The background and what happened before stays unknown.

Forcing her to land and taxi to an airport she did not want to land on, then telling her taxiing there without being familiar is dangerous. Something is off there .

They forced her to land then roasted her for not knowing the airport. wtf

Forces her to land then lectures her for taxiing alone at an unfamiliar airport.

Something is off, if she was struggling then why ask her to copy a number while in air. Could has given it on the ground. Also they forced her to land and continue to say it's dangerous to taxi in unknown airport. Wish we had more details.

"You should not taxi around in an unfamiliar airport without an instructor" Yeah bro who's fault is that?

Something is missing here...she seens very uncomfortable wuth operating into a larger airport and requested a return to a familiar, likely smaller field...why not vector her there? She already had a number to call later

The short clip doesn't indicate she was a hazard to aviation safety, except the fact that she didn't expedite that climb... She's in a Cessna, not a jet! You can only climb so fast/steep in one of those!

Sounds like someone has a Power Trip issue here and it’s not the Pilot.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="131">2:11</a> --- "I'm gonna make you land here at Gateway." ATC doesn't have this authority, except during national emergency such as 9/11. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="270">4:30</a> -- "If you're not familiar with the airport, you should not be taxiing around without and instructor. That's dangerous." The appropriate response here is "I was hijacked by ATC and forced to land here, then given orders to do things that you are calling dangerous."

The controller was COMPLETELY out of line. You give her the number and go about your day. Forcing her to land like that ...do we know if he was reprimanded ? We've all heard FAR worse on KZfaq lol she wasn't that bad

“Advise when ready to copy a number” “I’ll be ready when I get back on the ground, 3XD”

In a Cessna in Arizona? If that's a hot day then the answer to "expedite climb to 3500" is "unable, I can do maybe 100fpm". Not that this was the issue here.

Tower has a point. Ground does not: "Dangerous" for a licensed pilot to taxi at an unfamiliar airport is false and just piling-on.

Controllers don't have the authority to require a pilot to land at an airport. I don't know the story behind this, but I would have told him to pound sand. With that being said, by the sound of things, the pilot might have obtained their license over the internet.

Since when can ATC "make you" land at an airport that you don't want to go to? These folks seemed a bit harsh. Even the ground controller telling her that she shouldn't be taxiing around without an instructor if she's not familiar with the airport is nonsense. How would anyone go to a new airport if that is the expectation?!

Um, no. ATC does not have the authority to order a pilot to land. If I’m wrong, please cite the relevant portion of 14 CFR.

I don't understand what went on here. It's like we're missing half the story. What did the pilot do that was so egregious that the ATC demanded she immediately land?

This is how they shore up business at the airport diner. Genius!

N738XD: "I have a private pilot license." TOWER: "We don't believe you." 😂😂

The statement about it bring unsafe to taxi around an unfamiliar airport without an instructor was pretty stupid. The first time I go to an airport, even if I've planned to go there and have reviewed the diagram, I'm not "familiar" with it. Once recently while busting an unexpectedly strong headwind I had to divert for fuel to make it home. The controllers were super cool about it. When I stopped clear of the runway and called ground, I wrote down my taxi instructions and told them I'd be moving shortly as I was pulling up the diagram on my iPad. They offered me a progressive taxi and I accepted. Nothing dangerous about it.

From the FAR's: "The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible, and is the final authority as to the operation of that aircraft." I saw another comment saying 'I would have told that controller to pound sand'. Yup...the law backs that up too.

The audio seems to have started after she did something wrong. She seemed to be heading towards Falcon Field which is shown to the NW of KIWA. According to Wikipedia it's home to the largest flight school in the world (!) catering to lots of foreign students (maybe explaining her heavy accent). Falcon tower is 126.6. Gateway tower is 120.6. Is this a simple typo on her part when trying to contact Falcon? Whatever, when she mentioned wanting to go to Falcon ATC should have given her the correct frequency and maybe headed her in that direction. This can't be the first time this has happened between these two airports only ~10 miles from each other.

This seems like a controller problem and not a pilot. Scolds her for not being familiar with an airport she had no desire to land at and force her to fly out with an instructor she doesn't know. What's she do if the instructor's they have say no?

