Kobra wrote:

Flyers,

I'll run this scenario past the group and see what you all think and
is if Mr. McNicoll can shed some light as well.

First, some quick background. At my airport if you are IFR and are
heading, say, southwest (as I was) it's too bad...you're clearance is
to send you 22 miles north to a fix and then 15 mile east to another
fix and then they will turn you on course. Usually, if asked, you
can get direct on course shortly after take-off. If traffic permits
they will clear you to go direct to your first filed fix on course.

Ok so...I took-off on an IFR flight plan and I had just leveled off
at 4000' north bound for their fix. Next they gave me a vector of
090. After a minute or so I asked the controller, "McGuire Approach,
Cardinal 07G, any chance direct Smyrna (ENO)?" The response I got
was, "07G direct Smyrna unable." Ok...that would be fine if that was
what my busy brain heard, but I did not hear it that way...my brain
heard, "07G direct Smyrna 'when able'." Shortly after I turned
direct for ENO I got a VERY large lecture with unneeded and
unnecessary attitude. "07G I TOLD YOU STAY 090. CAN'T YOU LISTEN OR
UNDERSTAND ATC INSTRUCTIONS? WHEN I GIVE YOU A VECTOR YOU ARE TO
FOLLOW IT EXACTLY AND CAREFULLY!!"
When I explained to him that I heard him say, "...direct ENO when
able." he became even more belligerent. "I DID *NOT* SAY THAT!! YOU NEED
TO LISTEN TO ATC INSTRUCTION MORE CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW MY
INSTRUCTION EXACTLY."
Whoa! Like I needed to know any of that and like anyone needs to be
yelled at over the airwaves with an attitude. This controller was a
young military male for what any of that is worth.

Granted I heard him wrong and I made a mistake. But I think the
controller needs to take some responsibility for using confusing
verbiage and surely it was unprofessional to lay me out like that. This
reminds me of how a mid-air occurred in LA because a new
controller took time to admonish a GA pilot for a couple minutes
while a commercial plane and a Piper collided right in front of him
on his screen.
So my question to Steve McNicoll is...is that standard verbiage to
say, "...direct Smyrna 'unable'??. 'cause I'm here to tell ya that,
that can be EASILY confused with 'direct Smyrna 'when able'. What's
your thoughts on this and did he use proper language or did he just
use poor phraseology?


Bad phraseology on the part of the controller. When denying a pilot's
request the transmission is supposed to begin with "unable". When approving
a pilot's request it's supposed to end with "approved" or just "approved as
requested".



Order JO 7110.65S Air Traffic Control

Chapter 2. General Control

Section 1. General

2-1-18. OPERATIONAL REQUESTS

Respond to a request from another controller, a pilot or vehicle operator by
one of the following verbal means:

a. Restate the request in complete or abbreviated terms followed by the word
"APPROVED." The phraseology "APPROVED AS REQUESTED" may be
substituted in lieu of a lengthy readback.

PHRASEOLOGY-

(Requested operation) APPROVED.

or

APPROVED AS REQUESTED.

b. State restrictions followed by the word

"APPROVED."

PHRASEOLOGY-

(Restriction and/or additional instructions, requested operation) APPROVED.

c. State the word "UNABLE" and, time permitting, a reason.

PHRASEOLOGY-

UNABLE

(requested operation).

and when necessary,

(reason and/or additional instructions.)

d. State the words "STAND BY."

NOTE-

"STAND BY" is not an approval or denial. The controller acknowledges the
request and will respond at a later time.

REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-21, Traffic Advisories.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 4-2-5, Route or Altitude Amendments.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-9-3, Methods.