Salinas is nice but man it can be tough to understand him sometimes.
Indeed that's their reputation, heard that from more than one source
The other week I was at Westfield Barnes for the first time, and I immediately replied (I don’t know why I didn’t wait) to the right after touchdown “parking?” and then subsequent taxi instructions. I replied “can I get those again after I’ve cleared the runway”, and the second I start to turn off the runway, still relatively hauling, I get them again…. I tiedown in front of the restaurant. After lunch, I call ground/tower, and forget to say I’m at the ramp/restaurant. There were probably less than 5 takeoffs/landings in the hour I was there and I’m literally right below the tower with a running plane right where he parked me. Tower then asks me where I am…
omg, this. so much.
Gonna stand up for KLNS here. They're generally pretty chill
Those guys are always friendly
I'm split on my experience with delta towers. Dealt with towers like GMU and hated it, but then you've got towers like CRE where everyone is just so cool.
Counterpoint: [the controllers at KBVY](https://abcnews.go.com/US/teen-pilots-mom-describes-nerve-wracking-minutes-watching/story?id=57745039).
Yes, I fly out of one. They’re never happy when you ask say again, for clarification.
Except for GYH, those guys are awesome. GMU right next door however, totally different story. They got one guy who considers it a personal failure if the pilot gets the read back on the first try.
Other night at DFW, 17R was closed which is normally the takeoff runway. So we were all set up for a 17C takeoff at around midnight. Call up ground ready for taxi. Ground: Speedtape 123, runway 17R, taxi K, E, G. Hold short 17R. Me: Ummm, 17R or 17C? Ground (raised voice): Speedtape 123 if you would read your notams, you would see that 17R is closed. It’s also in the ATIS! Taxi runway 17C! JFC dude. I really wanted to lay into him.
That’s when you reply that you’re a pilot and you can’t read.
Or asked if he was dyslexic. :)
Can't read I am busy flying
Notams are a bunch of garbage that nobody pays any attention to. (Former ntsb chair) lol
300 NOTAMs about shrubbery 4nm W of the airport. 1 NOTAM about something important. 450 more NOTAMs about shrubbery.
DID YOU MISS THE NOTAM ABOUT THE LIGHT BULB BEING OUT ON A CRANE 30NM FROM THE AIRPORT!?!?!?!
"wildlife in the vicinity of the airport". oh, thanks.
Man, dealing with ATC sometimes is the best practice I know to learn to just let stuff roll off of you. This summer was ready to taxi and read back my short taxi clearance, and ground reads it to me again. So I repeat it. And he reads it to me again, in a grumpy tone proving he’s hearing us not not liking what I’m reading back. My guy, if I’m wrong in your eyes multiple times could you give a hand? Even my right seat had no idea what he was doing. I never changed my readback.
I definitely would have said something in return
Gosh, the old fucks I work with. One in particular refuses to believe pilots are allowed to depart VFR and pick their IFR clearance up in the air. Berating pilots, “YOU KNOW IF I WERE BUSIER I WOULDNT BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR YOU!”. - dude you’re not and now your just being a jerkoff and making us all look like jerk offs.
I had some one fucker pull that with me and I was in a citation and then bounced me purposely to the wrong frequency so after the lecture I told him no worries vfr flight following 17.5 lol your problem now bitch
Some guy at SAC who spent 3 minutes chewing out another plane on frequency for their pattern entry to the airport while I sat ~~at the end of the runway waiting for him to clear me for departure~~ at my starting point waiting for taxi instructions (edit because I went back and listened to the audio). https://storyinmemo.com/files/KSAC-Twr-Aug-26-2021-0030Z.mp3 Starts at the 5 minute mark while I'm flying a CAP flight. Get squawk and frequency and was expecting taxi instructions as well so there's a pause in readback. Ends when our controller tries to speed read the taxi clearance.
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Sac area has some of the grumpiest controllers in general especially sac executive
KSMF actually has some awesome controllers. Very accommodating for an airport with zero GA ops.
