Comments on: Situational Awareness; Even ATC Loses it Sometimes

By: Rob Mark

Rob Mark — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:51:55 +0000

I’m not sure where you work, but in a place like New York, this honestly didn’t sound that off base to me.

These were a bunch of busy people trying help each other figure it all out, I thought.

By: Slowclimber

Slowclimber — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:26:09 +0000

I don’t understand was was supposedly ‘professional’ - total lack of standard phraseology by controller and pilots alike. Sarcastic and ‘funny’ comments instead of getting on with it. And before you ask, yes I’m a controller too.

By: Robert Mark

Robert Mark — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 14:59:31 +0000

Your comment made me wonder what might have happened on your flight, if you had NOT been cleared for the approach. I’m assuming you’d have joined the localizer and flown inbound, correct?

And if the guy at ORD had been so busy that he never cleared you by the time you hit the glideslope, would you simply expect to go around.

I relaize this seldom happens, but I’m just curious about how the crew is thinking at this point.

By: Norman

Norman — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:22:54 +0000

The other evening in ORD I (777) got popped onto final at 10 miles at 6000′ and got cleared for the approach. It was night, the weather was fine but it was windy and the freq was exceptionally busy - then someone declared an emergency… Up to the intercept we couldn’t get a word in to prompt a descent.

The run up to that point in space was interesting, the controller was overloaded to the point where he lost vertical situational awareness - his horizontal SA was fine :-)

It happens; I would hate the job and admire those who do it so well.

By: Dave Koch

Dave Koch — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:15:33 +0000

Rob,
Great JFK Gnd Cntrl tape. The bad news is that JFK’s always been like this and it sounds like it’s getting worse.