Shifting the blame to ATC
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: HKG
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Shifting the blame to ATC
The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong contained an article which said that a CPA captain told his passengers to blame ATC for asking him to brake abruptly to avoid a collision and resulted in injuries to cabin attendants when in fact it was because he was not happy with the taxi speed and brake harshly to show his FO. The report indicated that the pilot was interviewed by the company afterwards. Six months ago an EVA air captain told the passengers that a missed approach was due to an aircraft on the runway at HKG when in fact it was a unstablized approach. The lie was revealed because one of the passengers complained about ATC to the Airport Authority, have you blame ATC to cover your own errors?
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Egcc
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just goes to show that it never pays to lie. Perhaps don't tell the full truth, especially when trying to explain technical things to laymen, but don't blatantly lie, it can bite you back.
PP
PP
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Isle Du Cyber
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Passing the blame
Why dont people tell the correct information passenges will find out the correct information by passing word of mouth.
Parents ask there kids not to tell lies so be honest is the best policy and not be immbaresed
Parents ask there kids not to tell lies so be honest is the best policy and not be immbaresed
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yep, honesty is the best policy. Some of our boys have found out, to their cost, that there's no use telling little fibs on the RT when you've got a tight separation going on. Noone told them about those pesky air reports that somehow made it back to the boss's desk.
But if you guys at the pointy end have to find a scapegoat, go on, my shoulders are big enough to take it!
But if you guys at the pointy end have to find a scapegoat, go on, my shoulders are big enough to take it!
Just another number
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UK
Age: 76
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A few years ago, a friend, who is an ATCO, was sitting on a 747 at Gatwick when the captain announced that there would be a delay due to an 'ATC Slot'. When the captain cleared the use of mobile phones, and realising that his watch were on duty, the ATCO phoned LTCC to jokingly complain about them delaying his holiday. The watch manager was rather upset, as there were no ATC delays, and so phoned the airline to complain. The airline ops then suggested that the captain should admit that the plane was broken.
Airclues
Airclues
Back in the 80s, when (in the early days of Flow Control) there were some pretty horrendous ATC delays, it was quite common for airlines to blame any delay on ATC no matter what the real reason was. Pax expected ATC delays and didn't question it when so given. I did, and caused a few red faces on occasions too.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Zürich, Switzerland
Age: 64
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm just trying to imagine what the truth would sound like:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, apologies from the Flight Deck for the rather abrupt stop. My FO and I are having a bit of a disagreement over speed limits here. Give us a moment to sort it out and we'll be on our way shortly!" <Sound of Capt. hitting FO with newspaper "now just do what I say, won't you!? FO: Look, I've got a wife at home, just leave me alone!">
or
"We are having a bit of trouble controlling the old girl this morning. Give is a moment while we figure out how to work this one this morning. We should be airborne in just a moment"
Actually from a passenger point of view, I prefer the ATC fib. Ignorance is bliss!
"Ladies and Gentlemen, apologies from the Flight Deck for the rather abrupt stop. My FO and I are having a bit of a disagreement over speed limits here. Give us a moment to sort it out and we'll be on our way shortly!" <Sound of Capt. hitting FO with newspaper "now just do what I say, won't you!? FO: Look, I've got a wife at home, just leave me alone!">
or
"We are having a bit of trouble controlling the old girl this morning. Give is a moment while we figure out how to work this one this morning. We should be airborne in just a moment"
Actually from a passenger point of view, I prefer the ATC fib. Ignorance is bliss!
Yes, the old chestnut of an ATC slot being the cause of a delay.
Last year Spotty M kept me at the gate with little information, other than "ATC" delay, for 2 hours. In fact, the First Officer had gone home sick.
Yes, ATC people are very often on your SLF list & can easily rumble your fibs, which won't do you any favours in the long run
Last year Spotty M kept me at the gate with little information, other than "ATC" delay, for 2 hours. In fact, the First Officer had gone home sick.
Yes, ATC people are very often on your SLF list & can easily rumble your fibs, which won't do you any favours in the long run
ex-Tanker
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Luton Beds UK
Posts: 907
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Although I did actually have a very quick "stop before" given
to me on a taxyway at a certain Swiss airport. We just managed it
as I told the controller; "Es isch gerade so gange..." and he
had the grace to apologise.
Everyone happy and no hard feelings. We all make mistakes.
FC
to me on a taxyway at a certain Swiss airport. We just managed it
as I told the controller; "Es isch gerade so gange..." and he
had the grace to apologise.
Everyone happy and no hard feelings. We all make mistakes.
FC
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Mt. Olympus
Age: 59
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's another one
Here's the Athens (LGAV) incident thread when the AF A320 captain had to apologise in the end for blaming ATC on the PA for his go-around. Was unlucky enough to have the leader of the opposition and bunch of accompanying journos on board 
. Caused a lot of aggravation (to say the least 
) to local ATCers who spent the night talking and answering a lot of questions until the truth finally emerged.
Goaround in ATH becomes news story
TR
-------------------------------------
ThinkRate! ThinkRate! Don't Think!
. Caused a lot of aggravation (to say the least ) to local ATCers who spent the night talking and answering a lot of questions until the truth finally emerged.Goaround in ATH becomes news story
TR
-------------------------------------
ThinkRate! ThinkRate! Don't Think!
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Scotland
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Was privileged to be in the tower some years back as a certain lo-co 737 went around after reporting too high and fast on a visual approach (no traffic anywhere near), then as they turned crosswind, the wrong button was pressed and the 'PA' came over the AIR frequency, advising us that "ATC had put us in too tight behing a previous arrival....absolutely no problem....don't panic....sorry for delay....landing in about 4 minutes" etc etc. Still makes me smile to think of the embarassment that must have ensued when the error was subtly pointed out....
I know honesty is the best policy but let's be honest, passengers will generally be calmer to hear that they're delayed due to ATC delays, than the aircraft we're all about to travel in six miles up at 500mph is a bit broken.....
I know honesty is the best policy but let's be honest, passengers will generally be calmer to hear that they're delayed due to ATC delays, than the aircraft we're all about to travel in six miles up at 500mph is a bit broken.....
More than just an ATCO
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Up someone's nose
Age: 75
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The score was evened up a bit many years ago at Luton. There was a broken BR31 on the apron - no engines. PA made, "Bing bong, White Hat Airlines regret to announce a delay in the departure of flight number..... due to a technical problem. Could any passenger lend us a large rubber band?"
Needless to say the phone number to get on the PA system was quickly changed
Needless to say the phone number to get on the PA system was quickly changed
