Distracted Pilot Almost Shutdown Major Airport | ATC vs Pilots 

As a current student pilot, who just completed my solo cross country’s, the controllers/towers attitude has a huge impact. I was pretty nervous landing on my cross country solo at KSBD, the ATC was very calm and cool and it instantly made me feel more relaxed. Big thanks to all the patient and kind controllers around the world, y’all are the best!

I like the way the ATC told the pilot to call him...like a dad saying "I'm not angry just dissapointed" 😂

"you cant just walk away from me like that ive got more to talk to you about" there is a lot of dad power in that sentence xD

I really liked hearing this interaction. The pilot you can tell is open and knows he is green, and the ATC calms him down tells him get there safe and give me a call.

Education with a healthy dose of humor…love Kelsey’s style.

"There is no left-bound in aviation." True, but it reminds me of a conversation I had in Iraq many years ago. I was working at a ground station, talking to an ISR pilot. The ISR plane would spend its entire mission orbiting around one target on the ground... hours and hours of a left-hand turn. They had sensors on-board that pointed to the left. Anyway, I asked the pilot for his heading, and he said, "Left." I got the joke.

When I get in an argument with my wife, I'm going to use that. "I'm sorry you're upset hunny, Frequency change approved" ;)

Kelsey, aviation is very similar to the medical/nursing profession. I always told my new nurses when they started to never hesitate to clarify an order, or ask a question if you were unsure. Both of our professions are about keeping people alive, so there’s no shame in clarifying ANYTHING. Love your channel.😎

Kelsey, I am sure it was not the same controller but in 1974 I was a student pilot and was attempting a touch and go at Orlando International. I always used "student pilot" when talking to ATC. I accidently set up to land at McCoy Air Force base 10 miles south of Orlando airport. He called me back and ask a few questions on things I could see out the window and quickly vectored me out of that air space and into Orlando airport. He asked me to not call but come up and visit him in the tower. I did and he was very nice and gave me a quick tour of the facility. Never said anything about my mistake. I'm sure today you would not get that type of invite due to safety concerns. And finally he said to check out the jet I parked next to that the call sign was AP - 1 which stood for Arnold Palmer 1. All in all a great day for a student pilot and a good learning experience with ATC. Thanks for posting and take care!

You're right about clarifying. Nothing wrong with a simple "Say again!" :)

My husband was a 50-year VFR pilot before he died in 2015. I enjoy your videos as they bring back memories - he actually enjoyed living on the flight path to Ohio State University Don Scott field - he ALWAYS looked up when he heard a plane overhead. His most memorable landing, and one of the best he always said, was an off-field landing in Hays, KS. I wish there would have been a video, but I have photos of the newspaper article and of him standing next to the plane. I’ll send if you like. Keep the blue side up!

I've been thanked by ATC for asking for clarification on an instruction far more than annoyance! BTW, it was super exciting to meet you in an airport as I was waiting for my commute home. Keep up the good work.

Radio traffic is always a bit suspect, even on good days. I worked my career as a firefighter, and one day I got a call for "a fall victim". I radioed back, asking for staging location, thinking he said "assault victim", which requires police protection. The dispatcher was mildly confused, and I was mildly embarrassed on the air. Oh well.

Seems like it takes a big brain to be an ATC. There’s no way I could juggle so many things at once! Props.

ATC: You’re in the bravo! Pilot: How about we just pretend that never happened?

I'm a current student pilot who just recently completed their first solo & solo xc flights and I actually did them both on this Cessna 172N N114FA. At this point in my training, I was very well-aware of the KMCO bravo shelf that is off to the south of the Executive airport KORL, which is the airport we train at. It is very alarming to me that this individual did not realize he was clearly turning directly into the restricted Class B airspace as it is very much talked about with your instructors many, many times. Situational awareness is very crucial in this environment.

It's probably me, but talking to NYC while flying through the Bravo, I repeatedly asked for "say again". It felt awkward and granted: I'm a rookie, it was my first time in the Bravo, and I learned at a pilot controlled airport. But ATC was accommodating and considerate. And I went with an instructor as a backup. I realized, then that I need to get me a noise canceling headset. My David Clark were great for learning, but I need to upgrade. Especially as my hearing dwindles.