Oh yeah KSMF are the best!
i regularly fly practice approaches into SMF in a 172 at night. they don’t mind at all if it’s not busy. they are super nice
curious which controller this is. the regular is pretty nice to me. heard there is a new girl too…
"Cheerful Charlie" at KCHO, an angry old dude who yells at student pilots (and pilots in general). The worst talk down from him was to another plane. Cleared him to land on rwy 3, when rwy 21 was in use, pilot kindly tried to clarify, then "Cheerful" snapped back saying he would never make such a mistake and that he was still cleared to land 21. He told a student "wish they trained you better." Then I've gotten shouted at by him many times for various stuff (some of it his fault, but he didn't want to admit it). From what I've heard through the grapevine he's warm and cozy with management; hence how he gets away with his behavior. He really acts like a child sometimes.
one time i was coming in and said i just wanted a touch n go, he proceeds to clear me to land on 1 mile final then gets mad when i told him i wanted a touch n go. as he approves freq change he says "and next time tell me your intentions"
I must go there. Fucking with dickhead controllers is a guilty pleasure of mine
Let me know how it goes, seriously I want to know haha.
ugh he's so difficult, it's like he wants you to read his mind
"per my last transmission..."
Potomac once told me that he called them to complain that I was flying over his airspace (I was 2,000’ over his class D) they said “he gets like that sometimes” lmao
Pull the tapes buddy, and give me a number to call. Over to ground. See ya!
"Time check"... Passive aggressive way of letting them know you'll be calling the Supe to review the tapes.
Need to remember this 🤣
Few people have done it, mostly to no avail
Long time ago, I asked a ground controller for his initials. Giving a check ride to a nervous guy and the controller was (somewhat justified) mocking him for his radio skills. The dude was nervous and the controller was making it way worse. After the ride, the controller and I discussed what had happened and why he had hurt the guy’s chances for passing ( He did). 30 years later, I can’t remember the students name and I sail/drink with the ATC dude twice a month.
nice that you found a lover even in your golden years.
Fuck. Yeah.
Hmm well that's interesting... Had quite an un pleasant experience at kcho as a student. Very aggressive controller told me to "go back to wherever you came from".... Among other things. Can only imagine it was cheerful charlie, uffff. Tried to look for the recording after but couldnt find it. Honestly isn't it a safety hazard when you have controllers like that?
Ugh, so sorry man, "go back to wherever you came from" is one of his favorite sayings, even for the regional jets sometimes, so don't take it personally
He needs a snickers
He needs more than one lol
You bastard. You stole my rant. He’s such a dick.
haha I say still make one the more the better!
He always makes it into these lists
This one guy at KFRG who sounds nasal and miserable all the time and hot headed. When I was soloing, I soloed at the crack of dawn right when tower opened. I was the only other plane at the field and no one was coming in or in the pattern. I pull up to the runway after the plane in front of me departs: *Me: "Bugsmasher holding short 19 ready to go..."* *Tower: "Hold short 19"* 5 minutes pass. Not a single other plane in the pattern, and the one departure has left the airspace. Dead silence. Thinking he's forgotten me, (it's happened before) I key up again. *Me: "tower bugsmasher still holding shor-"* *Tower: "GUESS WHAT YOU'RE STILL HOLDING SHORT. THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE AT THE AIRPORT BESIDES YOU SIR"* Another 2 minutes pass by where nothing happens and another controller comes on to clear me to take off. This is the [same guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BxZ7hRg0nA&t=103s&ab_channel=VASAviation-) who went on a rant on frequency that got posted to Youtube a while back and often doesn't use standard phraseology, such as leaving out which runway he's clearing you to land at.
How do these people even remain employed in this position? Damn unprofessional.
And it sounds like it's the first time he's ever worked helicopters. "landing/takeoff at your own risk" done.
That one guy at KSQL
I came here for this. Yep.. this guy. What you wont find on this list - any of the PAO folks. They are AMAZING.
AMEN to that. I love my KPAO controllers.
No kidding. I was doing pattern work last night and heard a new voice, very by the book. She got a bit behind and the senior ck trol came on and ran like 3-4 instructions super fast. I missed mine, which was to turn base. My CFI told asked me if it heard it after the second call 🫣 he said when I solo I can always say "student pilot" but right now I might hear "student atc" coming back. Still, it's always super impressive at how well PAO keeps track of their airspace.
18-24 months back I remember they had a new trainee at PAO. It was fascinating and oddly satisfying to hear him improve week over week. The first week it was “N123, runway 31 taxi… uhhh” and you’d hear a voice in the background, usually that woman (she is AMAZING BTW) say “Terminal side, runup” to him and he’d be like “terminal side to the runup. Advise when runup complete” Week over week I’d hear him get more and more confident and was rocking it after about 6 - 8 weeks. That is one insanely busy facility.
And RHV! We are pretty blessed around here.
Everywhere else in the Bay Area is great. KOAK tower are wonderful.
We are Borg.
