BA Pilots, are they really...
 

...so rude and snotty with ATC personnel ?

Seems to be a lot of recorded ATC chatter featuring BA pilots being sarcastic and even cynical with controllers - is that an unfair representation ?

They do fancy themselves, so they do...
 

Its always someone else's fault;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFUZ6oHBft4

You dont get British humour ......

It's a while (9 years) since I last "controlled" a BAW pilot, but I can categorically state that, in my experience, this is a load of complete nonsense. Whichever walk of life you choose you will always come across people who are "rude, or snotty" at times. BAW pilots have always impressed me with their civility & professionalism - as have pilots from all other airlines. I can only recall one occasion with a pilot who had an aversion to the growing influence of computers in ATC ( something that he did not realize my sympathetic feelings), when rudeness , irascibility & snottiness came to the fore. He flew for, what was at the time, a very minor UK, niche airline. Other than this one occasion, he was a very likable & civil gentleman. Everyone can have an "off day"!

Yes, it is an unfair representation and certainly a generalisation - but then I'm biased.

You say you've listened to recorded chat,: first question would be the source of the recording..is there just a tiny tiny chance that chatter was edited for effect (just like your average reality TV programme where the non confrontational stuff ends up on the editing room floor).

Perhaps it might be worth listening to 24 hours unedited chatter from the likes of LHR ( note:there health warnings elsewhere about that)...and then giving your opinion, or failing that get the opinion of a controller...which you've had..

kockayne- thanks for your kind words.....

No problem, wiggy. 38 years in ATC & I had very, very few "run ins" with pilots - less than the fingers on one hand. I have always been impressed by the co-operation between pilots & ATC - including PPLS. We are both there to help each other in keeping the system safe, flexible, efficient & friendly. As far as ATC is concerned, & I spent the mass majority of my time controlling in Class A; the real stars are those doing such an incredible job in very busy Class G airspace. I take my hat off to them ! Maybe they might get the pay rise which they deserve.

I had a very similar career period to kcockayne working for the last 20 years at Manchester airport where we had both BA and the now long gone BA Regional. Never, at any time have I ever encountered any issues with British Airways crews. I can't really see where the OP is getting this impression from. I also had very, very few 'disagreements' with pilots but I do remember that the old Britannia Airways could be hard work on occassion, but we are going back to the last century there!

Now I DO feel old!

I agree - 31 years at Heathrow and LATCC and no problems. I was party to a conversation between ATC and a BA pilot who overstepped the mark. The controller said: "Care to step outside and say that?"

I moved back to the UK and joined BA about 15 months ago. In that time I've heard one mildly heated exchange on ATC between the controller and BA. Prior to joining BA I flew in the US. It seldom seemed a week or two would go by without an angry word, snide comment or full on slanging match taking place between pilots and controllers, particularly at ORD or EWR.

You get them in all airlines.

Had a TCX guy arguing and questioning ATC in PMI as to why the ground controller sent an aircraft a particular way.

Whilst the other 50 or so aircraft on the ground with rapidly approaching slot times struggled to get a word on frequency, this moron was insisting on questioning every move - and he was still stuck at the gate.

EMB ah, yep, that reminds me..the last full scale slanging match I heard over the R/T was about a year back between PHL ramp and one of the locals. When we were handed off to ground I think the debate was headed for overtime so we never knew who won.......

HeartyMeatballs..yep, the 10% are ..... rule is pretty universal,

I just flew back to Phoenix on BA0289, so I guess I'd better not mention the cabin crew then :ouch:

(They were awesome by the way :) ).

The days of BA being true Nigels are fast diminishing - it's a broad church