I think it was nerves more than being out of breath. Lot of great knowledge learned from this interview. KDPA is my home airport and it has some of the nicest controllers that I have dealth with. I wish they would've shown the FBO, it truly is incredible. A few years ago I had asked to see the tower and they were happy to have me come up to take a look around.

32:40 - IFR Operations: I have never heard IFR arrival limits explained so well. Outstanding.

Each breath he take's, I'm like, "Hang in there, MAN! (I hope he doesn't pass out)." I guess they wanted to give us the authentic DuPage tower experience (workout included).

KDPA is my home airport. I’ve been in that tower before. The controllers in the DuPage tower are a good bunch of folks. They also just held a few meetings with pilots recently. They do a great job bridging the gap between pilots and controllers. Thank you for this video and also the video at Chicago TRACON.

Sincerely appreciate you an these professionals for taking the time to do this.

As a pilot, this gives me a good perspective and some ideas on how/why atc controls the way they do.

Martin thanks for sharing! It’s always great to get the controllers POV & their perspective. I think it gives us pilots more knowledge on how to communicate better with them so it can make everyone’s job easier. The controllers really have my respect, are really helpful, & they are a great bunch of people! :-) Don/Ohio

Excellent video Martin! Thanks for your efforts in putting it together.

Martin, great video packed with useful information. Always helpful to have more insight into ATC operations.

During my initial training at MMAC in 1984, I either played the role of an Aero Center controller in the lab or I sat on the other side of the room and played the part of everyone else (pilots, Aero Center, adjoining centers, etc.). Stress level was nearly equal. Long live the "Tulsa Ulcer". Our motto - Happiness is seeing Oklahoma City in the rear view mirror.

interesting video, I think it is great that you bring all aspects of aviation to your videos, very entertaining and educational

Martin, very enjoyable. The videography was super - thanks for taking a camera with optics that capture the displays in the tower well. Love the interview and the two perspectives. The concept of an "IFR Tower" is fascinating. Well done - Mike

That was a very interesting video handled like a seasoned reporter Great job ! had to watch it twice

Thank you for this informative video! I’m a student pilot and it is really helpful to see what’s behind the curtain.

Very interesting! I must have talked many times to some of the guys in that room, but it's nice to see their faces for once, and how they organize their work. Thanks for making this video.

Thank You Martin for all that great info inside the Tower and all the controllers looks very professional and down to Earth. You know when We talk to Them on the frequency We can tell whom They are by the sound of Their voice. Thank You Chicago TRACON for letting Us come inside the Tower through the Cameras lens.

Very well done. Great stuff. Thanks

Great insight into stuff we never think much about until something goes wrong. Fortunately things going wrong are very rare. Kudos to our nations air traffic controllers. They do a fantastic job.

IFR and VFR tower, thank you Martin

Excellent video. Great job everyone!

Red Bonanza! I remember you visiting when I was at CID. I went to JAX approach and now I'm in Houston. Great to see one of your videos! Just for reference, CID wasn't a true TRACAB, but it operated that way a lot of the time. I miss chatting with y'all. Safe flying, and keep making videos! :)

Nice job, Martin and Matt. I learned to fly at DPA in the mid '70's when it was half the size it is today. On a sunny weekend it was nothing to have 10-15 aircraft in the pattern for touch-and-go's. Sometimes had to extend the downwind 4-5 miles.

Now this is very interesting. I love this so much. Regards from Guyana

Thanks for doing this. Pilots are usually welcome to visit towers by prior arrangement. I flew out of Dupage way back in the '80's when it was a pretty quiet place. It's a great location for an airport for those who live/work in the NW Chicago suburbs. It looks like your visit attracted a lot of groupies. :)

Great video, thank you!

very intresting - nice one mate

Regarding the option clearance...when *I* was a tower controller I would never offer the option, I let the pilot request it if he wants it, then evaluate the traffic situation, and knowing an option *could* include a stop-and-go or full stop, if those couldn't be accommodated, I'd say "unable the option but I can give you a touch-and-go or a low approach, which would you like?" or something like that. If the pilot came back and said well we'd like a (full-stop/stop-and-go) then I would adjust accordingly. I know instructor pilots like to use the option for certain training scenarios (e.g. unexpected go around "dog on the runway") so I would issue it if possible, but *any* kind of a surprise between what a pilot is doing and what ATC *thinks* he's doing is not a good way to do business..

Great information

Merry Christmas Martin and everyone...Ahh...'310 Pilots' stomping ground : )

My home base! Neoflites flying club out of KDPA.. I've never made it up for a visit to the tower.. Thanks for this!

Great video. Thanks.

Good interview. I trained out of DPA, so it was of particular interest to me.

As a student pilot, this is great insight of what the guys and gals on the other side of the radio are doing. I’ve thought it would be great experience for a student pilot to do a “ride-a-long” in the tower.

Great video Martin even not being a pilot just an enthusiast I find it really interesting. Reminds me of the time a very long time ago a boss of mine and a pilot arranged a visit at the ARTCC in Palmdale California it was fascinating. I used to fly rc airplanes in a field very close to Van Nuys airport and we started to have problems when the drones came on the scene the field was shut down for a while and now there is a 250’ hight limit and other rules. Safe travels

I washed airplanes at KDPA and learned how to fly there in 1986. Good memories

Very informative and interesting. Superb (like your other videos)!

Very informative!

Regarding the option, my PPL instructor never told the tower of my/his intentions. I suppose it was to keep me on my toes until the last few seconds. Circa 1976.

I always wanted to see what goes on in a tower, thanks!