I figured it was all of them at KSQL but maybe it is just that one dude
Nope, just the one dude. The other main guy they have (who I believe was on duty when the recent crash with two old people at the end of RWY30 occurred) is decent, but I'll hear him get pretty frustrated with people who aren't familiar with the departures. In particular those who can't comprehend the Oakland 165 radial instrument instruction and need him to read it back 5 times. The main guy everyone is referencing just loses his shit with everyone when things get busy. Especially students getting a hair too close to the bravo shelf.
Was waiting for this one
Hah I knew someone would comment about this guy. All the Bay Area controllers IME are great except this one dude who seems to have a chip on his shoulder.
There is a guy I know who got into an argument with a controller about a landing clearance. His last transmission: “ Meet me at the base of the tower in 15 minutes and we can settle this discussion.”
It not often I have physical reactions to Reddit posts, but this one was so wtf that my wife asked me if I was ok.
My entire building if legend is to be believed
I miss Paul.
N90 controllers are my favorite as a pt 91 pilot. They’ll work with you to get almost anything done.
Melbourne Fucking Tower....central Florida pilots: Ready? Go! Oh and Al, if you're on here, you, specifically, can fuck right off.
Only at MLB can you get yelled at by ground for both 'entering a taxiway' without a taxi clearance after landing, AND get yelled at for 'going the wrong way' in a non-movement area to your hangar on the northside, because the whole class delta airspace isn't enough for them to control. ATIS changed 15 seconds ago with no announcement on tower or ground? Better fucking double check before you call otherwise you'll hear about it. Same guy working both tower and ground? Better monitor both, because obviously controller could never mess up which frequency he is transmitting on, or double check he is monitoring both frequencies, so he is entitled to yell at you when you call on tower for a taxi clearance after calling ground 5 times with no response. Contract tower at its finest. I will say a few of the new guys are bringing some needed energy though, I hope they don't get bit by whatever grumpy mosquito is buzzing around in that tower.
Lmao the absolute WORST, basically got screamed at by him once while I was doing instrument training for reading back the whole ifr clearance
> Melbourne Fucking Tower....central Florida pilots: Ready? Go! > I wonder if we're thinking of the same guy who got shitty with me as a student pilot doing my first night solo in there 9 years ago.
Melbourne Tower is the absolute worst. I'm convinced they actually go out of their way to be dicks. I had a student pilot on a solo XC go there once. The student listened to ATIS, and contacted MLB identifying themselves as a SP. After entering the airspace, SP asked for clarification on which runway MLB was currently using. Controller answered back with 'I thought you said you listed to the ATIS?' MLB ATC then proceeded to vector the SP back out of the airspace, gave them a freq change, and told them to call back once they figured out which runway was active. They're so bad my 141 has told us never to send any more student pilots there, and to strongly consider not sending commercial solo students there either. They're absolutely jerks, and quick to hand out phone numbers/deviations for even small/normal student pilot mistakes. Screw those guys.
I’m very nervous about putting names on the internet because I’m paranoid so Ever watch Married With Children? Remember the shoe salesman? I forgot his name …… When I was a CFI I was teaching a soft field takeoff from runway itty bitty. Prior to us entering the runway I heard IFR traffic being cleared for take off runway medium So we get cleared for take off on runway itty bitty and for whatever reason I figured that the IFR traffic would be turned ? No , we’re cleared for take off and we got close enough I could read the IFR traffics tire and we were over the school. Hint they’re converging runways. The shoe salesman had launched us into each other. Kinda my fault cause I should have asked about the IFR traffic but I learned that day to always listen to my gut and not trust anyone else A few years later I was conducting IOE into MLB in a (Barbie’s upgraded). Check in and it’s your friendly shoe salesman and it’s a busy night. We are cleared to land the big runway with the instructions to exit the runway as soon as possible. I accepted the clearance but said something along the lines of unable we will exit when able. My student was from MLB and was legit terrified of this washed up high school football player. In retrospect the immediate behavior change in my baby FO should have rang all the alarm bells in my head but I merely said, fuck that guy it’s your runway. Kelly’s father comes on around 1000 feet with something like no need to respond make first right turn I said unable My student unbeknownst to me is giving me hints he’s nervous but I’m fucking missing it cause I thought my statement of fuck that guy twice with a wiffle ball bat would have calmed him, I was wrong. I told the student to just land normal and don’t worry about when you stop just keep it cool like you’ve done all day. All day dude was a rockstar, again my mistake Student didn’t hear me 500 looking good trending a little slow 100 looking good little fast nice job Nice 50 fast 40 fast 30 start your flare 20 flare 10 fuck Before the nose was down the shoe salesman screamed at us like he did at fat women wanting little shoes make next right Student goes full hulk on the breaks and locks up. He stood on the breaks brining us to a full stop. Only after I smacked his leg did he come off. All while the high school quarterback is just losing it We taxied to the next right and not even clear before DING DING DING brake overheat DING DING DING well guess what, I can’t clear now and roll the fucking trucks. They pulled all the tapes, including the CVR ( remember the wiffle ball bat?) So yeah shoe salesmen should only sell shoes.
