Personalities over the radio
Thread Starter
Personalities over the radio
Having been based at the same UK airport for a while, one gets to know the "personalities" of different controllers on the various approach sectors - who doesn't mind a bit of humour on the radio, who is a bit more "SOP"; whose voice you are glad to hear on the sector when the weather's awful and so on.
I imagine it's harder for controllers as call signs change all the time but do you pick up on particular pilots' voices and characteristics and remember them or not?
I imagine it's harder for controllers as call signs change all the time but do you pick up on particular pilots' voices and characteristics and remember them or not?
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes.... and we know where you live too!
I have a good ear for voices and often used to exchange pleasantries with pilots. I hope it still goes on.
There was a chap with a very distinctive voice who flew Vanguards out of Heathrow back in the 70s. He vanished for a while and then came back on Tridents. On my first contact (on 121.9) with him on his return I asked: "What's it like on Tridents then?" "Oh... much better class of people on here" he replied!!
Happy days
I have a good ear for voices and often used to exchange pleasantries with pilots. I hope it still goes on.
There was a chap with a very distinctive voice who flew Vanguards out of Heathrow back in the 70s. He vanished for a while and then came back on Tridents. On my first contact (on 121.9) with him on his return I asked: "What's it like on Tridents then?" "Oh... much better class of people on here" he replied!!
Happy days
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,596
Received 450 Likes
on
239 Posts
Some years ago I changed jobs (completely different role and type).
The first time I checked in on approach frequency at the local international airport, correctly using the new company callsign, the controller replied to my call using my old one!
The first time I checked in on approach frequency at the local international airport, correctly using the new company callsign, the controller replied to my call using my old one!
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Near VTUU or EGPX
Age: 65
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I recognise quite a few Loganair and Midland voices who fly through Westcoast (127.275) and Tay (124.5)
I always give the Twin Otters and Saab 340s a block of levels when the mountain waves set in and direct routes when possible.
I'll probably get my wrists slapped one day, especially as I suggested to a Ryanair pilot who thanked me for a direct route from one end of Scottish airspace to the other day, that he should let MOL know what we do for them on a daily basis !
I always give the Twin Otters and Saab 340s a block of levels when the mountain waves set in and direct routes when possible.
I'll probably get my wrists slapped one day, especially as I suggested to a Ryanair pilot who thanked me for a direct route from one end of Scottish airspace to the other day, that he should let MOL know what we do for them on a daily basis !
Last edited by The Fat Controller; 15th May 2014 at 15:51.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 43
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Oh... much better class of people on here" he replied!! Happy days
Ahhhh for the days when the only people allowed on aircraft were us upper middle class or our fellow elite. Blessed memories of flying home from boarding school in <insert country> on a BOAC VC10 with all the fellows and nanny waiting at the airport. Captain was a friend of daddy from his war time days.
#sarcasm
OK sorry that's harsh but COME ONE, it's 2014.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: On the wireless...
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
At Heathrow we had the regulars back and forth all day long, usually the shuttle crews. There was the transatlantic voice on BA seven fives who wore the cowboy boots. Then there was the BA 75/76 gent who suffixed everything with "again" eg. Leave BOV again heading.." "Established on the Right again…" "Eighteen Seven again". Another, which amused me, was the 'Jack Dee voice' of BA Domestic, known internally as Marvin. Then there was distinctive voice Ian Whotsit on the Midland nines. It all oiled the wheels…
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: USA
Age: 66
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There was an Air UK F27 pilot who sounded all the world like the bloke from "One man and his dog" (a show about working sheep dogs for our younger/non UK readers. )Always had the idea of him in a flat cap. Locally based crews became very well known to the extent that I recognised a voice in a supermarket without ever having met the lady before. 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: England & Scotland
Age: 63
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
After getting my PPL(H) and flying exclusively talking to Redhill, Farn W&E, Biggin Hill and Shoreham, my first long distance (relatively, it is a SP unstabalised helicopter) trip to Cheshire to fly-in to a car/bike/aircraft show. Making contact at the VRP, I was surprised to recognise the voice :- Phil from Readhill! It turned out he had the ATC job for the show weekend.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UAE
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unfortunately most has been lost. The wet behind the Ears Systems Managers who Masquerade as Pilots have enough problems trying to catch up to the Aircraft that any attempt at Humour goes "WAY over their heads.
Thread Starter
There's a chap on the N Sea sector immediately before getting handed to Essex Radar who would be an excellent teacher I reckon - he has one of those voices that just demands obedience.
Rule3 - we do also occasionally try flight path and air-ground interface management too
Rule3 - we do also occasionally try flight path and air-ground interface management too
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: An ATC centre this side of the moon.
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I very made many good friends from just giving them a service over the radio 
though I guess the FIR sector at times a wee bit more relaxed 
.....the down side is when those friends succumb to the inherent dangers of a General Aviation......sadly this has happened now on a few occasions! 
though I guess the FIR sector at times a wee bit more relaxed .....the down side is when those friends succumb to the inherent dangers of a General Aviation......sadly this has happened now on a few occasions!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cheshire, California, Geneva, and Paris
Age: 67
Posts: 867
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How about JC and his Northern Irish brogue known at LHR in the 1980s.
Lovely bloke!
"Staterkater" BA tug driver who towed the State of Qatar B707 around LHR.
Lovely bloke!
"Staterkater" BA tug driver who towed the State of Qatar B707 around LHR.
Trouble is it's always in the back of a controllers mind that whatever they say over the RTF is recorded and the recordings are kept for at least 30 days, so if an incident occurs and the tapes are 'pulled', your 'innocent quip' could come back to haunt you.
Now I'm FISOing and the RTF is not recorded, I can have much more fun!!
Now I'm FISOing and the RTF is not recorded, I can have much more fun!!