Kudos to the controller! Way to stay calm, and I'd wage you're probably the mentor type. I totally dig the good approach with the young pilot. Absolute lad and professional right there! To the young pilot, I hope you were able to brush off the rattling and learn from it. We live and we learn, and everyone's gotta start from somewhere, so I wish you the best of luck and best wishes on your future endeavors! You'll do great! Godspeed, boys!

Hey Kelsey, I really appreciate all your content. Please keep up the good work! A little fun fact about me: I'm currently a 40 year old student pilot working on my PPL, and my flight instructor is actually a 747 Captain and Check Airman for your airline and has flown with you before. His name is Chris G, and we fly out of KYNG. He showed me a selfie you guys took together, and I recognized you instantly. He speaks very highly of you as well, both as a professional pilot and a person. You should feel proud. Thanks again for all the content, and keep up the great work. Happy landings!

Kelsey, I don’t need an instructor anymore, but when I did, I would’ve loved to had this kind of explanation and this kind of information available to me when I was working on my private. You’re a great teacher man! Thank you.

I had a Class B bust myself. I took off from San Carlos, CA, which is under the San Francisco Class B. I had done my self-briefing which included "level off at [whatever altitude]". I wasn't paying attention, though, and the controller said "Cessna such-and-such, altitude indicates XXXX". I knew instantly what that meant. I chopped the throttle and pushed it over. Nothing more was said.

The way you say "What's up 74 crew! My name is Kelsey" is so happy and genuine, it makes me feel like a kindergartener and puts a big dumb smile on my face. You rock

I can totally understand. I got disoriented on my first checkride and flew over Teterboro. My instructor actually waited until I admitted I was lost. I was trying in vain to use VOR's to figure out where I was. Fortunately that wasn't BRAVO airspace though. And yeah, the key when you make a mistake is to say sorry...haha

Kelsey, IRL controller here… you know a lot more about ATC than most pilots I’ve talked to. I’m always pleased to hear pilots when the my actually going on haha

I work as a rail controller, this discussion helps me to remember how I need to work with my operators. It isn't quite as critical, as trains are more restricted in their movements, but the rules and philosophy are still there.

Technically the pilot didn't make a mistake... he read back "left bound" and the ATC didn't correct him. They both share responsibility

I honestly can say that Kelsey saying “coming up” in his intros is one of the best things on youtube

There is a lot going on when you are learning to fly plus you might be nervous. Brief in detail, know your space, study the maps etc all apply. Assume nothing will go the way it usually does and pay attention. Kelsey gives loads of good advice IMHO. Asking for clarification is not a crime. Don’t compare your chapter 1 of flying with others who might be on chapter 20. It’s ok to be the new guy.

Good advice about asking to clarify, I retired from nursing after 47 years, followed that advice till retirement. Far better to be safe. Like you, huge respect for calm Controller with distracted pilot.

The most professional part of him speaking was “uhhhh” had me 💀

Thanks Kelsey, great run through. The way the traffic controller handled it is a great lesson for small through to large businesses. Don't get angry, talk it through and teach at the right time, then lastly ask and commit to what do we do to avoid this happening again.

a tip for people having trouble hearing, speak slower when asking for clarification, and be specific about what is unclear. sometimes it will get the guy on the other end to speak more clearly and not rattle off a bunch of unnecessary chatter. (but not always) early in the week, it took me three tries to get somebody to give me an "affirmative" that I could hear when I asked to confirm we were standing down.

Clear communication is always a challenge. Thanks for posting.

74 gear is undoubtedly the #1 aviation channel on RU-vid

I have an idea: The controller should use both cardinal and compass directions. So instead of saying "turn westbound," the controller could say "turn westbound, heading two seven zero" then the pilot repeats "turning westbound, heading two seven zero" This also serves as a sort of correction code - if the pilot mishears one or the other, the controller can then clarify.

I received my flight training at a small tower controlled airport west of Calgary. So I was pretty comfortable with the radio. My instructor took us Calgary International one day to show me what it was like. After listening to the approach frequency on the way in, I have to say my heart rate took a jump when calling them up. Good experience though. Also not used to the long and wide runway which completely messed up my landings. Thanks for the great content Kelsey.

