Flightblog

Lesson #16: Pattern Work and an Ass Chewing From ATC

I made a fairly simple mistake today and got a pretty sharp reprimand (unofficial, thank God!) from a controller in the tower.

I was flying the pattern on RWY 23 this afternoon, doing touch and goes for landing practice. It was a little bit busy, but not too bad. After about 1/2 hour of touch and goes and fine radio work, I made the mistake of second guessing a stressed out controller. I touched down on RWY 23 and was about to power up to take off again when I saw a helicopter taking off from the HAT and flying a path that would take him right across my climbout path. I got nervous and unsure, so I aborted the takeoff and braked to a halt. When I advised the tower, the controller was not pleased.

'Maui Tower, 32 Lima is holding due to helicopter traffic in my flight path'

'32 Lima traffic is no factor! He has you in sight and we will advise you of any traffic you need to be aware of!'

Then he said something about taking off RWY 5 (the opposite RWY to 23, which I was sitting on) and it made perfect sense, because I didn't think I had enough RWY left on 23 to take off. So, I readback:

'32 Lima, take off RWY 5' and began to back taxi on 5 for the end.

When I got past Bravo taxiway the controller just laid into me.

'32 Lima, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? STATE YOUR INTENTIONS IMMEDIATELY!'

'32 Lima back taxiing for take off RWY 5'

'32 LIMA RWY 23 IS IN USE! EXIT THE RUNWAY IMMEDIATELY!!'

At this point my ears were totally burning and I think my leg started to shake a little bit. I was totally humiliated and a little bit scared that I could have accidentally created a potentially dangerous (or at least hugely inconvenient) situation. Thank God no 777 on short final for 23 had to go around because of me.

As I taxied, they directed me off the runway via taxiway foxtrot and then gave me alpha to taxi to 23. Talking to me like I was in kindergarten:

'32 Lima, hold short of 23 at Alpha, you know what hold short means, right?'

:(

They cleared me to take off and the next call I got was from another controller, I pictured the controller I'd who'd been chewing me out sucking down a cigarette in the break room...totally stressed out, swearing about the stupid cessna pilots getting in the way of his finely choreographed airspace.

I feel like an idiot, but am also trying to learn something. I think the lesson is that if ever unsure of what ATC wants you to do, ask them to clarify. I think the controller made the mistake of referring to RWY 23 as RWY 5, I should have caught that instead of just mindlessly going opposite the flow of all established traffic. I guess they won't ever send you opposite the established traffic direction.

I don't know about the helicopter traffic though. My chief instructor claims all of his near misses have been in the pattern while being handled by the tower. I don't think it's safe to assume that if I'm talking to the tower that I will be informed of any traffic that might be a factor. See and avoid only works if I have the freedom to respond to traffic I see. At the same time, the traffic, while on a convergent course, was far enough out in front that I could have avoided it after becoming airborne. At the time, I just was nervous and unsure and knew that it would be a non-factor if I were to remain on the ground...so once I caught myself hesitating, I just stopped.

Any suggestions how I could have handled this differently or what else I should be learning?

Posted by johnpeace at December 29, 2003 05:33 PM