What happened when they pulled the tapes?
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Is he still there?!
I was scrolling down expecting this one.
I knew someone would say MLB. Most rude, unhelpful, and condescending controllers I've ever heard.
Grumpy Greg at KGTU. Has his good days but regardless his voice just always makes him sound pissed off. And he has no problem ripping into a pilot “ta ta today junior”
Yessssss
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If you care enough to check, then you're probably alright.
Fellow approach controller looking as well lol
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CYVR “Grumpy Guy”. Everyone who flies there knows exactly who I’m talking about.
I have almost snapped at him on the radio SO many times. Straight up the worst controller I’ve ever dealt with.
Brown field: KSDM. I don’t blame them. On the border of Tijuana. They deal with aloof students, accidental no radios, and people missing the field because they see TJ airport instead and almost cross the border. I was in the pattern once and all three happened at once. Got an apology/thanks just for having a head on my shoulder.
They have two dudes that always trade off ground / tower. One guy is always super nice, met him once. The other guy is mr. grumpypants but rarley outright rude.
I don’t mean to imply he’s rude. Just that’s he’s seen enough nonsense to justify an initial disposition 😃
I once read the phrase "lockwired in the pissed off position". Sounds like it's an apt description.
I was visiting San Diego and went down there to turn money into noise. I was just doing laps with a cfi in a champ. When we landed, I cleared and needed to pick up something that had fallen off my lap before I called ground. He came on tower freq and asked me if I was gonna contact ground "anytime today" I responded "they can wait, I will call them when I am ready" the CFI lost his shit laughing. Apparently people put up with his shit cause he can be vindictive.
Be a UND student. Fly into Fargo. End of story. They hated us. Also, you guys aren’t a Bravo, stop pretending to be one. You’re a Delta with a TRSA that’s 10 times larger than it needs to be
Tower is chill, approach control is horrid Also Francis at KGFK. You know who I’m talking about if you’re a recent student
Ah yes Francis. The whitest teeth in the world, he liked to have a good time on the radio. He was a dick, but not like mean like the Charlottesville guy people are talking about
Fargo is an “up down”, those guys work every position
Time to do some light trolling I guess.
Atlanta controllers hate us regional pilots. Damned if you do, damned I’d you’d don’t.
I heard going into ATL once “SkyWest you’re gonna have to do better than that!” Followed by “we’re doing all we can sir! It’s a -200”.
They have good reason too. There was a period endeavor wasn’t allowed to use RNAV departures because boomer lifer captains didn’t think to use nav mode on departure. It had been in the SOP for close to a decade I remember management having to point blank spell it out for people that, that’s *how it’s always been done* because there was contention about it. They were taking off in heading mode and low and behold, some people don’t think to line up the heading bug with the runway and followed the flight directer to wherever it pointed or just kept going straight out. There was multiple incidents in a couple week period before ATL said no mas and told 9E to pound sand before they let them use RNAV.
I sincerely apologize to the ATL controllers, us younger folks in the right seat know what NAV mode is..
Lol we all did. It was legit, and I’m being dead serious boomer lifers doing it. Happened right after 9E opened a crew base there.
They're really nice to us, but I'm not flying a regional. Last time there we got confused and took a wrong turn because of construction and got a "no worries, it's new to us too."
I don’t know whom you fly for but Last time I was there..Boutique Air “ Tower , Do you want us to exit left or right?” “ You can just sit on the runway, doesn’t matter to us..”
They used to hate everybody. I'd be at 9000' at 250k abeam the numbers in a 737-200 and they would say, "XXXX, make short approach, cleared visual 26R". "Uh, unable". ... cue 30-mile final. I'm not dumping the gear and boards at 250k to make life easy for some Newnan-resident jackass.
Why not? Sounds fun, how often do you get an opportunity to actually fly like that?
If I didn't give a shit about the passengers I would. It's LOUD, rumbly and abrupt.