+1 for the controller for.keeping calm throughout this whole situation. I've heard so many controllers who wouldn't be anywhere near as accommodating.

Iam 8 hours into my private pilot license. Kelsey I just wanted to say thank you for all you cover on this channel. It's not only educational, funny, and well rounded but it also gives you a good look into the commercial aviation community.

I have nothing to do with aviation and I started watching this channel because I love to fly as a passenger. I love this content because, as a psychotherapist, I absolutely appreciate the attitude of cooperation, transparent communication and taking care of each other, all with a sense of humor that soothes moments of tension. I wish I was a "technical" person because I can see that our humanity comes out in solving such kind of problems :)

Great job by the controller through the whole situation especially de-escalating the situation. I’ve heard a lot of these tapes where it goes the opposite way where one or both sides of the radio insist on turning the heat up even more.

Definitely felt for the pilot - he could do with updating his children’s edition of, ‘100 Excuses to turn to when you’ve messed up’. His was up there with, ‘the dog ate my homework’. Another great video from ‘74’.

This is like my worst fear 😅 or one of them at least. But what an absolute pro that controller was

That pilot's voice suddenly reminded me perfectly of the ramp worker who did the barrel roles in the "borrowed" plane.... it immediately hit me!

You are great! Loved when you said, communicate and "you'll never get violated." Keep up the good work and thanks for taking the time to make these videos.

Oh dude. I love the last transmission. Made me almost spit out my drink. Poor dude that made the plane aboard take off. Must have really needed to go to the restroom.

So as a little kid my very first flight was on a 747 and it became my favorite aircraft to this day- This morning I watched the documentary about the 747 and the struggles that Boeing had to deliver this marvelous marvel. it made me love it, even more, what a special, special aircraft you fly- As always great video, and continue to have the time of your life.

Wish I had that ATC person when I got the #. I was early in my IFR training and was under the hood planning to do a missed approach approach at KGON in Connecticut. I flew the approach and went missed (I still wasn’t comfy under the hood). Tower gave me a turn I wasn’t expecting because it was contrary to the missed approach procedure so I started to follow the procedure and she gave me a small dressing down and had me change frequencies to NY ATC. Well, did I get a freakin earful. My god it was so egregious that my CFII (who was also confused with the original tower order) said he never heard such treatment on air. Controller said so you want to do holds? Then he had me go to the hold point and begin holding. I had not done a hold before and this would have been a lesson on entry and navigating the pattern. I did not have any fancy instruments to show me the pattern. I was completely frazzled by now and my instructor said to hang in. After 3 horrible circuits, the controller had me Chang altitude which, naturally, increased my workload. A few more circuits and he told me to descent. I was completely humiliated and I developed a bad headache. My instructor asked me what I wanted to do and I just cancelled my IFR clearance. That’s when I got the phone #. I was feeling like a failure and we copied and I flew VFR home to KHPN. My instructor said he had to call Ashe was responsible for me. My CFII asked them to pull the tapes because the controller was so nasty and unprofessional. Nothing became of it, but my confidence was shaken and I couldn’t go back to fly for two weeks or so until I came to my senses. I can see how students or low hour pilots might leave aviation. BTW, I let the controller know I was just learning the IFR and I had apologized, but he was just vindictive. Sorry for the long response but this happened to me in 2001 and it still is embedded in my brain. Thanks Kelsey for this video.

Hi Kelsey, in the suburbs; kids are expected to ride their bikes on the stroad every day to get to school. In rush hour, with no sidewalks. This is in fact normal. Maybe petition your local reps 5:12

Trainied at Orlando Executive and those controllers are great! Tons of flight training going on in that area so there’s a lot things happening. That MCO Bravo is right there so one wrong turn and ooops. Another great video thank you!!

I remember being a new pilot flying with my dad in the 80's and being terrified of flying into KMIA airspace. Listening to this was just awesome. That ATC was just awesome to the guy.

You’re a great teacher, Kelsey! I have no plans to ever fly, but I love your videos!