Loved this - Although it's depressing to know I am 51 and in excellent shape (never drink, smoke or eat processed foods) for my age but could likely never qualify for this job due to my age. I know I would enjoy this sort of thing.. Darnit dad, why didn't you encourage me doing something like this??

voll interssant ...immer wieder klasse

well interesting video,, Thanks so much for making and sharing it you us all. I worked as a medic on an Advanced Life Support ambulance service out of the the Greater Chicagoland Area,, We did have a city license as well as the other counties around Cook. One day we were dispatched To Dupage Co. airport to wait for a life flight coming in with a transplant team. We pick them up and ran to one of the medical centers in emergency status ,,, Then it was a long wait while the surgeons removed a liver from a poor brain dead victim of a car accident, Soon as the organ was packed in their little igloo cooler back to the airport, lights and siren again ,, The citations engines were run up and waiting as we pulled up to the aircraft, The team from Pittsburg made a quick exit and off they went,,, It was dark by this time, About 1am If I remember correctly. The liver had no more than six hrs (I think )from the time the supply of blood/O2 was stopped until it was introduced into the recipient of this gift. While waiting for the life flight to arrive in Dupage Co. we were killing time,, A turboprop aircraft came and taxi'd near our rig and the wheels were chocked by ground crew,, The pilot wandered over after exited his plane and ask what we where doing ? We told him and he was interested with our unit ,, It was Brand new at the time and our jobs,,, I was interested with his aircraft . Later he let me wander over and I checked it out the plane,,, Stange how we both thought the others job and equipment was new and exciting ,,,,,And to us our stuff was just old hat. //////// Last thing,, Does the radar center in Aurora still use out of date 1950's punch card computer technology to keep track of every aircraft between somewhere in Indiana west to the quad cities,, north past rockford and far south past bloomington???? Why, how,, OMG if they still do?/////

good video

@41:00 triggered my comment as I developed a software program called "ATC-pie" that allows this type of training, both with AI traffic (solo training) and with a teacher simulating the traffic. I thought it could be of interest to viewers here. Thanks for the video too!

Nice

Much of that equipment looks crazy old...Phones from the 60's, antique monitors, old yellowed keyboards. Perhaps simpler is better for this type of work. This was very interesting.

Also have you had more thoughts on the Aspen E1000 or are you going to go a different direction?

With your question regarding the option, at my tower, if someone says they're going to full stop, we just re clear you to land, clarification is best

I remember my grandmas neighbor used to keep his BBJ there. Amazing that beanie babies could buy you a 737BBJ lol.

Very good, I am a new private pilot and during my training I am sure I confused a controller or two. I fly out of KSYR and we have excellent controllers. Best Vid to date

great video. currently 3 months into my Afghanistan deployment doing ATC at a forward operating base. just started messing with my go pro, do you have any advice as far as filming. 1st person, recording the tower as a whole, or filming towards the active runways? Mostly rotary wing with some occasional C-130s/C-17s. thanks in advance.

Good lord I thought that guy was going to keel over due to lack of oxygen. He definitely needs to get a stress test. Hell, he gets out of breath just talking!

ATC like a loving mother.

1000 thumbs Up

Martin! Great video! Can I ask, how did you go about getting a tour and being able to video it?!?!

It would have been interesting to discuss Mayday/PanPan emergency situations with them. Do they ever have any of those.

I hope this man is seeing a doctor that breathing sounds serious after climbing a few flight of stairs and I am not joking. This also must be a very stressful job.

Was the big guy talking about one in, one out for IFRProcedures?at a VFR Airport?

I fly out of DPA!! Great airport, very helpful and kind ATC!

Do atc personal require any type of medical?? The controller at the beginning, Mr Loftus seems to be a very heavy breather or out of breath to the point we’re I am actually concerned for his health. I used to work at dupage airport before and after the new tower. Great days those were.

I have no experience in air traffic control, but I am curious, why do all the computer programs look like they haven’t changed since the 90s?

My understanding is that it is practiced at class E airports also... I'm still getting no joy while my Continental gets as hot as the sun holding RWY 32.

you should send them 1/2 dozen pizza's on Friday for lunch and 1/2 dozen for dinner and I bet you they remember it.

How do they know which squak code number to assign ?

Anyone got any experience of working atc? Thinking of training w RAF to become one

Im a bit worried that the chap showing you around is close to a cardiac event after climbing the stairs..Do ATC not have to undertake a medical in the USA?

"They talk too fast" === primary problem with Class-B controllers (RE: JFK & PHX)

8:22 - Take that AI!!

What's a primary aircraft?

As a retired controller I do miss it....

I hope they get paid good!

3:55 tell me that's not NoDak

When ATC Talk Way Too Fast? I usually talk really show and act that I’m a good ol’boy from Texas... Son.... I’m.... From..... TEX...AS.... and.... I.... Think.... Fast.... and.... Talk.... Slow.... I.... Sure.... Would.... Appreciate... You... To.... Talk .... A.... Bit.... Slower.... That usually covers it...

Why is the supervisor wearing a C90 Natca shirt when he is not a member of Natca nor works at C90?

Big guy needs to take a breath.

IHAA BRZILIAN T-shirt i´m brazilian

I can't listen to him. I'm gonna pass out here

dude needs medical help even sitting he breathes heavy

Sounds like the boss just ran a marathon wearing a sweatsuit.

A perfect example of Pre-Diabetes or Diabetes already going on.

Yawn

Horrific comment made by Martin on Jerry Wagner's channel. Not sure who this Martin is but certainly doesn't know when to keep things to himself. Additionally, he is a low time pilot with little technical knowledge to comment on someone else's conduct. Hope you have a good year, sir, and please keep your comments to yourself! With only 15k subscribers, not too concerned about widespread distribution of the trash he put out there.

just what they need inside a tower..folks like you nosing around.

Nice