2000-11 · NASA ASRS report 617484
GLASAIR PLT LNDG AT FXE EXPERIENCED FRUSTRATION WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS/ATTITUDES.
I RPTED TO FT LAUDERDALE EXECUTIVE TWR THAT I WAS INBND FOR LNDG. I WAS GIVEN A 'LEFT MID FIELD FOR RWY 8 AND TO RPT THE DOWNWIND.' I THOUGHT TO MYSELF; OK. I WAS FLYING MY GLASAIR AND JUST AS I ENTERED THE DOWNWIND TWR CTL STARTED A LONG WINDED DIALOGUE WITH THE PLT OF A CESSNA. MY SPD ON THE DOWNWIND WAS 90 KTS. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE ARPT I DECIDED IT BEST TO ENTER A L BASE. FINALLY THE CTLR ENDED HIS LONG CONVERSATION AND I WAS ABLE TO SNEAK IN MY POSITION. AT THAT; THE CTLR BECAME QUITE AGITATED AND DIRECTED ME TO FLY DIRECTLY BACK TO THE FIELD AND MAKE 360 DEGS DIRECTLY OVER THE FIELD FOR HIS AMUSEMENT. I HAD TO SLOW THE PLANE DOWN TO 80 KTS TO STAY OVER THE FIELD. MY PLANE BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE AT THIS SPEED AND ON TOP OF THAT; MY ENG TEMPERATURES STARTED TO ROCKET UP. AFTER COMPLETING SEVERAL 360 DEG TURNS; I REQUESTED HIS INTENTIONS. HE COULD NOW HEAR THE DISTRESS IN MY VOICE. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO REENTER A L DOWNWIND AND THAT 'HE WOULD TELL ME WHEN TO ENTER L BASE.' AS I WAS FLARING FOR LNDG; THE CTLR TOLD ME TO MAKE A R TURN OFF AND TO HOLD SHORT OF THE XING RWY. THE TXWY WAS VERY SHORT AND NEITHER MY COMMERCIAL PLT HUSBAND OR I COULD SEE THE BADLY WORN HOLDING MARKINGS. AS I TURNED BACK TO SEE IF MY TAIL WAS CLEAR OF THE RWY; THE CTLR SCREAMED 'STOP!!' MY HUSBAND COULD MAKE OUT THE FAINT MARKINGS AND OUR NOSEWHEEL WAS UP AGAINST THEM. I HAVE NEARLY 1000 HRS IN MY GLASAIR AND NEARLY 2000 LANDINGS. I ALSO FLY OUT OF A CTLED ARPT. I FEEL THIS CTLR WAS ARROGANT AND CONDESCENDING AND PUT BOTH ME AND MY HUSBAND AT RISK.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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