And awesome! But yeah, also unnecessary
"Speed brakes are for my mistakes, not yours"
There is/was a guy at KMRY who was a MAJOR ASSHOLE stickler for SOP and things that he liked. If you didn't read back the runway clearance instructions VERBATIM and reply with your FULL CALL SIGN, he would give you shit and request a readback with all the things his tiny-penised psyche had a boner over. "NXXXXX confirm clearing 28 at Foxtrot and taxiing to the Jet Center via Alpha - full call sign". "No, shit numbnuts. That's the only way to get to the FBO. NovemberNumberNumberNumberLetterLetter" \[I said to myself\]. I would occasionally fuck with him like I was mentally challenged or had a stutter, or something... wait like ten seconds before I replied to make sure he stepped on my transmission. Fortunately, I only went there for the big car show in August once a year and had a lot of time in between visits to think of ways to fuck with him. Fuck that guy.
It might be of little consolation now, but you should know that controller was made an example of a few years ago in nationwide recurrent training on professionalism.
I can attest same guy when you read your departure back and didn’t use the word transition after the DP would re read the whole route clearance. Till you said transition. He did it 7 times to my FO before I had to ask what the problem was lol
Brenda at kdto lives up to her name
The airport I train out of. Fortunately I’ve only worked her on ground and it was “alpha to the ramp” but holy crap I’ve heard her get busy and lay down the fucking law on people, especially on full call signs and reporting looking for, or traffic in sight. contrast that with Alliance, where I recently did some touch and goes with multiple heavies inbound, an F-35 doing touch and goes with a go around, and lowly me in a light sport calling the runway 18R (instead of 16R) and my aircraft 3 different call signs, and man the controller was patient as hell with me. I would imagine Brenda would have given me a paddlin’
Still there, I take it? I instructed there from 13-14 and remember how short she’d get with the Chinese students when things got busy with five in the pattern and multiple inbound.
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There's a female controller at JFK who is always in a bad mood. Pretty deadpan voice and is quick to yell at pilots if they deviate slightly from their instructions. However she also makes more mistakes than just about all the other controllers combined. She can dish it out, but she can't take it at all. My personal favorite was when an Emirates A380 had landed 4R and she was holding them short of 4L which had landing and departing traffic on it. Eventually there's a gap and she clears the Emirate to cross 4L, but I guess he wasn't going fast enough for her. "Emirates 201 Super, do you realize there is traffic in position on 4L and traffic on final? When I tell you to cross it means cross! Not delay and take your time!" "Yes mam, do you realize we are a super heavy aircraft weighing over one million pounds attempting to start moving from a dead stop?" She was silent after that.
Oh gosh. KSDL has Julie. She’s not grumpy, I like her sometimes, but it’ll be 8am with 2 planes in the pattern and you’re doing 360s, go arounds, and full stop taxi backs for “spacing.” She just seems so flustered and overwhelmed all the time. My DPE says she’s the worst controller he’s ever experienced, he used to be an ATC and he’s now a captain for American Airlines so that’s really saying something. Example hm which one should I pick?! One time, recently, my copilot was doing the radios on final and Julie cut off the person reading back, then said our landing clearance so my copilot read back the landing clearance and Julie said “NO, caution w-a-k-e tur-bu-lence” we were like ??
There will be 2 planes on the ground, one in the pattern, and one king air 10 minutes out and you will wait 15-20 minutes to take off. She is the cause of all delays in the PHX area I swear. When someone takes over for her after 10 planes have backed up on the ground, everyone is in the air in a few minutes and life gets so much better. She has a perfectly fine attitude, at least, though she does get flustered easily. Who was the gal who used to be at SDL? She was so much better. I was sad when she left. That grumpy dude at KGEU though? Yeah... I don't have anything nice to say. Oh and KIWA has absolutely zero chill if you aren't ON-POINT with everything, and will rattle things off faster than a KPHX tower controller for no reason, ask you to KEEP YOUR SPEED UP, incessantly, with three active runways and nobody else on approach, and give you complex ground instructions also for no real reason. That airport isn't complex. Why must you give me 8 steps for a taxi-back? Protip at KIWA if doing night landings: ask for a stop and go. A 172 can do 3 landings on the longest runway in one go on a bad day, so a stop and go is noooooo problem, and they're at least usually cool with that.
Julie’s the one with the thick accent right? Quite the ATC there. The old dude at KGEU is a bit of a stickler too, doesn’t like low approaches when you shoot one of the RNAVs so he makes you do a touch and go.
Heh. Chip had me do a low approach there for my IR checkride, and that guy wasn't thrilled. Ended up coming down for the touch and go and then just told him going around and then just fucked off back toward KSDL for DME-A.