I watch this channel because I have an extreme fear of flying. I actually learned to hid it pretty well when my company started flying me on weekends to so I could be in a certain place on Monday. I remember the first time I fell asleep on an airplane and that was a big deal to me. I got to were I could read a book instead of watch video's on my laptop. To say the least, this fear is very real to some people. I said all that to say. I think if I was on a plane and saw Kelsey board as part of the crew. I might actually be able exhale at some point during the flight.

Great video. Very entertaining. As far as heading to the lavatory on the plane while boarding, don't forget about us that are on a short layover that rush to the gate and don't have time to go to the restroom before getting on the plane.

"You'll never get violated for it." -Kelsey, 2022

I am so jealous of your eyelids. No discoloration or wrinkles. Perfectlly smooth

Ah yes, the classic west-left confusion. Happened to me once, taking off to the north, got clearance for a west-turn ("After takeoff turn west, climb xxx ft", which is uncommon, since they normally tell you to go left or right depending on inbound traffic and glider activity). I understood and read back turn left, never got corrected. Luckily left and west is the same in this scenario. Only found out after listening to the recording. Called the tower, turns out they were not aware that I read back left and assumed I said west.

Im not sure if anyone has ever said it but thank you for your videos. As someone who has never flown a plane in my life but absolutely love flying in flight sims, i have actually learned a lot about aviation just by watching your videos. So thank you for making my flight sim and Virtual Airline experience so much more enjoyable.

Aviation/ATC is truly a career field where begging for forgiveness is not better than asking for permission. The airport I work at has 3 runways and to depart from the main runway, you have to make at least 1 (and at most 4) runway crossings! I'm glad to hear a pilot ask to confirm. It means he is being cautious and is playing by the rule of "If you are not ONE HUNDRED PERCENT sure I said cross, hold short and ask again" rule.

How funny to see Orlando Executive. I’ve actually flown left hand traffic patterns at that airport. Well, my daughter was flying the patterns 😂 She trained in a very quiet airport, so when she took off and made her first left hand turn, she was face to face with the traffic for MCO. Obviously they were no factor, but she had never seen landing lights of passenger jets coming at her before. Fwiw, the ATC was great with my newly minted pilot daughter. Very patient and clear. She had no problems and did 5 touch and gos - she even got some night landings in (thus the shocking lights coming at her in the sky).

Thank you Kelsey for helping me understand more about what pilots have to do!

Violations happen all the time. That was a good controller to just put him at ease and let him know they needed to talk. Sometimes the call isn't to blame pilots it's to clarify something we might be saying that is easily confused.

I so like how Kelsey gives a his intro into what we're going to see. His commentaries are informative and interesting.

Yes, radios can be difficult some times. Somebody says one thing and you hear something else. I remember a few years ago, a colleague of mine had to go to the toilet. No sooner was he in there when they announced boarding. We waited and waited for him until there was just about nobody left to board. I told my other colleague to go to the gate and explain to them that we were all there and persuade them to keep the gate open until he was finished. In the meanwhile, I went into the rest room and told him to get the F*** out of that toilet NOW unless he wanted to spend the night in there. Fortunately my other colleague was very persuasive and all of us made our flight. We were the last ones board by far.

Much respect to the controller for being calm and not screening at the pilot and also the young pilot who didn't act like a disrespectful brat!

The pilot did reply LEFT and the controller missed the readback was wrong too. I don't know if or what the radio problems were the pilot talked about, but if he was having that much trouble communicating he should have just returned and got it fixed.

I am an amateur radio operator. I am a net controller (like ATF) once a week. I don't have the help of RADAR so it is all vocal. It is so easy to get confused, especially when you have two or three stations doubling on top of each other. I might get the prefix of one, two or three, but not the region nor suffix. Luckily, we are all on the ground, and I can clear that jam pretty easy. The only things hurt are feelings.

I had a similar experience yesterday when I did my first solo to another airport. I got in contact with ATC and was actually having volume issues. I essentially was under-trained on the radio frequencies and the GPS system. I called back what I could hear, and followed instructions to be vectored and look for traffic. It took me a little bit get get my volume working, and get on track and I heard my tail number, and didn't understand his call. I asked him to repeat and he said, "(my tail #) this is the third time now, sqwak VFR Frequency change approved." Spooked me a bit and I went to the other airport. For both airports I didn't have the right frequencies in, the only one I had right was ATC but it's actually ok because that's the only one I legally needed. I misunderstood ATC coming back and corrected it, but I could tell they were not having it. It really did stress me out and I wish he was as polite and mindful as the guy in this video. I wasn't given the number, but it was definitely a rough day.

