Air China 981 Pilot Lost at JFK | ATC vs Pilots

Air China 981 was a viral video that happened as a result of the flight crew having expectation bias of their entry point to parking. That along with several other air traffic control and pilot exchanges in this new series similar to viral debrief.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro
0:46 747 Pilot Flex
5:32 Runway Change
9:09 Air China 981 pt1
11:29 Air China 981 pt 2
15:11 Air France Super

[radicalxedward]

I’m always amazed when ATC or pilots talk fast on crappy sounding radios and everyone understands each other. I can barely tell what they’re saying without subtitles.

[excelsionthejedi]

'Are you saying you have commitment issues sir?' - killed me

[logicsfinest]

When I was in college I worked at JFK for 2 summers as a part-time job as a ramp worker running the cargo loader. No exaggeration, there was a near collision every single day at JFK. Always the same exact thing, one plane landing as another was crossing the runway or the previous plane was still on the runway and hadn’t cleared onto a taxiway. It’s a miracle there aren’t accidents. My hats off to ATC and to you pilots. JFK was an extremely busy airport from 13:00-22:00.

[KristinGrady]

I think passengers sometimes forget all the work going on around us once we land. I’m grateful to all the pilots and ATC getting us to the gate safely. I miss travel.

[TangoIndiaMike]

At JFK now, air china 981 is still trying to get to the gate.

[fulliculli]

Air France pilot: “Ok...” Unkeys mic “... Sit on a baguette mozerfuquer”

[katherinespezia]

To my ears, the confusion in the Air France incident was because the AF pilot asked a question and the ATC thought he made a statement. When he said "Gate 8 is available for us?" he was asking the tower if it was available. His "okay..." at the end sounded less like frustration and more like he was really confused why the tower was going off on him for asking a question.

[CallMYourCat]

- Air China 981 hold short of November
- Okay, hold short until november

[joecummings]

Back in about 1990 I was helping tutor some ground School students and I told them that if they got confused the most important thing to do when talking to air traffic control is tell them "who you are, where you are, and what you intend to do".

Which led to one poor foreign student who my buddy had signed off to solo telling the tower "My name is Prashime, I am in an airplane, and I wish to land"

The kid was actually a pretty good pilot, but the speaking English thing was really throwing him a curve for a while.

[ChristopherReys]

Glad you pointed out how ATC often speaks too fast even for an American, English speaker. Can't imagine how hard that must be for these foreign pilots . Especially at a place like JFK, where patience is on short supply.

[b-man]

As a "Non-Pilot, " it seems like communications between Pilots and ATC can be a bit overwhelming at times (to say the least)!!! My Lord, they speak fast and REALLY don't like to repeat themselves!!!!

[SavetheOcean-yd]

Great video! Now, I understand that the pilot of Air China 981 can understand and speak English perfectly despite what people may say. Thanks for correcting the pilot's reputation.

[SlothChunk]

I'm an LA chopper pilot and english as second language students flock here for training like crazy. It's quite hilarious listening to them pretty consistently. A part of me feels bad but you cant fuck around when it comes to safety and communication

[PottersClay]

I like the Air France pilots tone when he says ok; you can hear his eyes roll. Lol

[Thatnibbles]

"Which way would you like us to face."
"Well forward, cause if you're flying facing the passengers they get concerned."

[gustavoheberle]

I’m a Brazilian pilot and have been flying to the US since 1991. ( Started on B707, then B767, A330, as First Officer, and then as Captain on A320, and back to B767 ) Mostly To MIA, ORL, JFK, IAD, VCV, and BOS. The US Controllers always did an excellent job when we had any kind of issues . ( heavy weather, sick passenger on board needing a special assistance, going back to the gate due to technical problems, and so on) When they realized that you are trying to do your best, they will help you like no others in the world. But as soon as they have a clue that you are trying to trick them ...you’re on you’re one. I have to say that once we heard an British pilot ( not from BA, by the way) having some communication misunderstanding, asked an JFK controller :
“ Sir ! Could you Please Speak English ...” We laugh out loud the whole approach !!!
One advice that I would like to point out is the good old school : PREPARE YOURSELF ! Study and KNOW your route, TMA Areas, all the Jeppesen Plates, SIDs STARs, IAL, ILS. the taxi ways, etc, all in advance ! Do your home work . Take a good look at the charts your going to use in the approach, and pay attention to the instructions !!! If you didn’t understand, or it didn’t make sense to you : ask them to SAY AGAIN . This is the best way to avoid embarrassing yourself and you’re Airline.
And always. : “ Kepp the blue up !!” Happy Landings 47 CREW

[BullsEye]

16:20 yes, the tone of that "ok" directly implied lots of swearing :D

[drboze]

"Expectation bias" - now I know what it is that I've had to contend with for years. Somebody will ask me something, I respond distinctly, and they hear whatever they were expecting. So very annoying, especially when a minute later they ask me the same question.

[orlovsskibet]

Reminds of the old joke.
BA pilot arrive at Frankfurt and is a bit hesitant in his taxiing.
German controller, slightly annoyed: "Have you never been to Frankfurt before?"
BA Pilot, reponding with a calm voice: "Yes. Twice in 1944, but I didn't land"

[alexbtps]

As a french guy, when i'm tired, lazy or in a rush and speaking english or other languages, it happens that i ask something by an affirmative formed sentence because i've forgotten to turn it into a proper formed question. Usually, i realize my mistake but it's too late. It seems to me, the french pilot did the same...