Brenda Mooney, an air traffic controller at Denton Enterprise Airport in Texas faced criticism for advising a veteran pilot based on information she found on Google.
The pilot and the controller had a disagreement about the definition of a “short approach,” leading to a petition to remove the controller from her position.
The incident attracted national attention and sparked discussions about pilot safety and the reputation of the city of Denton. (Trending: Joe Biden Caught In Another Major Lie About J6)
Mooney: Cherokee 65C, there’s traffic on the parallel. The traffic you’re following is inside Highway 380, a Cherokee on final for 18L.
Pilot: All right, we’re looking for that traffic to follow for 65 Charlie, and if we could plan on the next one, if possible we could get a short approach. We’d appreciate it.
Mooney: Cherokee 65 Charlie, I have your request. Your traffic is about a half mile final now.
Pilot: We’ve got ‘em in sight, 65 Charlie.
Mooney: Cherokee 65 Charlie, give him room, he’s a full stop.
Pilot: Runway 18L, cleared the option. We’ll give him room. 65 Charlie.
Mooney: 7 Papa Echo, turn your base. Cessna 2 Bravo Tango, 65 Charlie, you should have turned your base before you hit the approach end of the runway. You’re outside the airport traffic area.
Pilot: We’re on about a 1/4 mile final, ma’am. I mean, sorry, base.
Mooney: Yeah, I know. You should be inside the airport. You should have turned your base abeam the numbers.
Pilot: We can’t do that and land on the 1,000 footers.
Mooney: Well, that’s what a short approach is.
Air Traffic Controller uses Google to explain aircraft approach to pilot of 15 years. pic.twitter.com/nCT4zyDByi
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Pilot: I’m sorry, I guess I should —‚ we need to come up with something different because in order to complete a commercial checkride we gotta do what’s called a power-off 180°. We pull the power abeam where you want to touch down and have to land on that point and no more than 200 feet beyond it.
Mooney: That’s fine, but don’t ask for a short approach if you’re gonna do a power-off 180°. That’s my point.
Pilot: Well, okay. I will remember that from now on. No problem.
Mooney: When you ask for a short approach, I expect you to turn your base abeam the numbers.
Pilot: This is gonna be a full stop for 65 Charlie, and maybe we need to talk about that some more because you’re the first controller in 15 years that’s ever said that.
Mooney:, I’m just, you know, if you ask for a short approach, a short approach is when you turn your base abeam the numbers. If I know you’re a student asking for a short approach, I know you’re out there practicing and you probably will extend. But if you’re doing something other than a short approach, don’t ask for a short approach.
Pilot: Well, I will definitely look up the definition of short approach because I’ve never seen where it says you turn base abeam the numbers, cause I don’t see how you could possibly do that.
Mooney: Well, I googled it, actually. I googled short approach and it said to turn your base abeam or before the numbers and you will land, probably, touch down around midfield.
Pilot: Okay, well, then I apologize for requesting the wrong thing, because everywhere else short approach means power-off 180°, but that’s definitely not what it means here.
Mooney: Yeah, well, I mean, you know, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’ve worked at different airports, I don’t know. But just ask for what you need so I know what you wanna do so I can accommodate.
Some commenters, including experienced pilots, expressed disbelief at the controller’s interpretation of a short approach.
A petition for Mooney’s removal stated, “Her actions are not only jeopardizing pilot safety but also damaging the reputation of our city, Denton. It has reached a point where her conduct is attracting national attention – an unfortunate circumstance that does not reflect well on our community.”
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