Complaint about ATC

ntbjounin

ntbjounin

Well-Known Member
I know a lot of controllers do their best and work hard... But recently I have run into a lot of ATC situations where the controller screwed me in one way or another and it seems that the only reason was because he or she didnt want to increas his workload. It has happened a lot more recently than usual. An example is when I file for fl 430 and they say unable, we show you as negative rvsm so you cant climb above 280. That situation took an outrageously long time to resolve and took up lots of frequency time because they didnt want to vector me for climb or whatever needs to be done to maintain separation.
I finally got a freq change and was immediately cleared to 330 and eventually 430... Whether it was a lazy controller, or ignorant, I want an avenue to bring this to the attention of someone higher up.... Filing an ASRS report is for safety issues. How do I complain about other?
 
ntbjounin said:
I know a lot of controllers do their best and work hard... But recently I have run into a lot of ATC situations where the controller screwed me in one way or another and it seems that the only reason was because he or she didnt want to increas his workload. It has happened a lot more recently than usual. An example is when I file for fl 430 and they say unable, we show you as negative rvsm so you cant climb above 280. That situation took an outrageously long time to resolve and took up lots of frequency time because they didnt want to vector me for climb or whatever needs to be done to maintain separation.
I finally got a freq change and was immediately cleared to 330 and eventually 430... Whether it was a lazy controller, or ignorant, I want an avenue to bring this to the attention of someone higher up.... Filing an ASRS report is for safety issues. How do I complain about other?
Click to expand...

"Time stamp, controller initials please. And do you have a phone number for me? I'm ready to copy."

But you are opening Pandoras box.
 
The best thing to do is take note of the time and frequency you had trouble on. The phone numbers for each facility should be available through Flight Service or FAA.gov. You can ask for a phone number on frequency but that may cause unnecessary attention to the issue and defensivness from the controller. Based on the way you described the situation it sounds like there was a knowledge gap on the controllers part. There are a lot of new controllers in the system right now and this may be a good learning opportunity for them. I would not worry about drawing attention to yourself. Unless you were unprofessional on frequency or busted an altitude I doubt anything negative would come your way. We are here because you guys are up there, not the other way around. If you want to send me a PM with the facility name I can see if we have a Professional Standards team there. P.S is an unoffical way to discuss performance or conduct issues with controllers that keeps things off the record for all parties invovled, but still communicates the message to both parties satisfaction.
 
I feel you pain. I've run into the same thing before and was kicked out of RVSM after reporting and equipment failure. The equipment affected wasn't required for RVSM flight but there was no telling the controller that. We ended up descending and like you took a couple of centers to straighten it out and climb backup after wasting alot of $$$$ fuel.

I've also been told by Chicago that in certain runway configs unless we are RNAV equipped for arrivals and approaches expect delays and holdings. I think it is complete BS that a center can arbitrarily make up it's own rules. Last I checked RNAV wasn't mandatory by any regulation.



Like @mshunter said if you want to mark the tape and call center you are opening up Pandora's box and better have your ducks in a row.
 
I am never unprofessional on the radios, and it irritates me when others are. Because of that, Im not worried about anything coming back to me. I just want someone higher up to look at their perormance and evaluate appropriately.
I can imagine how a conversation would go if the controller wanted to change a pilot to a different arrival or something and the pilots were too lazy to increase their workload.... "Unable"
"Why."
"I dont have time for that".
.....
Yeah im sure thatll go over well.

I realize I dont know everything happening in their office, but there should still be a means of inquiry. Just like a company wouldnt want its regular customer to receive bad service so should atc. Ok its the govt and not a company so service wont really be great, but often I get great service! I appreciate that and am very thankful. A supervisor should at least have the opportunity to see any room for improvement.
 
ntbjounin said:
I know a lot of controllers do their best and work hard... But recently I have run into a lot of ATC situations where the controller screwed me in one way or another and it seems that the only reason was because he or she didnt want to increas his workload. It has happened a lot more recently than usual. An example is when I file for fl 430 and they say unable, we show you as negative rvsm so you cant climb above 280. That situation took an outrageously long time to resolve and took up lots of frequency time because they didnt want to vector me for climb or whatever needs to be done to maintain separation.
I finally got a freq change and was immediately cleared to 330 and eventually 430... Whether it was a lazy controller, or ignorant, I want an avenue to bring this to the attention of someone higher up.... Filing an ASRS report is for safety issues. How do I complain about other?
Click to expand...
Were you RVSM capable?
 
If you feel that strongly call the facility and talk with a supervisor. Like I said in my first post, we are hear to serve you. If you think you are getting bad service we want to hear about it.
 
I brush things like that off, unless staying lower for an extended period of time altered your flight in anyway.There are too many unknowns.
 
I'll bite. What scenario do you suppose the faah had in mind in their decision to not make all Class A airspace above FL290 (inclusive) be RVSM-required?
 
I get screwed occasionally for being a sub 200knot plane going into high density airports. Most of the time atc is very accommodating however once a month I'll get the one who starts doing 40 degree diverging vectors or speed reductions to hover speed to just have another sub 200 knot plane pass me going 20 knots faster. Of those examples less than 10% are necessary but they feel they need to just have 10+ in trail for extraordinary buffer built in. I don't get mad at them on the radio but it still pisses me off. I find those super conservative controllers do thing the same way no matter what the situation since diverging from the published preferred routes is just the devil.
 
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