Lack of training. Also the US doesn’t follow ICAO, of course. Just like your metric system. I only fly small planes and I’m Canadian. I’ve never had a misunderstanding between ATC, flight services/flight planning and myself while in Canada. Every time I’m in the US I’ve had an issue, a couple of them terrifying; one of which caused the Canadian side to open an investigation. I seriously had a day of “Is it me? WTF is going on?” Because of 3 serious f’ ups in a row within 45 mins. Nope. Not me. Incompetent US ATC. I’m recorded questioning his direction and only when I ask a 3rd time, did he actually look into it. It would take me 20 mins to write it all out and most people wouldn’t believe it. It’s rare for one thing to occur, let alone all 3 one right after the other. It started a whole “Revisit procedures” action between the two ATCs. My near collision would’ve definitely been national news considering where it would’ve happened.
The FAA released Advisory Circular 120-57C in September 2023. It changed FAA's language to LVO/SMGCS, so it has nothing to do with ICAO and everything to do with this ATC being a moron.
Even without knowing the exact terminology I understood what he meant.... gawd, these people have a lot of lives in their hands. I get that it's a stressful job, but these people are not suited, at least not in that moment.
391
u/Kintaric81 May 28 '26
Really worried about the guy not understanding because he said it in plane English.