She was flying outside of her pathetically narrow skillset, but there is no F'n way I'd be landing at an airport where I was ordered to land unless an Air Force fighter was the one insisting.

While her radio calls were not very good, I'm not sure what she may have done wrong? Profiling in the Gateway tower? I've had some sketchy encounters with contract towers over the years. They are not the best and brightest. FAA rejects or retirees.

Controller cant even give a heading saying stuff like "left turn south east", but telling others they are a risk to aviation safety? Really? And apparently there wasnt even any relevant traffic in the airspace other than a since guy. Like this controller has serious mental problems and he should not be allowed to be in a tower. All we can see is def. that she is turning right to 180 assuming the video shows North on top and she clearly did climb. She in a cessna, that thing isnt climbing all that fast, especially not if you are doing a turn and he didnt even give her a climb rate, so she technically is simply cleared to or instructed to go to that height, but if she takes 1 minute or 5 minutes to reach it doesnt really matter or is not a pilot deviation. Afterwards she landed as instructed and was taxying just fine. The only hazard to safety seems to be the ATC guy here.

Wait a tic…A controller has no right in demanding where someone lands regardless of how much trouble he/she happens to be. If ATC wants to “violate” them (which is, for some reason, only a one-way street when they often deserve it themselves) then they can do so in the usual ways but forcing a landing at a particular airport is beyond their scope of authority.

@TheATCAudio Poor choice to post this without noting that is 10 years old and providing no context.

Bit harsh making her write down the number whilst conducting a stressful manoeuvre

Yikes...then ground starts hasseling her for being unfamiliar at somewhere she didn't plan on landing at. Who are these bozos in the tower?

From a completely independent perspective, The perceived racial bias from so many in here is absolutely disgusting, what I got from the many comments is that people perceived this person's challenge of English as a second language as an automatic lack of flying capabilities, she put the plane on the ground without incident, then the bigots expected her to drive around an airport that she may have never seen before like she's driving a sports car. This very narrow type of mindset will get a lot of people in trouble very quickly.

ATC putting way to much pressure on her, let her aviate before having her write something down

So this airport considers it dangerous to ask for progressive taxi instructions?

I have to agree with most posts already. Gateway airport tower controllers, most often than not are complete scumbags. I've flown may times in that area and I can attest, they are not very friendly and often they seem to subject us to military tactics calls.

Reminds me of the SAT test in high school - "not enough information provided."

Air Traffic Controller - "I'm gonna make you land here".". Since when did ATC controllers get remote control of the aircraft in their area? Exactly how would the controller "make" him land there? I would respond - "OK, sir, I have relinquished control of the aircraft. You can take over from here.'.

You all are wrong; she has no idea what she is doing! She is a danger to herself and other pilots. She should NOT be flying...anywhere!!! ATC was proactive and correct for telling her to land. The training system failed her long ago; and now WE are left to deal with her inadequacies. She is a serious safety risk.!!

It would have been helpful to have the 5-10 minutes of interaction before the video started.

Not clear what the deviation was here? And, being given a phone number and forced to land would put many pilots on tilt.

She had every right to ignore his mandate to land.

I think this is a very bad decision by ATC. She is clearly struggling and then request to go back to Falcon Field, which is about the same distance from her current position as Gateway Airport and at which she apparently is familiar. They should have encouraged her to fly to Falcon Field and then talk to her when she is on the ground. Making her land on an unfamiliar airport was an unnecessary and dangerous action by ATC.

I'm getting the impression of bigotry and patronism toward female with a foreign accent. Got the feeling more than once listening to some of these recordings. Apart from not reading back atc instructions she complies to each order in a very timely manner. The controller was over controlling and not friendly or helpful

The controller could and should be more helpful. I don’t see why the pilot is being ordered to land at an unplanned destination. Although I might agree with the controller’s safety concerns, until the Administrator suspends or further limits the pilot’s certificate, the pilot is free to operate within those privileges.

Don't be too harsh on the Controller... He got dumped by 4 women in a 36 day period... 😓

her saying XD at the end of each transmission just makes it that much better.

Ridiculous. Gateway ATC needs to get in some hot water for this.

The hell did she do 😂

Instructor and examiner failed terribly. They should both be reprimanded and maybe certificates revoked.