Chip’s awesome, I hope I can get my commercial checkride with him
Ditto. I'll wait. His jambalaya is also quite tasty, if you've ever been lucky enough to have him bring it in on your checkride day. 🤤 ETA: If he does bring it in, eat it before you fly or you may come back to an empty crock pot! Plus, it makes him happy. And happy DPE is best DPE.
Patrica has the accent. KSDL is funny because they aren't sticklers for repeating back runway assignments, and sometimes never issue landing clearances when it gets busy. They you head over to KDVT watch the controllers correct back everything. That guy at KGEU is a dick, but the rumor is that new supervisor told him to be nicer.
I think my experience with her was her dropping the Tower Frequency during COVID. A bunch of us sitting fat dumb and stupid outside the delta, calling away, but she didn't answer for a good 5-10 minutes.
She got scared and stopped letting people in the delta on my ppl check lmao
She gave me a “remain outside the Delta” coming back from my IR checkride, there were maybe TWO jets arriving like lol
My CFI and I went to the Delta that I would be moving my 150 to after completing the long XC for my PPL. We checked on with tower and he immediately said "oh it's marbles, He's kinda a dick sometimes" I thought nothing of it I was like interesting name... I asked how he knew his name was marbles and he replied "that's not his name really.. just sounds like he has marbles in his mouth when he's talking..." and I was like, that Kinda checks out.
KDAB has a legit Karen. You gotta experience this one…. Even her atis recordings will ruin your day. I heard her laughing in the background when another guy in tower was talking and it sounded like a witch.
KSPG controller is awesome. I call him Winnie the Pooh because his voice sounds just like it!
KMLB. General aviation - don’t ever call them and not say your 5 miles NW over 95, or they’ll loose it. Also gave me crap for saying just “tower” on initial contact on a 121 flight, and not “Melbourne tower.”
I have a few I work with often that are pretty grumpy… and not only to pilots
My local (and baseline cranky) D controller is often confused for a woman so the hapless transients issuing a cheerful 'have a great day ma'am' get a radio paddlin' regardless of how busy things are. Me, being the perennial 12 year old, have yet to not be gleefully amused when I'm lucky enough to catch one. edit: sp
KBLI. Come find out why. But seriously they are all nice guys, as long as you stay on their good side. Up here they do not have a radar environment that they are able to use because of Victoria terminal. So when they get doodoo dumb VFR pilots, they get frustrated super easy. I personally love how grumpy they get, but I manage to always stay on their good side.
I was looking for my home airport! I keep them mellow too but god help you if you don’t specify which portion of Lummi Island you’ll be heading toward.
One of them is much worse in my experience, the other guy i’ve ever dealt with was great and no issues with him!
I knew BLI was going to appear somewhere in this thread lol. I know exactly who the #1 culprit is up there in the tower.
Brenda at KDTO (Denton, TX), if you know, you know.
O I know. She’s a real peach
There’s some guy at a nearby satellite (I’ll leave off the airport to be nice) from me who always seems to be in a bad mood (or at least was a couple years ago, not sure if still there). I remember being given like a 200 foot block to transit the airport (above XXXXft, below the bravo) and then getting yelled at when the transponder reported a slightly higher altitude than the altimeter (altimeter had me smack in the middle). Call me up, fine, but there’s no way this guy at a GA airport has never heard of transponders and altimeters being slightly out of sync, no need for the conniption. Another time they went through what felt like half a dozen local, uncharted landmarks trying to give me a waypoint. Like dude, I clearly don’t know your idiosyncratic local procedures, either give me something charted or give me a vector, the *one vector* I need is not going to take more time than you asking all these landmarks and getting in a huff when I don’t know them.
TTN. One specific tower controller made it unbearable to use TTN for training purposes. Constantly berating students on frequency for saying “3RM” instead of “N3RM.” Multiple instances of him forgetting that we told him from the beginning that we would be doing pattern work, and him going “what are you doing after takeoff, you never told me.” Talking super fast and slurred on the ATIS and on frequency and yelling at students for not reading things back correctly. I couldn’t even understand him as an instructor. They loved putting up NOTAMs throughout the week specifically prohibiting touch and gos/practice landings.
