Are you laughing at us?
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Are you laughing at us?
As a humble PPL who managed to fly both days this weekend, I have been slightly surprised to hear barely suppressed giggles over the ATC airwaves on a couple of occasions.
On at least one occasion, I could barely contain myself as some poor unfortunate took about nine goes to correctly read back the right combination of altitude, QNH and squawk but other time there was no obvious reason.
Can someone please explain?
And no, I'm not complaining. It's nice to know you are all human. Keep up the good work.
On at least one occasion, I could barely contain myself as some poor unfortunate took about nine goes to correctly read back the right combination of altitude, QNH and squawk but other time there was no obvious reason.
Can someone please explain?
And no, I'm not complaining. It's nice to know you are all human. Keep up the good work.
niknak
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Some time ago I transposed the first letters of Yankee and Whisky to produce a callsign that definately isn't in the R/T manual nor I've ever seen.
Also, having recently asked a helicopter if he was visual with his company colleague, when he had in fact just landed behind him, I'm in no position to take the piss.
Although there's a time and a place, sometimes we'll just find something amusing and it doesn't take much to get the giggle box going with some things which pilots, engineers or atco's say.
It's rare that we'll laugh at the individual, it's more often than not what they've said.
Also, having recently asked a helicopter if he was visual with his company colleague, when he had in fact just landed behind him, I'm in no position to take the piss.
Although there's a time and a place, sometimes we'll just find something amusing and it doesn't take much to get the giggle box going with some things which pilots, engineers or atco's say.
It's rare that we'll laugh at the individual, it's more often than not what they've said.
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To be honest, I find that most of the things that cause us to hee-haw on the R/T are actually generated in the ops room. The ATSA farting competition is particularly humorous 
.
Its very rarely that I have cause to have a snigger at anyone on the other end of the mic. Although, obviously if theres clear grounds for having a laugh then so be it but I tend to try and keep it below 95dB
Spamcan
. Its very rarely that I have cause to have a snigger at anyone on the other end of the mic. Although, obviously if theres clear grounds for having a laugh then so be it but I tend to try and keep it below 95dB
Spamcan
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Several different ones in the South of England. There was no inappropriate behaviour and I'm certainly not trying to get anyone into trouble.
My relationship with ATC has always been excellent and long may it remain that way. Just interested to find out a bit more about how things work.
My relationship with ATC has always been excellent and long may it remain that way. Just interested to find out a bit more about how things work.
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kinglouis
I have been to Swanwick and was hugely impressed. Our group had a couple of hours on the training simulator and I left in awe of how difficult the job was and how coolly the guys and girls handled it all.
I have been to Swanwick and was hugely impressed. Our group had a couple of hours on the training simulator and I left in awe of how difficult the job was and how coolly the guys and girls handled it all.
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In all my years, the on-air giggles I've witnessed have only very rarely stemmed from something said or done by a pilot. On the rare occasion that they have been pilot-induced, it's been because the pilot said something to intentionally evoke said giggles.
For example, contrary to what you may think, we're not going to laugh at multiple failures in attempting to read back a clearance, because those attempts tend to eat up time we should be spending moving other aircraft.
On the other hand, you would have heard me unsuccessfully trying to stifle laughter on frequency that afternoon in 1985 when controller Ken, working a different position/freq next to me, told a helicopter to "circumcise the airport to the south...."
Dave
For example, contrary to what you may think, we're not going to laugh at multiple failures in attempting to read back a clearance, because those attempts tend to eat up time we should be spending moving other aircraft.
On the other hand, you would have heard me unsuccessfully trying to stifle laughter on frequency that afternoon in 1985 when controller Ken, working a different position/freq next to me, told a helicopter to "circumcise the airport to the south...."
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another 'trick' is to poke the guy next to you and press the transmit button so he screams like a girl... heard it done on another watch.
but generally, its the person/people sitting at the sectors/positions next to that are having a laugh about something and you just get the giggles.
its nothing personal, and it goes both ways. every now and then i hear a pilot sniggering, i guess something amusing is occuring in the flight deck.
we are human, it happens and its nice to know that when we talk to eachother we are only human. its the complete grumpy sods i cant stand......
but generally, its the person/people sitting at the sectors/positions next to that are having a laugh about something and you just get the giggles.
its nothing personal, and it goes both ways. every now and then i hear a pilot sniggering, i guess something amusing is occuring in the flight deck.
we are human, it happens and its nice to know that when we talk to eachother we are only human. its the complete grumpy sods i cant stand......
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There's an entire, very long thread full of ATC Humour at the top of this forum.
I'd say that's proof enough that there's plenty of witty people around, on both sides of the mike. It's really no surprise you occasionally hear some chortling...
