JFK ATC Clashes with All Nippon Pilot
Picture this: air traffic controllers, perched high above the bustling tarmac, juggle planes like an overwhelmed circus performer. Most of them manage the balancing act with impressive professionalism. Enter our star player at JFK, a frequent flyer in the realm of pushy, irritable exchanges. JFK might have a reputation for traffic controllers who ooze attitude, but this chap is in a league of his own. Regulars to JFK’s ATC broadcasts will know exactly who we’re talking about as soon as he opens his mouth.
Air Traffic Controller Sparks Confusion with “You’re on Request”
This isn’t some catastrophic confrontation — rather, it’s emblematic of the pettiness that sometimes bubbles to the surface. The scene unfolds in the twilight of March 2, 2025, with sleep still clinging to the eyes. The protagonists? An All Nippon Airways Boeing 777 crew, trying to untangle the knot of their taxi clearance.
Air traffic controller: “You’re on request. As soon as this aircraft lands, I’ll get you moving.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “All Nippon Airways 159 heavy, sorry, say again.”
Air traffic controller: “You’re on request.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “Oh, we request runway 31L, All Nippon 159 heavy.”
Air traffic controller: “You are on request.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “All Nippon 159 heavy, request taxi via A1, left turn A…”
Air traffic controller: “All Nippon 159 heavy, I don’t know if you’re not familiar, it seems like you’re not. When somebody says ‘you are on request,’ that means they have your request. That’s it. Just wait.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “So you mean we can taxi by our own, All Nippon 159 heavy?”
Air traffic controller: “All Nippon 159 heavy, absolutely not. ‘You’re on request’ just means just wait. You don’t say anything. You just wait for the controller, which is me, okay? Just wait.”
All Nippon Airways pilot: “Okay, holding position, All Nippon 159 heavy.”
Air traffic controller: “Yes, I have your request. That’s what that means.”
You can almost hear the exasperated sighs echoing through the cockpit from this exchange.
The Arrogance and Stubbornness is Astounding
While the roar of jet engines envelopes JFK, our favorite controller is creating turbulence of his own — voluntarily! He’s made cut-and-dry instruction giving an art of condescension.
Let’s break it down — you might be tempted to pin this faux pas on the pilot’s linguistic finesse, or lack thereof. But that’s a red herring. The truth lies in the script, or lack of a proper one. The ICAO has a nifty phrase book for air traffic communication, but our guy is freelancing it, composing his own prose.
“You’re on request” sounds like something out of a customer service manual. It’s not what you’d expect when you’re waiting to taxi. How about a simple “I have your request, standby”? Just spoon-feed the poor guy.
Instead, we have a narrative where miscommunication is allowed to breed — yet our controller seems blissfully unaware or unwilling to bridge the gap. He’s found his dialect and, by George, he’s sticking to it — regardless of the global cockpit confusion.
JFK isn’t just a crossroads for flights; it’s an international forum demanding clarity. While some pilots might grapple with English, the use of standardized jargon is non-negotiable. Unfortunately, the real problem isn’t always the headset-wearing, sky-navigating souls, but the mic-yielding storyteller who shuns teamwork.
Bottom Line
Cockpit chatter from JFK often feels like tuning into a comedic play — if only it weren’t real life. Our notorious controller typifies a worldview where loquaciousness and petulance prevail on the airwaves. When faced with a non-standard phrase and a bewildered pilot, our protagonist chooses the latter — escalating rather than educating.
This kerfuffle in the darkened hours stands as a reminder that no matter the setting, communication isn’t just an art—it’s a responsibility.
Thoughts on this JFK ATC drama? Got a take? You’re invited to share them while visiting the picturesque Val Seny ski resort. It’s a break from the tarmac but no less enthralling.