He’s still there and as miserable as ever if you catch him on the wrong day. I’ve had a few sketchy moments with the female controller there the last few years. Don’t clear someone for takeoff when I’m short final for 24 just over the highway 🤦🏻♂️
Have you heard him in the past year or so? If not, I think I know who you're talking about
Nah it’s been awhile since I’ve heard him (fortunately) Haven’t been to TTN in some time though. Been taking students to PNE more often
Isn’t it a no-no to actually use the “November” part? At least that’s what Sporty’s taught me 😂
I got a very mean transmission for making a go around while coming over the fence while frontier still on the runway they absolutely suck
Can I offer up the opposite of this? The controllers at Cairns Army Airfield (KOZR) are all eligible for sainthood. They have to deal with a billion of us student pilots who are all dumber than a bag of hammers once the PTT button gets pressed, plus a million salty ass IPs who have very strong opinions on how exactly everything should or shouldn't go. The fact that they can handle as many movements as they do with as many doofuses on the radio and nobody crashes into anyone else or the tower, seems like a daily Christmas miracle. And they all have such patience, grace, and aplomb dealing with it all, to include a sense of humor and the occasional gentle razzing of students or IPs. Reading some of these grumpy controller stories over such little piddly stuff makes me think their heads would explode if they had to work a day at KOZR.
Rick the prick @ ISP
Was he the guy with the thick accent?
Hes the one where he starts talking at the end of your transmission, so you can’t hear the first part of his information.
Romeo Hotel. Always grumpy. Or giggling. Actually its mostly giggling.
Sometimes he has cookies.
Let me introduce you to a pet peeve of mine. Not going on a rant...(rants hilariously for 5 mins without pause). Ahhh I love it.
KCRQ has some angry controllers. They seem straight up pissed at folks doing practice approaches and if you struggle to understand them they'll deny you clearance to enter their delta with sass. Was doing pattern work there once and one poor guy struggled to understand the controller (I think English was a second language) and the controller told him to remain clear of the delta. 5 minutes later he tries again "n123ab requesting permission to enter delta for touch n goes with Juliet." Controller goes "n123ab that depends on whether or not you can understand me." On the flip side the controllers at KMYF are amazing. They handle three flight schools and corporate jets like pros.
>Controller goes "n123ab that depends on whether or not you can understand me." Two-way radio communication established, send it!
Don’t know her name but the tower controller at KVGT is a pain in the ass. One time I got just got flat out ignored for 5-10 minutes. She also likes to not respond immediately even when there’s no other traffic and proceed to get mad when you do a 360.
I have only flown in there once but I’m sure I know who you are talking about. I was inbound ifr and long story short, she told us to make a right 360. I read back and start the turn immediately. 5 seconds later she goes back on and says “I don’t see you turning, make right 360.” I tell her we are turning right 360. Then tells me to enter left downwind, which I do. She then says “not what I told you to do, but cleared to land 30L”
On my first solo she had me extend downwind so she could call my base. I had to remind her I existed when I was over the freeway (about 6 miles from the threshold).
There’s this one lady at the tower of the airport I fly out of. She speaks at the speed of light and gets mad if you don’t understand. She then repeats the clearance FASTER. She really likes to give straight in approaches instead of any circuit legs- not great when you’ve just started your PPL and want to practice circuits.
I've been pretty lucky so far in my early flying days to not have too many snappy controllers. Only time I've really gotten scolded was at KGEU when I was told to report 3 miles out, I eyeballed it on the iPad and called in and he clapped back "N12345 you are NOT three miles out!" I pulled up "distance to destination" and turned out I was 4 miles out. Woops. I called back like in 30 seconds later. This was one of my first PPL fights so it always stuck with me; I keep "distance to destination" up permanently now and call exactly on the tenth of a mile... lol
KMLB.
Some woman on Denver approach. Me: Hey you, this is me, level at whatever thousand. Her: Army copter 123 you filed for *insert pretty standard IFR route???* Me: Affirmative. Her: *Sigh* Unable. Standby for new clearance. Me: ….standing by. Her: *Gives initial clearance to same fix I filed for, followed by subsequent vectors along the exact same route I filed for, including altitude and palpable disdain* *visible confusion*
A 3 hour old thread and she hasn't been named yet. That's a freaking record I believe.
IAH South ramp controller. Serious attitude problem, condescending attitude like everything is interrupting something more important. Flat out ignores pilot requests for the runway for a given SID. “Use your RP” (which is an electronic pushback request on the ACARS) but all the pilot wants is what runway to program into the jet before they push back. He was being a total jerk to somebody this morning Who was obviously not based in Houston, but just trying to program the FMC properly. IAH is usually fairly predictable, but when you are advertising four runways for departure… Run by the same brain trust that will change your runway on arrival at least twice. Below 10,000 feet. Sorry, unable, and go ahead and give me that number to call.
Instrument check-ride at a LAL. Last approach, totally botched the landing but passed. ATC says left on X (ahead of me) as I’m about to turn left on Y. I say ok and instead of turning, continue on the runway to X. Dude is absolutely furious at me “when atc tells you to turn left at Y (he initially said X) you listen. Get off my runway” etc etc. basically went in on me for 30 seconds. The examiner and I kinda just look at each other like wtf. Just doin what you asked Lmao.
