This guy did less prep for this trip than I do for my flights staying in the pattern.

53A is the guy that gets to the front on the line at McDonalds before deciding what to order. He will ask about every single item on the menu twice. After thinking over his options for several minutes, he orders a Whopper and Chalupa.

"I suggest you go back and get it sir." Ouch.

This was a funny exchange. ATC kept their cool and as always, helpful when you need help. At least the pilot had read the NOTAM, so he wasn't a complete deer in the headlights....I've been in similar situations before and usually it ends in chuckles from ATC over the air.

ATC was really nice to this guy. I’m surprised they didn’t give him a phone number to call.

I volunteer at Oshkosh marshalling aircraft to grass parking/camping spots. Yes, there is a set of not-so-common procedures to follow but the vast majority of pilots do a good job even under (at times) stressful circumstances, but even if they don't what we really want is for everyone to be able to attend safely. ATC absolutely does a fantastic job. One thing I can say is that at least the pilot communicated about what help he needed and was willing to follow directions. Bet he never forgets to bring the NOTAM again, at least.

I flew into OSH once. Now I drive in. 53A and others like him are the reason.

It's a taxiway but today it's a runway, i just love this one. You made my day with this recording, thanks 😀

53A is the kind of guy who gets in the wrong lane to make a left turn and then dives for the turning lane at the last second while blocking other lanes. Then puts their hands in the air when you honk at them.

This man knows he messed up, and ATC is bailing him out. He sounds suitably embarrassed.

That’s a Bud Light blunder.

Man those controllers should get an award for their patience

"Is 18R a runway or a taxiway?" Sigh.

ATC: "Pls just drive or Uber next time...."

My first year flying into Oshkosh a guy flying a large airplane (like a twin or something - I don't recall) called up Oshkosh tower like it was any other day. He not only had no clue Oshkosh was going on, but he didn't even know what it was based on listening to the transmission. I was just stunned because how do you get to that point in your flying career and not have heard of Oshkosh at least a little bit?

When I was a young student pilot I literally had nighmares about finding myself in a situation like this. This guy´s nighmares definetly have come true. He was lucky that he was confronted with the nicest and most patient controllers on the planet.

"I suggest you go back and get it." This made me genuinely laugh.

I was waiting for him to say he didn’t have a pencil and paper

These air traffic controllers are freaking saints. Just pure class and professionalism. Yes, this guy was an idiot for not preparing, but they treated him with respect all the same to not make the situation worse.

Having worked the OSH tower, FISK, and even FLD during the EAA airshow for several years unprepared pilots where always a real problem for us controllers because they often endangered not just themselves but others. This is why I often went offered to talk to pilot groups prior to OSH to help answer questions about the procedures.

My guy needed some proficiency training in multiple areas of flight and flight planning but… he actually is a Good example of what to do after screwing up in flight: He called and confessed, requested the help he needed. Unsure about airspace regulations he did Not assume, instead called to confirm the correct actions. Was obviously not confident in his navigation instructions so he doubled checked (multiple times haha) with ATC he wasn’t going to navigate somewhere unsafe. He mitigated the dangers by utilizing ATC and completed the flight safely and without any pilot deviations. I’ll take this guy over a more proficient pilot that is over confident and does his own thing instead of humbly requesting assistance from ATC.

This was great. Oh man what a laugh and love that mix at the end.

Oshkosh is where controllers who really love their job try and go. My dream personally and I admire these guys for their understanding. They want everyone to have a positive experience

"is 18r a runway or a taxiway" My soul would leave my body

Controllers are one of the best things about Oshkosh. Cool, professional, flappable, focused on getting everybody down, and best of all, they don’t hold grudges or punish the incompetent.

And this is a really well edited and funny video by the way! You should make more of them, I'm going to subscribe in anticipation!

Pilot seems like the kind of person who learned if he is annoying enough, people would just let him do what he wants rather than put up with trying to explain how it should be done.

Thank God they told him to land on 18L instead of a colored dot on 18R. That would've been catastrophic.