A lot of people are blaming the controller for not realizing the pilot read back, "Left," instead of, "West." Yes, this entire brouhaha could have been avoided if he had corrected the pilot at that point but, in the final analysis, it was the ultimate responsibility of the pilot, as PIC, to get it right. I find it inconceivable that the pilot did not know there was Bravo airspace immediately to the south. If he truly was unaware of that airspace, that shows he didn't do his preflight planning as required by FAR 91.103. If he thought the takeoff instructions didn't make sense, he should have asked for clarification: "Tower, please confirm left turn after takeoff." It's a case of learning to be assertive without being aggressive. Other magic phrases that should be in every pilot's lexicon are, "Speak slower," "Say again," and, "Unable."

When I worked the tower at TEB, this kind of thing happened way more than anyone would have thought possible. Saw many a corporate jet bust the altitude on the Runway 19 Dalton departure and get too close for comfort with a EWR arrival!

Thank you for that restroom-before-boarding "instruction". I will show it to my husband next time he's gonna be grumpy because I go to the restroom the minute the boarding starts (because I know the boarding will take more time than I need; to go quickly right there in the airport).

I just love your passion for your job. Flying obviously is in your DNA...👌🏾

I love when a 748 driver can’t tell the difference between a Skyhawk and a C152 lol. Good breakdown, I’ve been there, I was on the hook with one of the strictest and grumpiest controllers at our local and I’ll never forget it.

I feel this reclarification is also what people with hearing loss deal with on a daily basis.

As an ATC looking to get rated soon, these videos are cool to me and help me realize what a good one does.

Your lesson about clarification applies not just in aviation, but in all matters. I just made the mistake of buying the wrong piece of furniture, with the assistance of an IKEA assistant because I did not clarify.

Really enjoy your shows Kelsey - you are a natural communicator and RU-vidr!

Kelsey always the man for this stuff. Super professional - but very humble, always acknowledging his own early, falterling years. The only observation I might make about the (obviously terrified!) fella at Orlando is this: yes, it certainly seems dubious that there had been an issue with his radio which it's likely, even during the subsequent phone call the controller would have more-or-less overlooked over and above the already wide latitude he was giving to keep the guy calm until he landed I think at Brookville. All of K's assessments to that point I feel are entirely uncontroversial - as, furthermore, is the general advice, as exemplified by the incident with the French controller, that clarification should always be sought if there is the slightest doubt (that you've misheard something). However what I don't recall being considered in the analysis, was the possibility the pilot had, at least in his own mind, unquestionably and unquestioningly heard "leftbound" from the controller. Whether or not that's a thing (which K sagely, a minute or two later, explains is not!), is to all intents irrelevant because at that (extremely novice) point in the pilot's career, even if he's only ever heard "westbound" previously - and never "leftbound" - with the level of semi distractedness he was evidently feeling just getting the damned plane off the ground, while using the radio, while worrying about his instruments, rudder, altitude, engine settings, altitude etc etc etc, while having instructions fired at him by controller (however understanding and reassuring) - he's not for a second going to question "leftbound" if that's what he heard: he's just going to assume that because he's so new - and the controller so expert - that "leftbound" is what he was told. Simply not being able to make out the numbers being radioed to you by a thickly accented Frenchman is one thing - being given an unfamiliar instruction is another. Even if it could still be insisted that the unfamiliarity itself should have triggered a clarification, yes I guess, but that's in an absolutely perfectly ideal world and I'd simply refer back to the rising panic and mounting numbers of unfamiliar and self conscious operations with which he was contending as listed above, merely in the act of staying air borne!!

This controller is a champ. I fly out of Executive. One of the busier GA and training airports in the state.

Something missed here: after pilot read back "left bound" the controller should have caught this and corrected by repeating "negative, continue west bound". I didn't hear this. Had the controller done this the incident would have been avoided.

@74Gear, I fully agree with your statement about clarifying in communications. I'd rather annoy and be sure, than make an assumption and be wrong and cause who knows what chaos. That communication rule applies anywhere, IMO.

