There's a Facebook group dedicated to one air traffic controller named Michel who says "Rodge" on the radio in acknowledgment of calls. He's currently working for Toronto Terminal. Air traffic controllers are supposed to, and for the most part do adhere to very strict limits of procedure and terminology such that there shouldn't be an operational difference between the experience between being handled by one or another. But this guy reveals just a bit more personality than most and has what amounts to a cult following among pilots. The Facebook tributes to this guy have built into aviation-themed Chuck Norris jokes. His bosses must hate it.
6 comments:
The guy is a legend! I remember him from my IFR flying days. Even though his phraseology might be unique and not exactly conforming to how most of us work, he does go out of his way to make every pilot feel like he is completely devoted to them. It's easy for him to do as this is genuine and he is a great controller.
I haven't heard his voice in many years but I'm glad to hear he's still around.
Rodge!
There's a controller that comes to mind from reading this. I think he's in the New York terminal area? Or LGA tower. His sign off was "see ya" ... always had a warm fuzzy that he could be depended upon for a great job. It may even be his voice I heard on the tapes related to the Hudson river landing...
It is nice to hear some variety in what may easily become and overly-standardized world.
Google search for Boston John ATC. He's supposedly been promoted to Supervisor or is doing OJT now, but when he was on the air at Boston Tower, he was a legend. Knew the pilots, gave them great service and obviously LOVED his job.
You can find recordings of him on LiveATC.net and elsewhere... Try YouTube
Mocha hagtdi, seeeya!
I LOVE that guy. When he left YYZ I was so freaking depressed...going into pearson was never the same. And now he's back? I'm tempted to get a fixed wing ifr job just so I can hear him again. :) and yes, I already belong to the group. :D
Some great people working ATC.
We had a guy out here in YVR that worked terminal that used to give us the hockey scores when flying night freight.
He would ask if we were 'monitoring the NW beacon' (local sports AM radio was CKNW). If you replied in the negative, he would come back with 'its five to three' or something similar...
I really appreciate those sorts of controllers. They can make the job almost bearable sometimes.
There is or was one at Schiphol in Amsterdam who'd taken the trouble to learn how to greet everyone in his own language.
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