Confused controller

N747JB

N747JB

Final Approach
Joined
Jul 10, 2011
Messages
6,334
Location
Atlanta
Display Name
John
Home Airfield
CTJ Carrollton GA
I was flying from FTY to SOP (Pinehurst NC) the heading is almost due East, 085, or so. I take off on runway 8, given an initial heading of 310, which isn't unusual, gets planes to altitude before crossing the air spaces around Atlanta. Next vector is 280! I look at my son and he laughs and asks if I filed to Destin by mistake? I wait a minute or two thinking maybe there was a traffic conflict or something. I finally asked if he should our destination as Southern Pines, North Carolina??
We were quickly given a heading of 090! After a few more vectors, he apologized when he handed me off. It wasn't a huge deal, but I wonder where I would have ended up had I just kept following his directions??
 
Maybe he thought you were going to Pine Mtn GA?
 
Controllers are humans too. Why we always need to be aware of where we are. He should have stated a reason for the vector when he gave it to you.
 
Gucci Pilot said:
Why we always need to be aware of where we are.
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True. Approaching KHPN from the east, I have been given "enter left downwind 34" several times. Upon polite inquiry it comes back with a correction to "make that a right downwind 34, thank you!"

-Skip
 
Charlotte approach vectored me over the top of my destination and as I was bearing down on CLT itself I asked if I could turn back to my airport. I think they lost the concept of where I was going. They seemed to be setting me up to actually land at CLT.
 
No worries. . .I think I have a screw-up ratio, me to ATC, of about 4 to 1. And they usually grant me grace, too. Yeah, I know, their office isn't moving, and they do that job full time, so that's probably about the right ratio. . .
 
One time they vectored me past Dulles (not too uncommon when they're landing the opposite way). Down halfway to Richmond, I began to worry but I could hear other pilot's griping (particularly a United pilot doing his "do you know how much fuel costs" whining to the controller). When I finally did land, I could see the issue. Another United plane was in the deice block. Apparently, an APU fire or over temp or something and they decided to roll the equipment and evacuate right there. I bet the "fuel cost aware" pilot was a little more contrite when he found out it was an emergency on a company ship that caused his delay.
 
Sundancer said:
No worries. . .I think I have a screw-up ratio, me to ATC, of about 4 to 1. And they usually grant me grace, too. Yeah, I know, their office isn't moving, and they do that job full time, so that's probably about the right ratio. . .
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I bet mine is more than 4-1, so it wasn't a big deal, just funny when it's not ME screwing up!
 
My worst case so far was when the local controller asked me where I was, and I replied, "Left downwind for runway XX." To which he responded by, "No you are not, there is some confusion here, you are on right base for YY" (on the other side of the airport). I insisted I was still left downwind for XX, "confusion" or not. He went silent for a few moments, then "cleared to land XX."
No apologies or any further communications.
I have it all on tape, since I record audio/video from all my flights, partly for this reason.
 
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We used to have a controller at CHO who would continually argue with pilots about what their position was. Don't know whatever happened to her.
 
flyingron said:
Charlotte approach vectored me over the top of my destination and as I was bearing down on CLT itself I asked if I could turn back to my airport. I think they lost the concept of where I was going. They seemed to be setting me up to actually land at CLT.
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Had that happen going to Chattanooga. They got overwhelmed dealing with handling approaches for the military guys and had me 5k above the airport and overflying it. I was like 'uh, airport in sight!'
 
Fearless Tower said:
Had that happen going to Chattanooga. They got overwhelmed dealing with handling approaches for the military guys and had me 5k above the airport and overflying it. I was like 'uh, airport in sight!'
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I like CHA guys but too often they use excessive vectors and altitude assignments. Got a vector for airline traffic the other day that was completely unnecessary. Then, after acknowledging the vector and traffic in sight, he kept me on it. Should've immediately gotten "maintain visual separation from that traffic..." Another trend I see is issuing traffic calls, only to finish with "will be no factor." Complete waste of a transmission.

I don't care though. Not my gas.;)
 
Velocity173 said:
I like CHA guys but too often they use excessive vectors and altitude assignments. Got a vector for airline traffic the other day that was completely unnecessary. Then, after acknowledging the vector and traffic in sight, he kept me on it. Should've immediately gotten "maintain visual separation from that traffic..." Another trend I see is issuing traffic calls, only to finish with "will be no factor." Complete waste of a transmission.

I don't care though. Not my gas.;)
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That's exactly the problem there. They get all the military Beech jet guys shooting approaches for training and they are giving them vectors for the ILS and or VOR approaches as if they were doing a PAR/ASR approach!
 
Departure from DFW area to little rock, I was vectored west. After a couple min, I said, you guys know I'm going to Arkansas not New Mexico, right? I get, say of course heading. I give it, then get proceed direct. Pretty obvious something wasn't right. No apologies or anything.
 
I don't need a warm, personal realtionship - I'm happy if we get on the same page, clear up any confusion. Doesn't hurt my feelings if they're terse sometimes, and I don't care if they get annoyed with me, either.
 
Yeah, it happens. I've gotten bad vectors more than once or twice.
 
luvflyin said:
How much gas did you have?
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Not enough to get there going around the world to the west!! It wasn't an issue, I normally plan on landing with 1.5 hours of fuel.
 
Simple folks, if in doubt query the controller.
 
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