Delta pilot, Captain Happy, loses it on ATL ground

Derg said:
While this is all back-channel stuff and I never think losing your cool over the radio is ever appropriate unless, of course, making some sardonic reference to Greek mythology.

Unconfirmed and I have no idea but I guess the flight had been jacked around, forgotten about and issued nonstandard (???) taxi instructions, all to give another airline preferential treatment and he just had it.

I have no idea if it's true, that the backstory has any validity and even if so, it does not condone the behavior.
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Four runway changes on taxi out is my record in ATL. And if you're not based somewhere and they start issuing non standard taxi instructions, it DOES get a little frustrating.

Like DFW, "Turn left." Turn left for what? Where to? Want to give me a taxiway name at least. At least Chicago O'Hare's non standard still includes taxiway names, even if they tell it to 15 aircraft at once.
 
Derg said:
Oh god. What the deuce are they trying to infer? I scrubbed all of the developmentally challenged people off my "friends" list so it's all cat videos, poop jokes and general happiness.
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My request is still pending...I love cats and poop jokes!
 
jtrain609 said:
Four runway changes on taxi out is my record in ATL. And if you're not based somewhere and they start issuing non standard taxi instructions, it DOES get a little frustrating.

Like DFW, "Turn left." Turn left for what? Where to? Want to give me a taxiway name at least. At least Chicago O'Hare's non standard still includes taxiway names, even if they tell it to 15 aircraft at once.
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Chicago non standard is my favorite. Nothing like going on your taxi out and never acknowledging a single instruction because ground never un-keys the mike. Then ground is forced to stop on his auctioneer like roll to see why Mesa decided to stop on the taxiway. I truly do have a lot of respect for anyone who works ground at a major hub. It's the hardest position to work by far. Especially at places like Newark that don't have an inbound/outbound ground. At least with Chicago they'll be like, "yeah, I'm not talking to him so hopefully he'll stop for you."
 
jtrain609 said:
Four runway changes on taxi out is my record in ATL. And if you're not based somewhere and they start issuing non standard taxi instructions, it DOES get a little frustrating.

Like DFW, "Turn left." Turn left for what? Where to? Want to give me a taxiway name at least. At least Chicago O'Hare's non standard still includes taxiway names, even if they tell it to 15 aircraft at once.
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How did you get four runway changes?
 
RobertB said:
How did you get four runway changes?
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I can't remember if we were given four changes, or if we took off on the fourth runway assignment, but rest assured I had to reload the box every bloody time. We basically ended up taxing from the north side to the south side and it was continually reassigned.

I don't have very good luck in ATL, it's happened more than once.
 
I think the biggest thing from a pilot perspective about ATL is if you don't go there often. From a planning side, it seems like every time I go there, and lets say they're in west flow and we're doing the DAWGS, everyone wants to think that we'll do a 26L departure. Yet, most of the time they'll send you off 27R. Then you get those odd times where they'll switch you back to 26L. So I could see where @jtrain609 is getting at. Maybe they might only switch you once, maybe twice. But you had to program the box an extra time or two because of what you anticipated vs. assigned, and then changed.
 
My first thoughts at this were in line with what I've read on here, I was concerned the guy might be having a serious issue. Controller couldn't have been cooler about the whole thing and it just seemed so damn unwarranted.
 
wheelsup said:
Mostly PSA guys being incredibly immature; makes this DAL guy look good in comparison. It's just the express side mainline is normal.
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What a ridiculous post.

There are 3 other airlines that operate on the north ramp.

How exactly do you know it's PSA? Do they say Blue Streak before they do something stupid?

I operate there every day and hear from just about everyone, PSA included. To single PSA out as the cause of problems on the north ramp is ignorant at best.

Gimme a break.
 
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motormadness24 said:
I think the biggest thing from a pilot perspective about ATL is if you don't go there often. From a planning side, it seems like every time I go there, and lets say they're in west flow and we're doing the DAWGS, everyone wants to think that we'll do a 26L departure. Yet, most of the time they'll send you off 27R. Then you get those odd times where they'll switch you back to 26L. So I could see where @jtrain609 is getting at. Maybe they might only switch you once, maybe twice. But you had to program the box an extra time or two because of what you anticipated vs. assigned, and then changed.
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The simple solution is to ask ramp tower which runway for your departure. Takes the guesswork out of the equation.
 
motormadness24 said:
I think the biggest thing from a pilot perspective about ATL is if you don't go there often. From a planning side, it seems like every time I go there, and lets say they're in west flow and we're doing the DAWGS, everyone wants to think that we'll do a 26L departure. Yet, most of the time they'll send you off 27R. Then you get those odd times where they'll switch you back to 26L. So I could see where @jtrain609 is getting at. Maybe they might only switch you once, maybe twice. But you had to program the box an extra time or two because of what you anticipated vs. assigned, and then changed.
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Agreed. I go into ATL maybe once every 6 months. I read all the stuff on the 10-7 before arriving, and do my best to comply with their local procedures. But when they tell us a weird taxi route using "locals" lingo, I have no idea what they want. That being said, every time I've asked for clarification from the ATL controllers they've always been VERY accommodating and nice about it. No issue with those guys as far as I'm concerned.
 
ctab5060X said:
The simple solution is to ask ramp tower which runway for your departure. Takes the guesswork out of the equation.
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Completely agree with you I do that myself. However, I've also had it where they changed it between the inquiry and the time we actually went out. Not a big deal though.
 
hcaeborev said:
What a ridiculous post.

There are 3 other airlines that operate on the north ramp.

How exactly do you know it's PSA? Do they say Blue Streak before they do something stupid?

I operate there every day and hear S@!# from just about everyone, PSA included. To single PSA out as the cause of problems on the north ramp is ignorant at best.

Gimme a break.
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It's funny you don't hear it at the other hubs. Just CLT.
 
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