I've decided I am going to be a pain.

roncachamp said:
Why would I inquire as to WHY the change? What business is that of mine?
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Maybe some controllers are just more inquisitive than you are. I've sometimes been asked for the reason and sometimes not. I always figured it was curiosity, not some policy.
 
dmccormack said:
Then you must have paid for the room --- I haven't had a room in at least 10 years that didn't require a credit card, to which they can charge any damage or stolen room items after you leave.
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You know I cannot remember if I actually got charged. It was my room and I recall cringing as the fellow gleefully plucked them all out of the closet -- but he was so enthusiastic about it and so much bigger than I that I decided not to make a stand.
 
twdeckard said:
You know I cannot remember if I actually got charged. It was my room and I recall cringing as the fellow gleefully plucked them all out of the closet -- but he was so enthusiastic about it and so much bigger than I that I decided not to make a stand.
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Maybe the hotel had the last laugh on you. :eek:

Careful when you mess with The Man -- he's got a long reach. :smile:
 
roncachamp said:
I can't imagine ATC responding to that statement with that question. I think the only question they'd have is, "Where to?"
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That's interesting, because when I toured ZAU this year, the supervisor of the sector where I was plugged in said that they needed to inform "Washington" of any unusual (unexplained) deviation requests. He said that obvious (i.e. weather-related) decisions didn't require explanation, but if, for example, a 747 bound for O'Hare requested deviation to St. Louis (I think that's the example he used), they would enquire and notify the higher-ups if it was suspicious.
 
gprellwitz said:
That's interesting, because when I toured ZAU this year, the supervisor of the sector where I was plugged in said that they needed to inform "Washington" of any unusual (unexplained) deviation requests. He said that obvious (i.e. weather-related) decisions didn't require explanation, but if, for example, a 747 bound for O'Hare requested deviation to St. Louis (I think that's the example he used), they would enquire and notify the higher-ups if it was suspicious.
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It seems significantly more suspicious that a 747 (which is probably operating Part 121 since how many people own 747s for their own Part 91 use?) wants to make a diversion like that than for someone in one of our little planes to make a diversion. Not that there aren't good reasons, just seems more unusual.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
It seems significantly more suspicious that a 747 (which is probably operating Part 121 since how many people own 747s for their own Part 91 use?) wants to make a diversion like that than for someone in one of our little planes to make a diversion. Not that there aren't good reasons, just seems more unusual.
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It depends upon the center, the flight and which type of operation as well as the controller. A FedEx MD-11 requesting a change of destination to recover some freight probably wouldn't arouse a suspicion, but a passenger airline like American requesting a destination change would since the pax carriers don't usually divert to another city to pick up stranded passengers.

A corporate airplane or a GA plane changing destination would be rather routine.
 
I hereby resurrect this thread.

I was talking to a buddy of mine who flies a Mooney 201. He was telling me about a trip from Fullerton to Denver with his stop at Santa Fe. The winds were good and he was making good time and not burning much fuel so he decided to change his stop to Pueblo, CO. ATC was not impressed. He got the third degree; why was he changing destinations?

Dunno if it was just the extra work that set them off or if he managed to trigger a security alarm.

On the other hand I fly all over the place VFR and change my destination enroute. Sometimes I don't know where I'm going until I'm in the air. (Of course I'm well prepared to go wherever it is that I do end up going)

Why should ATC give IFR guys crap and then ignore the VFR flights? I guess that seems more secure than doing nothing.
 
roncachamp said:
I can't imagine ATC responding to that statement with that question. I think the only question they'd have is, "Where to?"
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No, they do ask for a reason for the change, I've been asked that before, I just answer why, usually it's due to avoiding weather and the selected airport I had before was just a fuel stop or I have a passenger that needs a restroom. I've even been asked the reason for my change when on VFR FF even.
 
Speaking of a little legal civil disobedience, I know of one pilot, based inside the Washington SFRA, that files departure and return plans every 2 hours all day long staggered by an hour in/out. There's sort of a reason for it - he may not be sure when he's coming back in or how many students he'll have that day - but it's as much to just mess with them as anything that he does it.
 
I just flew from PTK back to DSM. Along the way I overherad a few pilots change their destinations with Center. every one was asked for a reason. One pilot gave a bit of attitude and the controller said "I just need something to put in the box"
 
I was aked when on VFR FF why the change in destination - the answer was "nature calls"... will report back on freq. in about 15 mins... no problem.
 
I'm wondering whether the "box" was instituted by TSA?
 
On my last IFR flight I canceled right after being cleared for the Livermore ILS and told them I was proceeding VFR to Palo Alto and nobody asked why.
 
I changed our destination from KRMY to KPTK in the air a week ago. Might have even been while I was still in Canadian airspace even, but I was talking to an American controller. They did not ask why, just got 'er done.

Of course, that's probably because I was talking to Selfridge Approach, and the controller knew that if I did anything funny he could shoot my @$$ down in a heartbeat. :D
 
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