This happened on one of the Apollo missions; "This is Houston; YOU have a problem."

I have just started my PPL, watching these really helps, Thank you.

The controller failed to pick up the pilot's incorrect read back of left not west. Had the controller listened and corrected the pilot this could have been avoided. Both the newbie pilot and a busy controller learned a lesson that day.

Another good example of needing a good instructor....i was taught if at anytime i dont feel completely comfortable comunicating to air traffic control , to anounce yourself as a student pilot....controllers slow down and makes things more clear....at anytime ...including after getting licensed . Yes they can deny you clearance and operating in their airspace , but its better to be safe for everyones sake. I was lucky and the controlled airspace i was near in training ...wanted the activity to keep the airport rating up...so they almost always accepted us and was extremely helpful with getting comfortable flying in and out of larger airports that allowed small planes.

I fly out of kORL, the controllers tell pilots they need to check bravo shelf all the time. even atop the airport itself bravo is at 1600 so I usually climb to about 1400

Corporate pilot here and I still struggle with radios sometimes and only in certain situations. During a descent into Vegas, they also give us this instruction into VGT, “Descent to 15,000ft…cross Whig at 11,000 ft. Altimeter ****”. Not sure why but I always forget the altimeter read back here. Maybe it’s too many numbers at once lol. Point being, even professional pilots sometimes struggle on atc comms

Lots of CRM issues are because of lack of standard phraseology. You’d think anyone flying in and out of Orlando executive would be aware that the Bravo is right there..

I was a student pilot at an airport that sat under the ORD bravo, you better believe we knew exactly where the bravo airspace was at every altitude as we climbed out. There is no excuse for ANY pilot to not know the boundaries to a bravo airspace that he's taking off right next to. He should immediayely have asked for clarification when he thought he got directions to fly right into it.

Kennedy Steve needs to fill his retirement with teaching pilots how to talk fast. So fast that ATC comes back with "uh, say again?" Speaking at 60 gusting to 90 as Rod Machado says. Though I expect KS is already busy giving Delta Tug tips. 😁

Its mainly the ATC's fault. The pilot read back "going leftbound" and the ATC ignored it

Consider myself really lucky to have learned inside class D that was right underneath class B and abutting class C. It was a steeper learning curve and yes, took more hours, but I had radio comms down pat - and it actually helped during IFR training to be comfortable. Clearances given at gigabit speeds weren't a problem. Also, if the pilot wasn't aware of the Bravo to his south, so close to his own airport and that he needed specific clearance (given as "cleared into the Bravo airspace"), then his CFI failed, sad to say.

GA planes can be cleared into a Bravo, but it is best to avoid a busy Bravo, they will typically refuse your request if it's busy but if it's not you can sometimes get cleared in. If you need to fly into a Bravo, it's better to just file and IFR flight plan that way they know you are coming and they can make arrangements.

When trying to communicate with someone who cannot hear you clearly, try saying the same thing using different words. Not easy to do with numbers, though. I am not a pilot, but I hang out with a lot of older people who have trouble hearing. Saying the same thing over and over again verbatim usually does not work.

What a stone cold professional that ATC is!! Beyond impressed

I had a very high pressure operational job. $60m to $80m yearly budget and an international staff of over 130 people. That said, my decisions never had direct impact over life and death. I do not envy pilots or controllers their jobs at all. Cheers 🥂

In a future aviation tech, hopefully a day will come where controller instructions can also be sent in text to a flight display so that writing the instructions can become a thing of the past. Having that data, the avionics could quickly determine if the actions from the flight deck are consistent with the instructions given by the ATC. Another great video Kelsey.

Watching this as it ticked over to 1M subs. Congratulations, Kelsey! 😀

The student pilot should've had an idea about the airspaces around his airport before taxing.

The replay feature on the Garmin Perspective for the Cirrus is really nice. You hit one button and it plays back the last transmission. If you need to hear 2 transmissions back you hit it twice and so on. I use it very rarely, but it’s nice when I need it.

This was a really interesting video and very well explained. I love how you explain things and how you always make it clear we're all human and can make mistakes, but owning to it and learning from it is what's important.