I'd say that's proof enough that there's plenty of witty people around, on both sides of the mike. It's really no surprise you occasionally hear some chortling...
More than just an ATCO
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There are also a load of Jokers. When working with certain people you need a checklist for booby traps before taking over positions.
One colleague used to dish out biscuits to the unsuspecting. It was only on close inspction that you found out that they were dog biscuits.
In retaliation I removed the workings from the ashtrays. In those days we were allowed to smoke on the positions. There were even built in ashtrays, very smart, clamshell doors and shiny chrome. Unfortunately they had been added as an extra and were a bit too deep for the console so holes had been cut out in the underside. Removing the innards meant that the ash or whatever passed straight throug onto the leg of the smoker. Best one was when "Pappa Simone" put an unextinguished cigar butt in and it passed straight onto his crotch. First time I'd ever seen the Belgian Fire Dance
One colleague used to dish out biscuits to the unsuspecting. It was only on close inspction that you found out that they were dog biscuits.
In retaliation I removed the workings from the ashtrays. In those days we were allowed to smoke on the positions. There were even built in ashtrays, very smart, clamshell doors and shiny chrome. Unfortunately they had been added as an extra and were a bit too deep for the console so holes had been cut out in the underside. Removing the innards meant that the ash or whatever passed straight throug onto the leg of the smoker. Best one was when "Pappa Simone" put an unextinguished cigar butt in and it passed straight onto his crotch. First time I'd ever seen the Belgian Fire Dance
Last edited by Lon More; 21st Oct 2008 at 15:04.
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There have been a lot of very polite answers so far. I am not ATC (married one though).
On some occasions the answer has got to be YES.
As you must have listened to yourself there are some wonderful "funnies" broadcast, but there are some cringe-making, embarassing to listen to, howlers where the individual is simply just too ignorant of the correct basic procedures / phraseoligy to be allowed out with an aircraft. I do not mean the new PPL / trainee who is just making an honest error through lack of experience. What really grips my s~~t is the can't be ar~~ed to learn to do it better dudes
. To put my mini-rant into perspective - yes I am a pilot, thousands of hrs (mil and GA) and I fly for the fun of it and firmly believe that the R/T should be used as often as possible where it can provide a service / improve awareness.
On some occasions the answer has got to be YES.
As you must have listened to yourself there are some wonderful "funnies" broadcast, but there are some cringe-making, embarassing to listen to, howlers where the individual is simply just too ignorant of the correct basic procedures / phraseoligy to be allowed out with an aircraft. I do not mean the new PPL / trainee who is just making an honest error through lack of experience. What really grips my s~~t is the can't be ar~~ed to learn to do it better dudes
. To put my mini-rant into perspective - yes I am a pilot, thousands of hrs (mil and GA) and I fly for the fun of it and firmly believe that the R/T should be used as often as possible where it can provide a service / improve awareness.
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.......its nothing personal, and it goes both ways. every now and then i hear a pilot sniggering, i guess something amusing is occuring in the flight deck.
And I do wish you guys would stop calling just as we get to the punchline.
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Nothing worse than a calling ac to interrupt a good story.
Thats the real reason for concise RT, so we can get back to what we were talking about quicker!
Thats the real reason for concise RT, so we can get back to what we were talking about quicker!
Luvverley!
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Someone mentioned the humour thread.....(just posted this)
Everyone says something a bit dumb sometimes.... it may be oneself, another ATCO, an ATSA (my senior ATSA is one of the funniest people on Earth with a seemingly endless stock of hilarious real life tales!) And yes, VERY occasionally a pilot will make us laugh too!
It's all in good fun -it works both ways. Just you try and find a pilot who flew in S Wales between 2002-2004 who hasn't been on the receiving end of one of my RT gaffes!
Had a good one today...
C/S calls for taxi, TWR writes it up on a "local".
Me to TWR: "um, are you sure, I thought he was a landaway? Can you check?" "yep, will do."
TWR: "C/S, is this detail your landaway at Staverton?"
A/C "Negative. I'm going to Gloucester!"
....
....
TWR: "Roger."
C/S calls for taxi, TWR writes it up on a "local".
Me to TWR: "um, are you sure, I thought he was a landaway? Can you check?" "yep, will do."
TWR: "C/S, is this detail your landaway at Staverton?"
A/C "Negative. I'm going to Gloucester!"
....
....
TWR: "Roger."
It's all in good fun -it works both ways. Just you try and find a pilot who flew in S Wales between 2002-2004 who hasn't been on the receiving end of one of my RT gaffes!
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. Should be the new inflight entrtainment .Spamcan
