Atlanta controller tells jet to go around as a joke

There's got to be more to this story. Just plain strange.

 

TWR : "Delta 6-30 heavy, Atlanta Tower, wind 2-3-0 at 1-4, runway 2-7 left, cleared to land"

DAL630 : "Cleared to land, 2-7 left, uuuuh we do not have a gate yet so you might wanna figure out some place for us to park while we sort it out"

TWR : "Delta 6-30 go around" ... "I'm kidding Delta 6-30 after your landing I got no one behind you expect exit right second high-speed we'll... we'll hide you out somewhere down by Papa"

TWR : "Delta 6-30 you copied ?"

DAL630 : "Sorry, say again ?"

TWR : "Expect exit second high-speed November Two... Delta 6-30 you're cleared to land runway 2-7 left" (N2 is the 2nd high-speed after SC)

DAL630 : "You sent us around; Delta 6-30's on the go"

 

Not a big deal but he'll probably get fired.

 

That's no time or place for levity. The controller should get fired.

 

Are you kidding? Those guys are unionized.

He'll get a letter in his file, and maybe some retraining.

 

I thought it was funny. I joke around with Controllers all the time. If it's a clear VFR and no traffic....... Oh well, rules are rules.

 

Hardly. In addition to the burden it imposed on the crew it also created additional workload for the local ATC system to re-integrate the flight into the arrival sequence. A Class-B airport such as Atlanta-Hartsfield is not the place to joke around during this phase of flight.

Being a pilot, if I were a passenger this would have woken me up, especially on a clear VFR and no traffic day.

 

I think you would need the CVR tape with time stamps to get the whole story from the pilots perspective.

I was once told to go around while on short final and did not respond immediately. Neither my instructor or the tower were amused, and both were speaking very loudly to get my attention.

 

Some of it can be heard here.

Control tower?s midair joke leads to landing miscue, spurs FAA probe | Fox News

Stupid thing to do. He's gonna get a letter in his jacket, maybe some training. He's one of the better controllers, he'll be back.

 

Nothing to play around with. The pilots heard "go around." In this regulatory day and age, the decision has been made for you and it's on the tapes. Yes, I understand the controller said he was joking but he created more confusion in a critical phase of flight. Do the conservative thing career wise, go-around, then work it out on the ground after the next approach. Pilots did absolutely the right thing.

 

I'm having trouble following what you're saying. Bottom line from what I read in the linked articles was the plane was at 1000' AGL and talking to tower. "Cleared to land." Then the controller said "Go Around" after a brief discussion about not having a parking spot. A few seconds later "Just kidding." Once that TOGA button is pushed, you're going around. Sounds like that happened between "Go Around" and "Just kidding."

Remember this is ATL, Class B and the world's busiest airport. Not a small town tower. No time for joking around during the landing (critical) phase of flight. The pilots weren't being jerks. They were being professional and complying with a clearance. The controller, probably a good guy, had a second of unprofessionalism that caused a lot of confusion. Agitation in the pilot's voice is understandable, in my opinion, as a go around was obviously not needed.

 

There is audio in the original link, but I'm not sure if they edited out the gap in time when he says "i'm kidding," as it's immediately after the "joke." I sounds like the news people edited a delay as it's not a clear single sound bit.

 

I disagree Rob. "Go Around" at a class B airport is a serious instruction. The pilot had no way of knowing that something serious didn't happen, and did the correct thing by initiating the procedure.

I've heard Jokes from ATC, but never a command issued as a joke.

 

Here is a link to the unedited tape.

http://archive-server.liveatc.net/katl/KATL-Twr-9R-27L-Jun-11-2014-2030Z.mp3


Fast forward to 15:30. I'd say it was about 2 seconds. But the command sounded very clear, very firm. I don't hear any stress or such in the pilots voice.

Actually, I think what happened is the crew immediately started the go around, and was probably going through the initial checklist. Hence the "say again" from the pilot.

I imagine there was an unexpected period of very high workload in the cockpit.

 

Sounds to me like:

1: ATC: (joking) Delta 630 GoAround

2: ATC: I'm kidding, Delta 630, after landing I have no one behind you....
2: Delta 630: On the go


Key Point: (ATC and Delta transmitting at same time)

So ATC didn't hear Delta saying he was on the go, Delta not hearing ATC...I'm kidding.

I think it's called a "heteradyne".

The accident at Tenerife in the Canary Islands was said to possibly be caused by this same thing.


Of course, there typically isn't a joke from ATC concerning a Go Around.

Also, one button push initiates the Go Around. Lots of power and a pitch up. It is tough to recover from and get back to the glideslope. We have had crews accidently push the TOGA switches and not be able to recover the approach. The best action is typically to follow the missed approach course.

Just my thoughts.

Lou

 

When on short final at 1000agl and Twr calls a go-around, how long would you typically wait before initiating such action?

 

It's about 2 seconds. But what may have happened is that the pilot transmitted his acknowledgement at the same time the controller made his "I'm Kidding" remark, thus they never heard each other. ATC radio is NOT full duplex...........being "stepped on" happens a lot.

To me, both the controller and the pilot sound calm...I don't hear anything nervous or jerky in the recording.

I might take your bet, I don't think the pilot heard or comprehended that the order was a joke.

Cheers,

Ron