Marriage Proposal on TWR/APP frequency

[galleypower]

Hi everyone,
I am a pilot for an European Airline and I was asked the following by a friend who is the partner of a pilot:
Would it be possible to propose marriage on the radio to my partner who is flying an aircraft and coming in for landing?
It has to be said, that my friend tries to arrange this on an airport of medium/small size with only approach and tower frequency, located in the UK. This friend is not an employee at the airport and would have to get access to the tower.
Would you as air traffic controller allow such a thing or do you think the interruption is causes is to risky or...
Are visits to the tower by a 'stranger' tolerated or do you think they can be arranged once the person has been x-rayed and so on..?
Looking forward to your answers. Many thanks.

[vigilant_spacey]

Hmmmm. . . . I'm not ATC but to me, approach / landing phase may not be the best time to do it! Its a very nice idea, and if it works out it would be a great story for the grandkids. But suppose the pilot is not really wanting to get married just yet - approach and landing can be stressful enough, with a very high workload - this extra burden could be the straw that breaks the camels back!

Sorry to be devils advocate, just the first thing that springs to mind. Hope it works out for them!

vigi

[Gonzo]

I'd wait until the a/c was on the ground and taxying in....
At least then the pilot's a captive audience, and is not going to do a missed approach and divert if the answer's no!!!!

[A I]

Sweet romantic idea but sorry folks it has to be NO WAY!!. As far as I am concerned this is inappropriate use of RTF. Sorry to be a spoilsport! Technically it would be illegal unless the controller was the one proposing marriage.

A I

[aw8565]

How about a big banner strung between 2 sets of steps?

[Sudden Stop]

Probably going to divert some of the pilots attention away from the job of flying the plane! So after landing would certainly be the safest for that a/c, but the ensuing reply, yea or nae, would no doubt spawn all sorts of messages on the frequency from others listening. You could write off a couple of minutes of air time... Hope it's a very quiet unit.

What would the correct phraseology be for such a radio call???

[Roffa]

Not an original idea

[eastern wiseguy]

I'd wait until the a/c was on the ground and taxying in

at EGLL?......naaaaaaah

[Bagheera]

Just a thought but how about doing it on a company frequency instead. I reckon the rules would be a little less stringent.

[Lon More]

In the Sim? A case of incapacitated crew member

[boredcounter]

Bag

They'd never get in amongst all the passing of tx's relating to the operation of aircraft. Milk jiggers, taxis, bar seals, whats the Man U score, hello dave, the odd ETA and my fav.....................did you get the ACARS i just sent!
What about marry me by ACARS? (TIC)
Galley,
A vey basic rule, never pass a personal message, with any 'emotional' connection to a pilot in his / her office, aloft or on the ground. Strict no no. Good, bad or indifferent news the reaction is an unknown. Aircraft are expensive, lives priceless and the day you do it, company has them flying an extra couple of sectors. Mind on the job.
Hope the answer is yes.
Request a day off/leave with Crew Scheduling without them knowing, have them pitch up for work for a duty that does not exist, friends and family close by in a pub or something of the same ilk, that has been done before, with great results
Bored

[AHRS]

Popping the marriage question

I sure hope that if that question gets popped that it's the auto pilot or the other pilot doing the flying...because there is a possibility of getting one severe jerk at the controls or subtle incapacitation at best!Try popping that question just befoer releasing the brakes at take off...and you might very well get a take off configuration warning!Why not do it at cruise for peace sake?It can even be patched by phone/satcom or via HF radio and the move now is on to special mobile phones that can be utilised whilst airborne...Emirates is amongst the airlines I know that is warming up to them.

ALL IN ALL..A HAZARDOUS AFFAIR i WOULD THINK.Reserve it at a general/sport aviation airport where cessnas and indian territory flyiers browse the skies..you are more likely to get a more receptive control tower too.

I hope he comes back quick as a wink with "Wilco dear!"

Originally Posted by galleypower

Hi everyone,
I am a pilot for an European Airline and I was asked the following by a friend who is the partner of a pilot:
Would it be possible to propose marriage on the radio to my partner who is flying an aircraft and coming in for landing?
It has to be said, that my friend tries to arrange this on an airport of medium/small size with only approach and tower frequency, located in the UK. This friend is not an employee at the airport and would have to get access to the tower.
Would you as air traffic controller allow such a thing or do you think the interruption is causes is to risky or...
Are visits to the tower by a 'stranger' tolerated or do you think they can be arranged once the person has been x-rayed and so on..?
Looking forward to your answers. Many thanks.

[Gonzo]

I hope he comes back quick as a wink with "Wilco dear!"

Who said the pilot was a 'he'?

[galleypower]

thanks

Many thanks for all your thoughts and ideas. After thinking about it for a while I agree that it is not really the best thing to propose to a pilot while he/she is on the approach. As many of you said, it is difficult to judge the reaction of the person receiving the proposal and there are probably better and safer ways to make a proposal...Anyway, great you took some some to answer. Now I have to relay all this to the person who wants to propose...

[FinalVectors]

Originally Posted by A I

Technically it would be illegal unless the controller was the one proposing marriage.
A I

...And I know that has happened before here in Norway.
One controller working in north Norway asked a pilot enroute if he could check in on the tower at a Sweedish airport on other side of the border and ask the contoller working there if she wanted to get married
And she did say yes

[vintage ATCO]

I would, with appropriate safeguards . . . .