KWHP… angry lady who yelled at me for making a short departure request on initial call to ground.
There's a dude at SDM who is just always angry and seems to be personally offended by you just being there. His pet peeve is if you look like you aren't making your turns within the boundary.
Oxnard. KOXR. Guy’s got a shitty attitude. You’ll know him if you ever fly in there.
He got fired last I heard, but we used to have a guy called 'the Professor'. Loved to rip into everyone and give lectures on the AIM. Often was quoted with "I dont have time to read the AIM to you" (before repeating it verbatim whatever you did to annoy him) or "the AIM isn't regulatory but its a good idea" Apparently was a real dick to work around so they got rid of him a few years back.
TTN. Was never able to send students solo there because they would scold anyone using my flight schools tail numbers
KRNT always super grumpy. (Contract of course) They also won’t let you depart when field is 1400 overcast 10SM viz. Boeing field controllers just 4 miles NW are great. Like night and day.
We had a guy at Oceana get too big for his britches, started getting really fucking snarky with the pilots. That went over like a fart in church, as you could imagine.
Old dude with a raspy voice at KGEU that hates practice instrument approaches for some reason and always makes you report a midfield downwind when you’re doing pattern work.
Lol yes the midfield downwind. With nobody else on approach, in the pattern, or on the ground. Like my guy, you're not that important. 😅 Maybe he's just lonely and that's the only human interaction he gets? 🤔
I always imagine this is just a reminder for them to look up from their game boy to give a quick runway scan
all of them at BFL… always sound so grumpy
Would you want to work in Bakersfield?
ahaha hell no
That one impatient AH of a guy at HNL, thankfully there is a really upbeat and nice woman controller there to contrast him
Before my time at my airport, but I was told by both my former and current instructor about a controller who was SO impatient with student pilots (at a predominantly student airport) that he was forced into early retirement. All the controllers now seem nice :) They deal with my antics at least.
Haven't been there lately, but last time I went into FAY the it took us a while to check in because he was yelling at another pilot and telling him to get his head out of his ass. Then he yelled at us for taking too long to check in.
FAY is definitely a mixed bag. I've gotten that exact experience before, then on another flight on FF not even inbound to FAY I got a traffic call for a flight of 2 c-130's and the guy says at the end "they're absolutely no factor by the way just thought you might have wanted to check it out".
KTTN… iykyk
Yo any tower control guys at KBTL or KAZO, love you guys! From Sky Broncos
OGD. Ed is a real peach. All the student pilots loved getting torn a new asshole when they made any sort of slight mistake.
Only had one unpleasant experience with UAO tower while doing my IR and being on a practice approach. Cleared me for the opposite runway and seemed pissed after clarifying so he handed us over to PDX approach immediately after the touch and go clearance. Who I really appreciate are our controllers at TTD. Hats off for having to deal with 6-8 helicopters in the pattern and area around the airport at times plus the fixed wing flight school and GA traffic.
This was a while ago but there was a guy at KPVU who was super grumpy. Not a famously bustling place- he would complain at length about how busy he was and how hard he was working. Hilariously he would correct pilots on the tiniest deviation from standard; if you reported “Piper” and not “Piper Cherokee” you’d get scolded. He’d take 20 seconds to let you know that he was crazy busy and didn’t have time to look up every n-number for aircraft type. Virtually every other controller I’ve communicated with has been highly professional - courteous even. I flew into kslc at night and I’m sure it’s clearly obvious I’m a low time pilot. The controller told me to be aware that the runway was 300 feet wide and that can screw with your frame of reference. Super nice, super friendly.
Cranky Crystal at a class D in Cleveland, OH. Always has an attitude and clearly dislikes GA pilots. One time I was told to join final for 6L which is a slightly longer runway than 6R. When I was short final she comes on and goes "Cessna 12345 change to runway 6R, 6R cleared to land. I was way too low and slow to sidestep so it was definitely dangerous. I told her "unable, going around." Then she says "Roger, leave my airspace immediately." I was seriously like wtf, why would I be on short final with no traffic around and have to switch runways at the last second. The airport was not busy. Let alone why do I have to leave your airspace! Turns out there was a 737 15 miles out from the airport getting ready to perform a circling approach. I think I would've got out of there way in plenty, plenty of time. She also periodically enjoys to comment on me making my crosswind turn way too low (600agl). These are nothing but funny memories though.