Air Traffic Controllers - Thanks for the work you do!

I heard that a while back. That's probably what I would sound like calling ATC if I thought I had lost control and was getting ready to die.

And yes, thumbs up to controllers.
 
I heard that a while back. That's probably what I would sound like calling ATC if I thought I had lost control and was getting ready to die.

And yes, thumbs up to controllers.

The majority of people that have spatial d and crash, don’t voice (yell) to the controller and articulate their situation well as this pilot did. It’s usually an abrupt loss of communication with no replies from the controller. Even Crew ICS recordings, it’s generally hyperventilating mixed with some unintelligible yelling.
 
I went flying during the tail end of the government shutdown and the air traffic controllers were there, rock solid. Well, they did clear me to taxi right in front of a business jet, but I'll get them a bit of slack.

In all seriousness, thanks ATC for all that you do.
 
That guy must’ve been at a fairly high altitude to have been in an upset situation for that long without crashing. Kudos to the controller for saving that life.
 
Well, they did clear me to taxi right in front of a business jet, but I'll get them a bit of slack.
When they do that, you say "thank you!"

In all seriousness, they may have known what they were doing and either trying to save you the jet wash, or knew the jet would have to wait on an IFR release, and didn't want to tie you up.
 
That’s controller got some kind of award for that, don’t remember the name of the award
 
ATC is always professional and polite with my knuckleheaded-attempts to remain IFR current...I'm typically using a class B, a C, and a D (TRSA) and all are good!
 
That guy must’ve been at a fairly high altitude to have been in an upset situation for that long without crashing. Kudos to the controller for saving that life.
Or he was not as out of control as he felt he was... Panic set in.
 
ATC is the best! Our flying club sending our local controllers a thank you card and gift. The shut down made us realize how much we appreciate them. I encourage others to do the same or similiar, shutdown or not.

I was a newly minted pilot, coming home with my wife, ex now, and kids at night. As we neared GRR the tower was about ready to close. I was slightly disoriented by all the city lights. By disoriented I mean in terms of my location, not attitude of plane. The controller noticed and warned me I was getting a bit low for as far away as I was, I thought I was closer. I told him my situation and he maxed out the runway lights and guided me in, staying a bit after official closing time. Not a real dramatic story but that’s what happens when the accident chain gets broken early in its onset.

We all owe our butts to those guys and gals in those towers... thank you!
 
That’s controller got some kind of award for that, don’t remember the name of the award

Archie League awards.

Archie League was the first air traffic controller, outside in St. Louis with some flags. Pretty neat how his career progressed too.

The awards are a really neat thing to see (er, hear) each year. It's always thrilling to hear a "save" on their part.
 
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