Hello World
As an aviation geek, I love listening to air traffic control audio, and always enjoy the VASAviation YouTube channel, which does a great job covering noteworthy air traffic control interactions.
I recently covered a heated exchange between an Aeromexico pilot and JFK ATC. I actually think the air traffic controller was reasonably professional, and more than anything, I felt bad for the stress he was under. Well, VASAviation has just published another JFK ATC video, this time involving an Air France pilot. Unlike in the last “episode,” the air traffic controller totally crossed the line, though.
JFK air traffic controller furious at Air France pilot
This incident happened at around 10:10PM on August 27, 2024, at Kennedy Airport, and involves communications on the tower frequency. The flight in question is Air France’s AF12, operated by an Airbus A350-900 with the registration code F-HTYO. It had just landed in New York York (JFK) from Paris (CDG).
From the arrival runway, the tower controller had cleared the Air France aircraft to hold short of runway 22R. While holding short of the runway, the Air France pilot stated over the radio “Air France 012 to cross?” Clearly the Air France pilot was asking for permission to cross the runway, though in fairness, she wasn’t using standard terminology.
Precision is important when communicating with air traffic control, and the way she communicated almost made it sound like she had been given permission, rather than her asking a question. She should have instead phrased it with something like “requesting permission to cross runway 22R,” or something.
You’d think this wouldn’t be a huge deal, especially since the plane was holding short of the runway, so it’s not like they were actually confused about the instructions they had been given. For that matter, pilots constantly use non-standard terminology, especially at airports with a lot of foreign pilots. However, this simple phrase set the air traffic controller off, and he became kind of obsessed with punishing the Air France pilot. That started off with this interaction:
ATC: “Air France 012, hold short!”
Pilot: “Okay, we hold short.”
ATC: “Yeah, it’s the last thing you need to be saying… that word, when you’re holding short of a runway that’s about to be landed on.”
Pilot: “Okay.”
But then it got worse, once the plane was given permission to cross the runway. The air traffic controller gave the pilot a number to call, and then got a bit obsessive with making her copy it ASAP. Here’s how that started out:
ATC: “Air France 012 heavy, cross runway 22R at juliet, straight ahead alpha. I have a phone number for you, I’m gonna need you to call the tower when you get into the ramp.”
Pilot: “Okay, so crossing 22R via juilet and then on alpa, and we go with the ramp and contact.”
ATC: “Air France 012 heavy, you let me know when you’re ready to copy the number.”
Then the air traffic controller lost it on the Air France pilot, accusing the plane of stopping on the runway, which the pilot insisted wasn’t happening:
ATC: “Okay, I didn’t say stop. I didn’t say you have to copy now. You need to keep moving. Someone’s trying to clear the runway behind you. Air France 012, continue on alpha.”
Pilot: “Yes, that’s what we are doing. We are taxiing on alpha, Air France 012.”
ATC: “You’re stopped! Can you continue and move away from the runway?”
Pilot: “We are not anymore on the runway and we are taxiing, Air France 012.”
ATC: “Air France 012, there’s traffic trying to clear the runway behind you. You’re not the only aircraft taxiing. Continue moving, please.”
Pilot: “But that’s what we are doing! We haven’t stopped sir. I’m swearing. We are taxiing at 10 knots.”
ATC: “Air France 012, again, I’m gonna need you to call the tower when you have a chance. Let me know when you’re ready to take this number down.”
ATC: “Air France 012, are you ready to copy the number?”
Pilot: “Negative, we are consulting the ramp right now. They just gave us 15 minutes holding time. Where do you want us to go to call the phone”
ATC: “Air France 012, are you ready to copy the number?”
Pilot: “Yes, for Air France 012, go ahead. We are now ready.”
ATC: “Alright, the number is XXX-XXX-XXXX.”
Pilot: “Okay, but just so I know, what is the problem?”
ATC: “Air France 012, call the tower and we’ll discuss it, when you call the tower.”
Then a short time later, while the plane was still on the apron (and not even at the gate), the controller again went on about a phone call:
ATC: “I’m still waiting for you to call the tower.”
Pilot: “Sir, we are taxiing. We are in duty in an aircraft so I won’t call you during my duty, okay?”
You can hear the interaction for yourself below.
This air traffic controller needs to take a chill pill
Air traffic controllers have incredibly tough jobs. I have so much respect for the profession, and I think they deal with a lot more stress than pilots, all while often not being paid as well. Add in how short staffed so many air traffic control centers are, and I generally give them the benefit of the doubt.
However, this guy completely crossed the line, in my opinion. Yes, the Air France pilot made a minor mistake with how she phrased something, but honestly, I imagine the average JFK controller hears mistakes like that dozens of times during a shift. But then he became totally obsessive:
- Over and over and over, he told the pilots to let him know when they were ready to copy a number; like, chill out, they’re trying to taxi a plane at a busy airport, and they’ll get back to you
- He then started insisting that they stopped taxiing on the runway, which the pilot insisted wasn’t the case, and I’m inclined to believe the crew here
- Then the air traffic controller was angry that the pilot wasn’t calling the tower while still actively operating the jet, rather than upon arrival
Like I said above, air traffic controllers are busy and stressed enough without extra aggravation. But this air traffic controller really seemed like he enjoyed picking a fight, and almost became obsessed with showing his dominance. You can’t tell me that this didn’t take away from his focus on other things, as he was so determined to punish the Air France plane.
Bottom line
An air traffic controller at New York JFK Airport got angry with an Air France pilot, after she didn’t phrase something well. While it’s totally fair to let a pilot know if they’re not phrasing something correctly, the way he went about this was rude and wasn’t constructive, in my opinion.
It’s tough, because air traffic controllers have stressful jobs under the best of circumstances, and I can’t help but think that this guy raised his own stress level even higher with this situation.
What do you make of this JFK ATC and Air France pilot interaction?