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To: Morgana
The controller isn’t a DEI hire, he actually sounds pretty competent albeit he’s acting like a jerk which is absolutely the norm at LaGuardia, JFK, or Newark. I’m an airline pilot and don’t like flying out of the New York area because it’s congested and the controllers are short tempered like this guy. He’s right though, fuel management isn’t his job and United should have put enough fuel on board for the expected taxi delays which are the norm at any New York area airport.

If you’re in the air and have fuel concerns you declare minimum fuel which gets you priority handling, if it’s too low you declare an emergency and land as soon as possible. If you’re taxiing out and don’t have enough fuel that’s because your company is trying to skimp on fuel and the captain didn’t make them add fuel. The controller is a jerk but he’s right, fuel management isn’t his problem in this case and that flight should have been carrying enough for what they needed. He’s basically saying “I’m busy and your poor planning isn’t my problem to fix”. Nobody was in danger because they hadn’t taken off, they could go back for the fuel they needed.

Full disclosure I didn’t listen to the whole video because the guy is complaining about a mostly self created problem and rude New York controllers aren’t exactly new.

12 posted on 09/10/2025 5:08:36 AM PDT by GaryCrow
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To: GaryCrow

👍 My son is a USAF pilot. Yes, I thought the controller was a bit of a jerk. I would have tried to be a bit more diplomatic about it, but then again, if I am up to my rear with departures to get off, maybe I wouldn’t have been so diplomatic. It’s hard to say. Getting em up and getting em down is my responsibility, not worrying about their fuel status.


13 posted on 09/10/2025 7:15:45 AM PDT by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF ISR pilot. We are a family of aviators. )
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