I guess I stand alone here, but no one knows what was going inside the cockpit besides the two individuals. Assuming it was the CA talking, maybe the FO was on IOE? Or maybe it was the FO's first time to BWI? Maybe the CA was giving a tip - "hey, I know it's your first time out here but watch out for these controllers as they will fly you right into the ground.." Maybe he had a bad experience with Potamac? Maybe on more than one occasion? He had no intention of broadcasting it, but due to an equipment malfunction, it did. Because of the Live ATC clip, we all know all about it now. I don't think that these guys are dumbasses either. In my airplane, the radios are on the center pedestal and the "TX" light is about 1MM tall and very difficult to see, especially if the sun is shining on that particular radio head. Because it's on the pedestal, it requires you to look down and turn your head 90 degrees. I'm not going to sit there and stare at the radio while I'm talking for fear of a stuck mic when I should be watching the panel right in front of my face. I get it - watch what you say, but it's easy to get complacent. Having a bad day, dealing with weather, broken airplanes, airplane swaps, etc. You're going to vent, especially when it's in the heat of the moment. Especially to someone who's in the same mess that you are/were in. I'd challenge someone to find a CVR transcript without *expletive deleted* in the text. "Watch what you say" is easier said than done.
The fact is that the fact's aren't known, and the thing is is that more often than not these clips/videos result in carpet dances with the company and/or the FAA. Look at the tower controller at JFK that let his kid give takeoff clearances. That made national news thanks to LiveATC, and the controller was suspended (possibly fired?). The JFK guy that lost it on the frequency a few years ago with the Air China pilots - he was involuntarily transferred. I just don't like the fact that a slip of the tongue can screw with your livelihood.These AE guys most likely got a tongue lashing from the SUP on duty that day, and were told "don't let it happen again." That was that. They learned their lesson, the company most likely would have never found out but now with this youtube clip, they're probably going to have to do a carpet dance in the CP's office. Who knows what disciplinary action will be taken.
The other reason I don't care for LiveATC is the fact that the instant an incident occurs, people go straight to the feed - including the media. The Colgan 3407 ATC tape was playing on Fox News/CNN/MSNBC a few hours after the crash happened. The media takes this crap and runs with it. When the Southwest guy had his stuck mic a few years back, the media was on the guy's front lawn in Texas. They were filming into his windows and showing video of his Air Force medals. Absolutely ridiculous.
I realize that this is more of a rant than anything, because LiveATC won't be shutdown nor will scanner broadcasting live feeds to the internet go away in the US, however it needs to be understood that these guys are HUMAN and they made a MISTAKE. The people that put these clips up need to think twice before they upload because they could be the sole reason that someone loses their job.
They are available via FOIA, however unless it's super juicy I'd doubt anyone would go the process for something as simple as this. It's simply not worth the time.