The tower feels she is a risk and forces her to land... But she has a license which should help ATC to give her some benefit of whatever doubt. She is complying but can hear she is fighting to keep her composure but remains as professional as possible under the pressure ATC puts her. I don't know what she did but from the feel I get the ATC sounds like a jerk.

ATC has not the authority to force a pilot to land at ALL! None whatsoever

Freeballin' it in a Cessna. Life is beautiful baby.

She had some communication challenges for sure, but they treated her improperly from the beginning of the video. How about speaking slower and in good diction…..and trying not to panic someone that was seemed to have some confusion. I don’t care who the pilot is and their experience is…..everyone can get disoriented and need to aviate and spend less attention to the communication side. I am experienced pilot….I know. Sending her to a busy Class B (I presume it was Class B) airport with a complicated runway and taxiway network instead of allowing her to fly back to the small airport that she was familiar with was really an irresponsible thing to do. There is good chance that Tower Controller was not even a pilot…but yet was making derogatory accusations about her “risk to aviation safety”. Instead of shaming her and putting her nerves further on edge, this was opportunity to adjust his tone and do anything possible to keep her relaxed and safe. I have no respect for the first controller. Second one was condescending as well. These guys need to be severely reprimanded. Being a controller is a tough job….but no reason for them to be donkeys!

Something is REALLY off with this clip. Because Tower and Ground sound like a couple of guys who should not be allowed on the radio. Can you imagine as a pilot being told you need to hire an instructor to leave the airport?

Very Uncalled for by controller. Can't force a pilot to land where they don't want to. Over reaching ATC. He needs to call xxx-xxx-xxxx

“…the Foxtrot Bravo Oscar is to your left, where the Bravo Papa gas sign is.”

Show me a regulation which gives ATC the authority to terminate a flight.

So ATC is now judge and jury? Clearly not getting the whole story in this short clip but not impressed at all with anyone in this clip.

I think she was also featured in a previous video. She was deviated in that incident as well. There is likely a history here.

What a joke of an ATC. Pilot seemed nervous, let her aviate and help her get on ground where she’s comfortable. Ask for number copy after, huge distraction for what sounds like a new pilot.

Some of these ground controllers think they are gods I hope this one gets his comeuppance for his shamanistic attitude.

According to the pilot's bill of rights, you don't have to call that number. And if the FAA sends you a followup letter via the post, you don't have to answer that either. They want you to call the number; so some bureaucrat can wreck your life based on something you tell them when you don't have to.

I think I would have said I’m returning to Falcon and I will accept vectors or will navigate on my own. I believe PIC has the right to decline a controller’s instructions to deviate to a different destination.

Cessna departing the Class D airspace. Good day.

Sorry, not sorry, but this sounds like straight up racism. She complied with every instruction given, while ATC gave her a climb command, then complained without giving her time to actually make the climb, then got all insulting for zero reason, and the only thing I can see that she did 'wrong' was flying into the airspace of a racist ATC.

"expedite climb" It's a Cessna 172, so we're talking a whopping 180 horsepower at the most? What is this?

What was the violation? Did she flight through the Class B without a clearance before the video started? According to the beginning of the video (if it's even reasonably accurate) she was under the Class B shelf she doesn't have to talk to anybody (not a good idea of course) and she wasn't in Gateways' Class D (so she doesn't have to talk to him at all) so what's the deal? As far as "I am going to make you land..." that's a good one. Lucky for him she didn't crash on approach or something. Being coerced and intimidated into landing somewhere she wasn't intending on going I don't think that would have gone well in the investigation.

So many issues with the short clip. I wonder what happened prior to the start of the video?

Controllers on a power trip and completely out of line. They should have to pay costs.

The most dreadful comment you can get from an ATC. " are you a student on a solo flight?"

Taxiing without being familiar is dangerous and you need an instructor onboard? What?? Show me in the regs where it says that every airport you are unfamiliar with you need an instructor onboard. Good thing I am an instructor for the airports I go into that I’m unfamiliar with

Seems quite a few almost disasters with broken english speaking pilots.

