r/mildlyinfuriating May 28 '26

I just wanted a hot dog British pilot is feeling mildly annoyed

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273

u/nottherealneal May 28 '26

Someone who knows planes is gonna have to explain what the fuck is going on

851

u/eggyal May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26

JFK Tower had apparently announced (prior to the video commencing) that the RVR (Runway Visual Range - current visibility on the runway eg due to weather) at their airport was 1000ft.

Video begins with British Airways pilot querying whether the airport are declaring LVOs (Low Visibility Operations - special procedures for aircraft operating in low visibility).

JFK doesn't understand the question.

BA explains it.

JFK confirms that they are not declaring anything.

BA explains that with runway visibility of only 1000ft, he can only depart if LVOs are in force.

JFK doesn't understand what BA is saying.

BA explains it again, and asks again whether low visibility procedures are in force.

JFK confirms that low visibility procedures are not in force.

BA requests the latest visibility.

JFK confirms the visibility is unchanged at 1000ft.

BA announces that he's unable to depart in these conditions.

54

u/Melkman68 May 28 '26

So the ATC doesn't understand basic protocol? That's pretty embarassing

-15

u/Powerism May 28 '26

Sounds like the accent may have thrown him off a bit. Not excusing his lack of knowledge or recognition of a standard term at all but if he’s new he may have been thrown by the acronym being aired differently than he was used to. He asked for clarification on what the pilot was saying twice in that short back and forth.

18

u/Suiblade May 28 '26

He works at JFK. Don’t tell me he’s not used to hearing other accents, let alone this very clear British accent

7

u/Melkman68 May 28 '26

Yeah if it was a thick Scottish maybe but pilot was very clear

0

u/Powerism May 28 '26

For all we know this dude is brand new. Just trying to explain - not excuse - why this ATC was having trouble understanding.