Professionalism

Have you ever yelled at a controller on frequency? Or, have you been yelled at by ATC? Do you think it was warranted? How did you handle it after that?

Elim Hawkins

Friday, May 31, 2024 at 10:33 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Professionalism and effective communication are paramount in aviation, especially given the natural disagreements between pilots and air traffic controllers with distinct responsibilities.
Misunderstandings and unprofessional exchanges often stem from differing interpretations of procedures or a lack of accurate regulatory knowledge, as illustrated by a controller using a Google search instead of official FAA guidelines.
Pilots must assert "Unable" if an ATC instruction compromises safety, while both pilots and controllers should prioritize clear, polite communication and de-escalation over ego or confrontation.
For non-critical disagreements, it is advisable to keep frequency clear and address issues offline, focusing on simple language when standard phraseology causes confusion.

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Aviation, perhaps more than most other human endeavors, draws Type-A personalities. Add that most of those folks actively involved in commission of aviation acts have ultimate responsibility over their particular domain, and, well, sometimes we see things differently, to put it gently. One big aspect of professionalism is how we handle those different views.

It’s Natural

We humans naturally have disagreements with those around us, especially in aviation. Should I run rich-of-peak or lean-of-peak? Where do I turn my base? How does that match the recommended procedure? Tower said they Googled a short approach. Are they right? (More on this later.) At what point do you stop on frequency?