When everything in the IFR system works as it should, it can be a beautiful thing: Pilots coordinating with controllers to ensure safe, orderly flow of traffic to and from an airport, controllers anticipating a pilot’s needs and granting their every request. Everyone knows their role, and they take pride in doing their jobs with precision and professionalism. But when things aren’t working as they should, it can get ugly.
The ugliness can result from many factors: Thunderstorms sitting over an approach gate; an emergency; a runway closure; too much traffic; too few controllers. Sometimes, though, there’s just too much stress, or a bad attitude, on one side of the transaction. That’s when the other person has to step up and pay extra-close attention to what’s going on. It may be someone has to refuse a request or clearance, or otherwise interrupt the transaction to ensure safety is maintained.