At first radio call, assuming she is above 2700, she is inside KPHX Class B airspace. I think we are listening to the first successful radio contact with someone who did not have authorization to enter class B and did not maintain comms with ATC. Probable they were trying to reach her on various approach freq's, and knew her callsign from ADSB. While she could have lawfully announced 'unable' when directed to land at KIWA, I think that would have compounded her problems, as her violation is likely clear cut, and could easily lead to suspension/revocation action.

A controller cannot make you land at a specific airport. Only if a threat per law enforcement. I would like the whole story on this one.

I would NEVER be forced to land based on a controller’s illegal demand.

This ATC has an ego. I didn't see a deviation. Ground scolding her for doing exactly as she was told was also B.S.

I feel for these poor controllers who have to contend with the hoards of non-English proficient students (regardless of what her license might say). These pilots are a danger to themselves, and to other aircraft. There’s no way a pilot with those communications deficiencies should be flying solo in US airspace.

Controller can't force her to land at that airport. Of course if she new that she would probably be flying better. Something is just off about this clip

Okay yes PIC has final say for their airplane, but I think we can all agree N738XD was not complying with ATC instructions, not communicating correctly, and seemed like they had no idea how to fly their plane safely. Deviation or not, 738XD was demonstrating incompetence. It is up to ATC to ensure safety in their controlled airspace.

If she was so unsafe to operate the aircraft, why didnt the controller get one of these onviously plentiful supply of instructors at that airport to help hee land? Shes unsafe to fly, but by all means land. Then offer no sincere assistance to get her to taxi where you jusr demanded hee to go?

Controllers are a hazard to aviation.

ATC, I have a number for you to call.

This is absolutely wild. I have zero idea what happened here but my guess is that she was on flight following or perhaps she was cutting through a C airspace when she did something dangerous. No idea what that is aside from maybe being too low. Breach of FARs sure, but it's not a serious issue so long as she's got controlled of the aircraft. Tower didn't like it so they forced her down (Which is something I've never even heard of before) and forced her to land at an unfamiliar airport. Then ground has the gall to say that she's being dangerous taxiing at an unfamiliar airfield. Bruh.not like she had a whole lot of options here. Also, what is the point of having her land to grab an instructor? She's just going to take the instructor to her airfield and now the instructor will be stranded. What is the thought process here? This only makes air traffic control seem wildly incompetent. Definitely some bits missing in this.

Where does the controller get his authority to force an aircraft to land?

Someone needs to tell these controllers that they are there because the pilots are up there, not the opposite….makes me think the FAA should look into that controller!

Everyone realize the GROUND controller doesn't know she was told to land at this airport -thus his (and not the original tower controller's) comment about it being dangerous without knowledge (or an instructor)? There's nothing "off" about it - two different controllers.

She must have flying it the perfect height to interface with inbound traffic for the airport. Me not a pilot. 1. she was known to this controller. 2. This controller has had enough with that flightschool sending up vastly untrained solos. And if you don't think flights schools are training to snuff, research TN Flygirl's interactions with instructors. Who passed her anyway.

so much is missing here

What was her deviation?

IMO, not necessary to land at Gateway but then again, I don't have all the info. However, I've heard a lot worse with no action taken.

My guess is this is not the first time this controller has had problems with foreign-born pilots from a nearby school. Perhaps the ATC had a protocol in place to ground asap. The only thing that bothers me is distracting her with a phone number before she stops on the ground. Did he expect her to call them before landing?

I think she had the wrong CT frequency and was approaching falcon field airspace but never violated neither D or B airspace

Forcing a plane to land is an arrest. Controllers do not have police power.

Clearly english is not her first language, and giving her a number right after flight instructions. She's probably stressed tf out, maybe help her out a bit instead of being a bully.

Land here now......UNABLE!

What did she do wrong?

Curious, what would have happened if she told the controller to get bent and went back to her originating airport instead? It's not like they can go up there and stop her lol

I have a feeling this is a fake and not real audio from airfield

Sorry but it needs to be said. Why would you upload only half of an event? Don’t you think whatever led up to this situation is important? If you do not have the beginning part that explains what happened why post it at all?

Whether or not ATC was right to force her to land or not is beside the point IMO. I'm in command of my aircraft. If ATC demands that I land, or divert, or anything that I don't want to do, I simply say "unable". ATC isn't in charge of my aircraft or me. The fact that she just followed instructions and gave up her freedom tells me that she shouldn't be a PIC.