I know the rest of you guys are pilots, and I’m not, but I admire ATC for being so calm and helpful and I admire the pilot for not being prideful. Yes he should have prepped, but he didn’t, but then he seems to have done the right thing instead of freaking out. If he does it again, that’s another story.

I’m from New Zealand, an aviation buff but not a pilot and even I know enough about Oshkosh to know it’s one of those times to bring your A Game…

I can not imagine having to give this guy directions anywhere. Nicely done to the professionals!

pretty sure this is a recording of harrison ford in his early flying days

So hilarious 😂😂😂 This vid def make me sub to your channel!

So I can't just hop in my Tripacer and show up?😊

Kudos to the patience and professionalism of the ATCs here

This guy is a complete Mow-Ron. Bless his heart.

Got to say, irresponsible to do so, but what an amazing exchange between them and everyone was calm. In the end, Tower is to serve the pilot in the air and alleviate the stress and make sure he is safe.

This is amazing.

He’s a menace to himself and everything else in the air…….yes, birds too.

ATC should log PIC for this flight

I shall reserve judgement for fear that one day.... hopefully far, far in the future.... I might just be 53A I understand his pain though.

Having personally flown into Oshkosh, I can tell you that at peak times the pressure is intense. I did it years ago, and at my age I don't think I'd even want to do it again. The controllers selected are the best of the best, but they can be very military and unforgiving at times. This guy got the "nice" treatment, but I've heard ATC recordings where thing were much less casual. Personally, I'd recommend landing at a nearby airport and renting a car to attend the event. This of course requires some long time pre-planning but it comes with benefits. And as a side note, the last time I was up there was probably about 15 years ago, and a bottle of water was around $3.00. I can't imagine what they're charging now. The place is very, very expensive...

I honestly can't believe the feds weren't standing by to say hi when he finally stopped.

Oshkosh is that place that takes a mix of experienced & some absolutely new pilots and expects them all to have carrier or airshow level airmanship skills... albeit, it is rather forgiving when they fail...

Note to selfs "If your parents met each other, fell in love with each other and married each other at a family reunion maybe you shouldn't be a pilot!!""

When I was a kid of 13 a relative of mine took me to the air show with his family. I remember when the airshow was over things started to get very very busy on the runways. The had a guy standing on the end of each runways waving the next plane too takeoff the second the plane in front took off. A plane took off from each runway every 15 seconds or so and this went on for hours. All day before the air show they had planes flying if formations. Fighter, Bomber, Ultralites, 2 prop, single prop, pretty well any way you could classify a plane. I have always wanted to go back there. Just never got the chance.

This guy got so lucky that the controllers helped him out so much. Imagine rocking up to JFK with that preparation. Imagine the stress in the cockpit when the guy realised he went way out of his depth. Hopefully lesson learned

The ATC was amazing keeping in mind this level of preparation. I envy 53A 🤣

Oh this made my day😂 😂 “Welcome to Oshkosh”

I’m glad they were patient with him and he didn’t get frustrated and pile it up.

Hooooly smokes that last 15 seconds did me in. 😂😂😂

'You better go back and get it' 😂😂

The ending was great 🤣

Taking initiative plays a big role in planning. I hope this pilot listens to this and realizes his poor planning caused a ton of frustration

I can totally see myself in 53A (not pilot though). I'm glad everyone was polite and had so much patience.

This guy is a vibe.

I thought the first 2 mins was the end of the ordeal, than I saw the time stamps 😭 oh god

Sometimes you just gotta shame someone into being better. Prep and planning is key

JE-SUS-CHRIST. That was so painful. It just kept getting worse…and worse.

this pilot here did less prep than I do for the same route I am doing for a 100th time

this is the guy that you go golfing with and doesn't have any tee's or golf balls.

This need more views

That has to be the nicest collection of controllers on the planet. With all they had going on that day they still took the time to hold his hand.

Arc had a lot of patience good for them

I'm in the middle of overpreparing for my first trip to Oshkosh. I cannot imagine trying it with this total lack of preparation. So painful.

