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where in God's name are you going
Original ATC Communication
Plain English Translation
PILOT
New York, 601 Alpha Delta at 3.8 for 4,000, and Mike’s the computer.
PILOT
New York Approach, this is 601 Alpha Delta. We’re currently at 3,800 feet climbing to 4,000, and we’ve already listened to the latest automated airport information, code Mike.
ATC
601 Alpha Delta, good afternoon. Expect the ILS 6 approach. Altimeter 30.03.
ATC
601 Alpha Delta, good afternoon. Plan on using the instrument landing system for Runway 6. The local air pressure for your altitude gauge is 30.03.
PILOT
30.03, Alpha Delta.
PILOT
30.03 for the gauge, Alpha Delta.
PILOT
Southwest on a 320 heading.
PILOT
This is Southwest, we’re flying a compass heading of 320 degrees.
ATC
1 Alpha Delta, you can turn left heading 180.
ATC
1 Alpha Delta, you can turn left now to a heading of 180 degrees, due south.
PILOT
180 to the left, Alpha Delta. Thanks.
PILOT
Turning left to 180, Alpha Delta. Thanks.
ATC
Challenger 1 Alpha Delta, turn right heading 340. And I’ve got to be a little bit curious on this: where in God's name are you going?
ATC
Challenger 1 Alpha Delta, turn right to a compass heading of 340. And I’ve got to be a little bit curious here: where in God's name are you actually going?
PILOT
340, we're going to Teterboro, 601 Alpha Delta. We checked in on a 320 heading—would you agree with that?
PILOT
Turning to 340. We’re trying to get to Teterboro airport, 601 Alpha Delta. We told you we were on a 320 heading when we first called in—don't you agree that's what we said?
ATC
Affirmative, you checked in on a 320 heading. You assigned us a 180 heading for 601 Alpha Delta.
ATC
That’s right, we first contacted you while facing northwest at 320 degrees, but then you told us to fly south at 180, for flight 601 Alpha Delta.
ATC
Even then, I gave you a 280 heading because most controllers—you'd have to hold a gun to their head to have an arrival flying in the face of the departures. Turn right heading 340, sir.
ATC
Even so, I gave you a west heading of 280 because you'd have to hold a gun to a controller's head to get them to point an arriving plane right at the ones taking off. Turn right now to a north-northwest heading of 340, sir.
PILOT
We're in the turn to 340, 601 Alpha Delta.
PILOT
We’re starting the turn toward 340 now, 601 Alpha Delta.
ATC
1 Alpha Delta, turn left heading 280, sir.
ATC
1 Alpha Delta, turn left and head west on 280 degrees, sir.
PILOT
280, 1 Alpha Delta. 601 Alpha Delta.
PILOT
Turning west to 280, 601 Alpha Delta.
ATC
Sure, I should have double-checked your readback, but just be careful with that, okay?
ATC
Look, I should have double-checked that you repeated the instruction correctly, but you’ve got to be more careful with that, okay?
PILOT
601 Alpha Delta, we read back 180, and you gave us a 180 heading. We were rather surprised at that when we took the heading. I’m happy to call you later if you want to pull the tape.
PILOT
601 Alpha Delta here—we repeated "180" because that’s exactly what you told us. We were actually shocked when we heard it. I’m happy to talk later if you want to listen to the flight recordings.
ATC
It's not that. It's just the fact that you uttered the words "you were surprised at that." Generally, that means don't be quiet. We're a team together, and you've got to admit, if they're departing runway 6 and you're heading directly at 6, you should at least be curious.
ATC
It’s not about that. It’s the fact that you just said you were "surprised" by the turn. If you're surprised, don't stay quiet. We're a team, and if other planes are taking off and you’re flying head-on toward them, you should at least ask a question.
PILOT
That makes some sense. Talk to you later.
PILOT
That makes sense. Talk to you in a bit.
ATC
Buddy, no problem. This just scared me, that's all. 1 Alpha Delta, VFR traffic 12 o'clock and three miles northeastbound, indicating 3,100.
ATC
My friend, no problem. You just gave me a real scare, that's all. Alpha Delta, keep an eye out for another plane straight ahead of you, three miles away heading northeast, showing at 3,100 feet.
PILOT
Alpha Delta looking.
PILOT
Alpha Delta is looking for that plane.
ATC
Jet 748, when you're level, reduce speed to 160.
ATC
Jet 748, once you've finished your climb and leveled out, slow down to 160 knots.
PILOT
748, when we're level, slow to 160.
PILOT
Copy, 748, slowing to 160 once we've leveled off.
ATC
8 Papa Mike, reduce speed to 160.
ATC
Papa Mike, reduce your speed to 160 knots.
PILOT
160, Papa Mike.
PILOT
Slowing to 160, Papa Mike.
ATC
1 Alpha Delta, turn left heading 230.
ATC
Alpha Delta, turn left to a southwest compass heading of 230 degrees.
PILOT
230, 601 Alpha Delta.
PILOT
Twenty-three thousand feet, flight 601 Alpha Delta.
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