Controller Kudos

[BFG]

First of all, I don't know what it means that I listen to the PE ATC traffic while working. Might be tough to explain to the uninitiated, but it does help me learn.

Second, and the main reason for the post: the controller working the system at 16:00 PT tonight (5/11) was managing nearly the entire airspace near as I can tell, and had a fair number of new folks on the network that had her doing a lot of clarification and teaching throughout. She handled it all with grace and good humor. Was really impressive. Shout out to her.

[Keith Smith]

A lot of people find value in listening to ATC to get a feel for the rhythm of it. When I was first learning to control, I found a recording of a Newark final controller that had absolute command of the frequency and did an amazing job with a never ending stream of traffic. I learned a lot from listening over and over, noticing how important the cadence and inflections were, not just the words that were spoken.

I've passed on your kind words to the controller who worked your flight.

[BFG]

Thanks. It's also one of the nice things about flying United: being able to listen to ATC on Channel 9 of the internal audio system. I live in an American hub, and have always been disappointed they don't offer the same service. Next week I fly UA from IAH to SFO, and I plan to listen (and track the IFR route on ForeFlight) the entire way.

[Kevin_atc]

Thanks. It's also one of the nice things about flying United: being able to listen to ATC on Channel 9 of the internal audio system. I live in an American hub, and have always been disappointed they don't offer the same service. Next week I fly UA from IAH to SFO, and I plan to listen (and track the IFR route on ForeFlight) the entire way.

I was under the impression that channel 9 went away with the merger. Do some pilots still turn it on?

[Marcus Becker]

I have friend that flies a 737 for UAL. I'll ask about channel 9.

[Janevah W]

Second, and the main reason for the post: the controller working the system at 16:00 PT tonight (5/11) was managing nearly the entire airspace near as I can tell, and had a fair number of new folks on the network that had her doing a lot of clarification and teaching throughout. She handled it all with grace and good humor. Was really impressive. Shout out to her.

Thanks for the flowers. I love what I do and I try to help make the pilot's experience just as enjoyable, or better.

[BFG]

My pleasure. You guys are all great every day. But you were really working hard that particular night.

[BFG]

Thanks. It's also one of the nice things about flying United: being able to listen to ATC on Channel 9 of the internal audio system. I live in an American hub, and have always been disappointed they don't offer the same service. Next week I fly UA from IAH to SFO, and I plan to listen (and track the IFR route on ForeFlight) the entire way.

I was under the impression that channel 9 went away with the merger. Do some pilots still turn it on?

NOOOO! I hope not. What a bummer that would be. I'll know next Monday night one way or the other.

[Shawn Goldsworthy]

NOOOO! I hope not. What a bummer that would be. I'll know next Monday night one way or the other.

From my understanding (from what I've read over the past couple of years), the Ex COA fleet was never fitted with "channel 9" with the exception of the B764's

So if you end up on an Ex COA airplane, you're out of luck right off the bat.

UAL is also in the process of re-fitting the domestic fleet with onboard Wi-Fi. Any aircraft that is Wi-Fi equipped, also lost "channel 9" to the new entertainment system. I'm not sure how much of the fleet is complete.


So, if by some stroke of luck you end up on an original UAL (not ex COA) airplane that has not yet gotten the wi-fi upgrades, channel 9 should be available to you. That's a lot of "if's"


It is however still available on a lot of the long haul international stuff that won't be getting the Wi-Fi upgrade.

[Kevin_atc]

NOOOO! I hope not. What a bummer that would be. I'll know next Monday night one way or the other.

So, if by some stroke of luck you end up on an original UAL (not ex COA) airplane that has not yet gotten the wi-fi upgrades, channel 9 should be available to you. That's a lot of "if's"

As if the odds weren't bad enough with those reasons, I think you forgot even one more variable which is the fact that it's up to the pilots if they will turn it on as some pilots either forget to turn it on or they just prefer to not let the pax listen (Bastards! ).

So, BFG, if you end up having channel 9 working I think you should win a prize from PE for being a lucky SOB!