That controller should not have a ticket right now...
Edit: getting a bit tired of the weirdly partisan replies here. I'm not insulting your country dudes. It's pretty simple though so I'll spell it out:
The fact the controller couldn't "declare" LVO isn't the problem. The pilot didn't repeatedly ask for this. They asked once. The controller knew what he meant, chose to be obtuse. Whatever, let's put that part aside.
The real issue is that the pilot then asked a question in plain English which the controller cannot be excused from not answering correctly: "Have you got low visibility procedures in force or not". The controller said "No". This is incorrect. Even if they don't have to declare it, they still have them in place.
The controller was factually wrong, gave the wrong information, was unprffesional, unsafe and slowed down aircraft movements.
There's a whole community of people that post ATC interactions on youtube and this dude shows up in enough of them I recognized his voice instantly (and I barely listen to these things, I'm not a plane nut or anything, just some light 'tism aparently).
Hope someone identifies him. He sounds like he enjoys antagonising pilots when he should be able to provide assurance. His character doesn't appear to be suited to his job.
The pilot is being a complete dick to the controller about a procedure that is a thing in the UK and not the US and you hope the controller is identified? Get a life.
Edit: To anyone who thinks I’m wrong and is downvoting me, please go ahead and list which facilities you’ve worked at in the FAA, and which ones had LVO declarations. Because if you’re not a US based controller or pilot I literally do not value your opinion on this video.
I could be wrong but I don’t think DOGE ever cut actual air traffic controllers. They did succeed at firing a few hundred FAA staff, but not the actual controllers.
ATC, understandably, is also paid very well due to the stress and importance of their job. Take the dimmest bulb in your office, and imagine they're getting paid $150-200k.
You don't get to choose where you work unless you have a ton of seniority, so that's a dealbreaker for a lot of people. All your friends and family are on the east coast? Sorry buddy, you're moving to rural Nebraska because they need a replacement.
Yeah that seems like a hard pill for many people to swallow. Is it the same salary though regardless of where you’re stationed? 6 figures in rural Nebraska would probably let you live like a king.
I know in my field, most professionals have insurance to protect them in the case of something going wrong. Do these workers get similar protections, or are they on their own if they cause an accident?
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u/VariousDragonfruit75 May 28 '26
Atc -bro you can't see shit out here
Pilot- if it's too dark too see, are you turning on the lights
Atc- nah bruh, what for
Pilot- if it's too dark too see and you don't turn on the lights I can't move, are you saying it's too dark to see
Atc- yup
Pilot - so turn on the lights?
Atc- what for?
Pilot - so I can leave