Information Echo

Aug 02 2006

How not to arrive at Oshkosh.

While at Oshkosh and lounging around camp Paul and I listened to my frequency scanner on occasion. Sometimes we listened to the “EAA Radio” frequency, and sometimes we listened to the airboss frequency during the airshows.

Frequently we just listened to the controllers work the traffic.

We marveled at the fact that despite the hurried pace of arrivals and departures, most people were following the NOTAM, and things were running surprisingly smooth.

However, there were a few that were departing slightly from the instructions by doing things that were forgivable - reading back, for example. It’s so automatic to do so that I’m sure alot of people had done it before they even realized their mistake.

However, small mistakes aside, there was this guy. (Click for audio file)

I came across this audio file while browsing rec.aviation.piloting this evening (Yes, lurking again…) and was half amused, and half dumbfounded.

Simply inexcusable.

What is most amazing to me (aside from the fact that this guy didn’t kill himself, or others around him) is that the controllers stay calm and actually work this guy out of his “predicament”, and safely onto the ground.

Wow.

9 Responses to “How not to arrive at Oshkosh.”

1. # Rants and Revelations » How not to arrive at Oshkosh.on 03 Aug 2006 at 9:12 am

   [...] I was going to blog about this, but Mark beat me to it: Information Echo : How not to arrive at Oshkosh. Go there, and especially listen to the audio. [...]

2. # Oblivionon 03 Aug 2006 at 10:49 am

   Oh. Dear. God.

   This is painful to listen to.

3. # Paul Tomblinon 03 Aug 2006 at 1:11 pm

   I hope you don’t run out of bandwidth, but I’ve posted the link to your audio to a mailing list I’m on.

4. # Markon 03 Aug 2006 at 1:14 pm

   Shouldn’t be a problem, I’ve got 3/4 of a terrabyte of xfer per month between all my sites. I might actually get to use a good portion of it for a change. ;)

5. # K7SLE Weblogon 06 Aug 2006 at 2:20 am

   How Did You Ever Earn Your Pilot’s Certificate?…

   In the flying forums I read, one topic has stuck out in my mind.  That is one that deals with a pilot who flew into Oskhosh, Wisconsin, (KOSH) during the largest flying event in the US who was totally unprepared.  I commend ATC for trying to work wit…

6. # Chris, K7SLEon 06 Aug 2006 at 2:26 am

   Thank you for having a link to the audio. Like Paul, I also linked to the file. If this becomes a problem, just let me know!

   Geez, how can we ever prevent this kind of idiocy again! Thank God it was not me!!!!!!!!

7. # Richon 09 Aug 2006 at 12:35 pm

   Wow, That guy is scary. Oshkosh should redirect guys like that to an outlying airport and bring them in on a bus!

8. # Richardon 09 Aug 2006 at 2:28 pm

   Considering how busy those controllers must have been, there were fairly pleasant with this guy. Perhaps it’s not the first time something like this has happened.

9. # Information Echo » Morons To Oshkosh, Continued.on 11 Oct 2006 at 11:27 pm

   [...] Of course, there’s also mention of the now imfamous “How not to arrive at Oskosh” guy. (Audio link of the whole debacle, for anyone who missed it when I posted it back in the summer…) [...]

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