Being told to call ATC, after landing

Boots2Wings

Boots2Wings

Just happy to be here.
What exactly are the likely outcomes, other than ATC "blowing it off". I can always recall each time i mismanaged my altitude (especially during my early primary days where id often be a little more than 150-200 feet high dangerously close to busting into the San diego Bravo) and my CFI would flip. Everyone ive spoken with about getting "the number", when youve clearly done something wrong, acts like you lose your license. No ifs, ands or buts, and there no "three strike rule". So to simplify, what is the usual case if you get a "violation". Is it always a cut and dry, "well kiss flying goodbye" or is there a few ways to rectify the situation (maybe some extra time with a CFI, another checkride, etc).

Trust me I do my damnist to fly like ice man in my little 172, but itd be nice to not feel like the blood, sweat and tears (and of course money) that go into getting a license can be ripped away so quickly.

As a caveat, im not suggesting that certain violations do not warrant immidiate revocation, but im more curious about the less severe infractions.
 
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I've been the one to give the number to someone once over our company freq, and there was this puppy-dog shame in their response... "Oh....okay....roger."

...It was just the third shifter's cellphone number :biggrin:
 
I got the number only once. Was coming out of TEB IFR - didn't feel like waiting in the conga line for release so I changed to VFR and off we went. The purpose of the flight was instrument training so I picked up my IFR from NY approach. Right after, I got the number. Called after landing and all they wanted to tell me is they're busy and really don't have the time to give IFR clearances while airborne. I told him I didn't need the clearance - I even said "if able" in my request, and the controller was actually nice about it. He could have just said unable. The guy on the phone said just try not to do it. Okay!
 
After landing I got the number from a line guy in KLUD. Turns out the controller didn't hear me cancel and thought I had gone lost comms. When I talked to the guy on the phone he said, " Oh, OK. Our bad. Thanks for knowing the procedures, have a good one!"
 
Many never get past the controller unless the deviation caused a separation issue, But even if they do, it's not a "give my your certificate, nice knowing you" situation. It's a process that can result in no action, the FAA's new "Compliance Action," administrative warnings... all the way up the ladder to suspension and revocation for the most serious deviations (and attitude).

I did a presentation on this just last week. No audio but if you want, my presentation, "Call the Tower," is available on SlideShare at http://bit.ly/1PAd0ZL and a PDF version on Dropbox at https://db.tt/v3JnomXu

I do have an audio version on YouTube but it's a year old. It's accurate as far as it goes but the new official "Compliance Philosophy" didn't exist, so it wasn't covered.
 
If you get the # plus "for possible pilot deviation" I would think that's bad and at the very least your ASAP is now unlikely to be "sole source".
 
It's enough to make you sweat but I think people usually think it's going to be a bigger deal than it really is, unless you REALLY did something dumb. I know they're out there but honestly I've yet to deal with anyone from the FAA that was a jackwagon, in any of my dealings they've been very courteous and professional. Not saying they're not out there. And don't forget to fill out a NASA report as soon as you can. Even if it's not your fault.
 
It happens. Treat it like a traffic stop; your attitude will largely dictate the outcome (unless you've done something blatantly illegal/dangerous). "Yes sir, no sir, I understand sir." Half the time they legitimately just want to clear up confusion over a medium other than radio. They're very apt to look the other way provided you didn't endanger or disrupt operations and you're not a jerk about it.
 
I got the number once, early into my instructing days. That was the longest walk into my office ever.

Turns out the tower controller was observing a new controller, stepped away to coordinate something else, then came back and saw she'd put herself in a pickle. He recognized my voice on the radio and figured he'd like to get my rundown of what went on. I didn't even think anything of it in flight, just extended my downwind a bit. I did ask him to relay to me next time that I didn't screw anything up because my pulse was a little high for such a calm conversation.
 
It really depends on the facility that gives you the number and the circumstances. Most controllers are not out to violate pilots, some are. If you get the number from a Class B TRACON, that is probably the time to be most worried. 90% of the time it is the result of some sort of confusion and the controller just wants to talk to the crew off line to figure out what went wrong and make the skies safer from both sides. Sometimes a full Brasher can't be avoided thanks to a nosey/overly jealous supervisor. In 5+ years in the agency I have only seen 3 serious Brasher warnings issued. One was given after a deviation that involved a TCAS RA, one involved a pilot in non-radar airspace giving a false position report, and the third probably wouldn't have been one except for the supervisor overheard what was going on, and it may or may not have been a pilot deviation. We rarely find out what happens after an investigation, or if there is one at all.
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
Many never get past the controller unless the deviation caused a separation issue, But even if they do, it's not a "give my your certificate, nice knowing you" situation. It's a process that can result in no action, the FAA's new "Compliance Action," administrative warnings... all the way up the ladder to suspension and revocation for the most serious deviations (and attitude).

I did a presentation on this just last week. No audio but if you want, my presentation, "Call the Tower," is available on SlideShare at http://bit.ly/1PAd0ZL and a PDF version on Dropbox at https://db.tt/v3JnomXu

I do have an audio version on YouTube but it's a year old. It's accurate as far as it goes but the new official "Compliance Philosophy" didn't exist, so it wasn't covered.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thank you much for this I will take a look at that presentation.

Edit: Even without sound, that essentially answered the all of my questions. Nice not to be as worried as before ;). Thanks a bunch. Would you mind if i saved that for use with future students? Wouldnt change it at all of course.
 
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Boots2Wings said:
Awesome, thank you much for this I will take a look at that presentation.

Edit: Even without sound, that essentially answered the all of my questions. Nice not to be as worried as before ;). Thanks a bunch. Would you mind if i saved that for use with future students? Wouldn't change it at all of course.
Click to expand...
It's out there to be viewed and used.
 
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