It's a push to talk not push to think.

This is the most painful thing I have watched in a while. As currently being a PPL in training in the uk i know how much planning needs to go into flights especially when navigation is involved and new airfields

ATC did so well there... ;)

I've been in a similar situation flying into Frederick, md airport. Suddenly I was hit with overwhelming exhaustion...and panicked. I switched all energies to containing my anxiety and flew north to Gettysburg airport, but no joy- I couldn't find their micro strip. It is difficult to convey the horror of this situation . I was able to maintain altitude and airspeed, but the cockpit was closing in on me. I wanted to be anywhere but in that plane. I seriously thought about jumping out at one point, at 3000' AGL. Fortunately, a 270 heading and 15 more min put me over our 1800ft rolling strip in Chambersburg, pa. You must hit the threshold at 60mph and pull her into the flair immediately. Fortunately, this runway has more forgiving grass and I had landed there a 100 times, so I was alive and home. But I don't understand why I recovered so quickly upon seeing home. I had been flying for an hour in threadbare control of a terrifying anxiety attack. Was God my copilot? ----------------------------------------------------------------- [The runway [at Lost Acres airport] - right in the middle of corn a field - is incredible, a novice pilot killer. Troughs and peaks that will launch you without carefully applied forward yoke pressure. Too much results in braking power loss - on grass, hopefully dry.] So that's the flying story of my life. On to flying a P-51. I think a Quantum leap in ones stick and rudder skill set is required. [

There is hope that I can fly in there.

53A, nothin' but cringe. Your edited soundbites in the outro was gold! Hmmm, aaah, uh, Ima, duh...

It’s been a long time since I heard a tower telling a pilot to rock his wings.😂

Kinda of wonder who help this guy get dressed before he departed for Oshkosh...he was unprepared, couldn't follow direction, kept asking question already answered...as saying goes, "Life's hard, it's even harder when you're stupid."

That ending 🤣🤣🤣

mother of god, my brain hurts now.

This was so awful to listen to. Of all places to go unprepared and asking a million questions.

Hey Kids, if you are watching, this is what it looks like when you don’t do your homework before class.

He is the rain man..

Pilot certainly did pass the “Politeness Checkride”.

What an adventure.

When you show for test but absolutely did not care to study😂

"possible pilot deviation, gotta number for you to call"

This guy made my Head Hurt....

thank God the FAA has the best controllers working at the Air Venture.

"I can give you some information to write down" - That will also likely consist of a number to call after...lol

I just can't. Listened to about 60 seconds. That's enough. So painful.

military helicopter pilot 100% confirmed

Its for reason like these, that accidents happen, not to mention that they put the air operation that others are conducting at risk, on the other hand they should fine him and demand that he carry out retrainig, because clearly he did not know what he was doing, not even carry out a simple communication professionally

5:25 My dude, do you understand? DAMN!

“Um..uh…Oshkosh Tower…um…do I push the steering wheel forward to land on the runway?”

I’d love to see this same situation in JFK’s ATC! 😬😬

LOL ! Excellent 🤣🤣🤣🤣

That's why I don't fly into oshkosh, because of pilots like that. It's busy enough to worry about getting smashed by another plane.

Must have been a slow time for OshKosh ATC

no preparation at all it seems.. I wouldn't have given him the info and would send him straight back where he came from !

Wow. Just ...wow. Did this guy even attempt to prepare at all? If I was going to OshKosh, my OCD would be kicking in and I would have everything organized in folder a month before I left the house. I would have gone overboard only to realize later that I didn't need to do it. Obviously nothing serious happened so no phone call required. But come on now, brother. You need to get your act together.

pretty sure this is VERY old. I think I had this audio recording about 15 years ago

Holy moly! A nightmare for all, a danger to all other aircraft in the vicinity . . . 😮

If I had a plane and the tail number ended in 53A, I'd get that changed ASAP.

Did he even look at a sectional for this flight? He didnt know what the hell he was doing.