Have you ever heard ATC ask a emergency airliner if there are any VIP's on board?

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ATC asks # of people on board, any dangerous goods, and then any VIP's on board?

WTF? So what if there are, will you provide more assistance than if it's 200 blue collar types?

Around 4:45 mark

 
mulligan said:
Federal Air Marshals
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Are they more important than non-Federal Air Marshals?

That's such an inappropriate question that if it happened in the US and the media got a hold of it, it would probably get ugly.
 
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The only reason I can think for that question is if they needed to arrange special security for a VIP on the ground following the unplanned landing. Keep in mind many other countries have their heads-of-state fly regular airlines instead of having their own personal air force.
 
It's Singapore, yah hey?

Anyone else notice the tower sounded super unsure of wording?
 
ATC in the USA doesn't address asking about VIPs. It's not in FAA 7110.65 Air Traffic Control Handbook to my knowledge.
 
Well the communication between the controller and FO was so poor, it's not even clear if it was being handled as an emergency at that time. I didn't hear the FO officially declare until around 9:35.

It's not a common thing for ATC to ask in the event of an emergency in the US. Definitely not a required item. Getting priority handling for VIPs can happen for non emergencies at some military facilities though.
 
That ATC obviously has no clue what a cowling is. Sounds like he never even heard the word before in his life. Scary.
 
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deonb said:
That ATC obviously has no clue what a cowling is. Sounds like he never even heard the word before in his life. Scary.
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I don't find it scary. Even if a controller did know what part of the plane it was, I doubt most would have a clue what the possible flight implications would be. Frankly, I've been a GA pilot for over 20 years, and only have the slightest clue what the implications for losing an engine cowling on a passenger jet might be.
 
Jeff Oslick said:
I don't find it scary. Even if a controller did know what part of the plane it was, I doubt most would have a clue what the possible flight implications would be. Frankly, I've been a GA pilot for over 20 years, and only have the slightest clue what the implications for losing an engine cowling on a passenger jet might be.
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The cowling confusion was only part of it. The overall confusion between pilot and controllers was evident. Having worked ATC in SE Asia, I can tell you the language barrier is a very real thing there. Not just there but in some other parts of the world as well. The usual canned stuff isn't a problem because the controllers and pilots have memorized all the phraseology. Throw in an out of the ordinary situation into the loop and forget about. It's a mess.

I had a C-141 pilot check in on freq when I was there and he expressed how relieved he was to hear an American voice on the other end. Also relieved to hear that we not only had approach radar but GCA capabilities as well.
 
Dangerous goods? VIPs? Obviously not an emergency happening in the US.

ATC comms in the Far East is so much guesswork mostly. Talking to controllers there is a dangerous adventure at best. (Japan is the exception. Hong Kong 25 years ago as well.)
 
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