Millennials

Timbeck2

Timbeck2

Final Approach
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Timbeck2
I've about had it with them..the controllers that is. Some of them aren't good at life and have apparently been sheltered. We had a pattern full of A-10s when a Cessna just off of Tucson airport wanted to fly over the boneyard which isn't allowed. After denying the request he then said that he had a rough engine. My local controller just rogered him and went into why we can't allow civil aircraft to fly over the boneyard during wing flying. The Cessna came back with, "I have a rough engine and would like to be handed back off to Tucson." I told the coordinator to tell Tucson the Cessna had a rough engine and wanted to go back to them. Then I told the local controller to hand him off.

Local, coordinator and ground control all looked at me like I was nuts for showing a sense of urgency. "What's a rough engine?" they ALL asked and said they'd never heard that phrase before.

Its time to retire...again.
 
Nothing to do with them being millennials Tim. I experienced the same when I was in USAF ATC too. Some of them just don’t understand the responsibility they have. That’s why you’re up there, and why I was. I’ve seen some crazy chit, almost quit once but cooled off overnight.

One supervisor I knew had enough and wanted out. Told the Commander he had a “fear of controllers”!
 
9A343D41-20AD-4021-9694-3731F5E395C6.jpeg
 
I put this in the lessons learned forum because I had no idea that the kids of today had never heard the phrase "rough engine" before. That was waaaaaaaaaaay down on the list of things I thought I'd have to explain today.

Fear of controllers - I like that.

To explain the inside joke between Mark and I - when a controller gets into training and realizes that they can't do it because they are scared or scared they are going to kill someone, they can quit and it is listed as "fear of controlling."

Today I pray that goobers like these aren't working the day I have an issue that they've never heard of before.
 
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No worse than the pilot going into Tucson one time. Severe VFR and everyone is doing visuals. This one pilot was told to head towards "A" mountain. A minute later the controller ask the pilot where he is going. The pilot replied that he was heading towards a mountain.

The controller gave him a heading to follow, then asked the pilot if he sees the big mountain in front of him.

''Yes, I see it says the pilot.''

The controller says, "That is A Mountain."

And that is how I learned where A mountain is......
 
Wouldn't that more properly be called "Alpha" Mountain? Would avoid confusion, I would think. If I were not local and instructed to fly towards "A mountain", I'm pretty sure I would ask for clarification ... (assuming I see more than one mountain).
 
gkainz said:
Wouldn't that more properly be called "Alpha" Mountain? Would avoid confusion, I would think. If I were not local and instructed to fly towards "A mountain", I'm pretty sure I would ask for clarification ... (assuming I see more than one mountain).
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Or maybe Sentinel Peak, it’s actual name?

Sounds like the controller was being intentionally very obtuse for kicks.
 
Well, it DOES have a giant red white and blue A painted on it. The freshman class of UofA paints it every year. Unless you're on the back side, you can't miss it but yes, controllers have gotten into the habit now of saying "Are you familiar with A mountain?"

A+Mountain+02.jpg
 
Just need to hit it with some 80 grit and it will smooth right out.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Well, it DOES have a giant red white and blue A painted on it. The freshman class of UofA paints it every year. Unless you're on the back side, you can't miss it but yes, controllers have gotten into the habit now of saying "Are you familiar with A mountain?"

A+Mountain+02.jpg
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And I’d respond “I’m familiar with many mountains”.

:cool:
 
How do you expect millennial to know what a rough engine is when they’re all driving electric cars? Most of them have probably never seen, let alone used a relic like an internal combustion engine.
 
skier said:
How do you expect millennial to know what a rough engine is when they’re all driving electric cars? Most of them have probably never seen, let alone used a relic like an internal combustion engine.
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Part of the ATC training should be to find the most minimally airworthy clap-trap on the field and take him for a ride:confused::eek::D
 
Very few millennial have driven cars with carburetors. It has probably been 30 years since I drove a car with a carburetor. EFI often seems to go straight from running to not, without going through a rough running phase, so why should they understand it?
 
-KLB- said:
Very few millennial have driven cars with carburetors. It has probably been 30 years since I drove a car with a carburetor.
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Well, that, and electronic ignition. Rough running? Yeah, bad points...
 
Would they know what "dead stick" means? Do they actually teach new controllers pilot colloquialisms?
 
skier said:
How do you expect millennial to know what a rough engine is when they’re all driving electric cars? Most of them have probably never seen, let alone used a relic like an internal combustion engine.
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It's been the case for a long time [ref. AOPA Accident Videos] that controllers have no idea what "loss of vacuum" or "lost vacuum pump" means to a pilot in IMC . . . Additional training should be required. There are times you don't have time to explain to ATC what is wrong and why it will kill you.

On the other hand, maybe pilots need to stop being reluctant to declare and emergency? :eek:

How about both? :)
 
Zeldman said:
No worse than the pilot going into Tucson one time. Severe VFR and everyone is doing visuals. This one pilot was told to head towards "A" mountain. A minute later the controller ask the pilot where he is going. The pilot replied that he was heading towards a mountain.

The controller gave him a heading to follow, then asked the pilot if he sees the big mountain in front of him.

''Yes, I see it says the pilot.''

The controller says, "That is A Mountain."

And that is how I learned where A mountain is......
Click to expand...
Made me Google it!
 
Tim, you should put these guys one at a time into the right seat of your plane and take them for a ride so they can understand the pilot's perspective and workload. Y'know, I'm surprised that familiarization rides aren't part of ATC training.

On the flip side, it would probably be good for all pilots to do a tower visit. I know I'd like to, but I never seem to get around to it. Soon....
 
LOL...I was about to jump in with a defense of youth, as really we were all that stupid at one point. Then I see that POA, contrary to its reputation, has already done that and with a good bit of compassion. What...happened?
 
arnoha said:
LOL...I was about to jump in with a defense of youth, as really we were all that stupid at one point. Then I see that POA, contrary to its reputation, has already done that and with a good bit of compassion. What...happened?
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There are NO millenials on here...I can tell you that with certainty.
 
Half Fast said:
On the flip side, it would probably be good for all pilots to do a tower visit. I know I'd like to, but I never seem to get around to it. Soon....
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I did a tower visit at UGN within the first year of my flying. Very cool/enlightening. Due for another. Worth the time if you can find it.
 
CC268 said:
There are NO millenials on here...I can tell you that with certainty.
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29 year old here. I like old cars and know what a rough engine is. For a large part hate my generation and apologize for what you see of us on the news.
 
LoLPilot said:
29 year old here. I like old cars and know what a rough engine is. For a large part hate my generation and apologize for what you see of us on the news.
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You haven’t been around long enough to realize that I might be a millennial ;)
 
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