Check your stuck mic
06-21-2011, 11:27 PM
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Joined APC: Apr 2006
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Check your stuck mic
Houston Pilot Suspended For Slurs, Swearing Over Air Traffic Radio - Houston News Story - KPRC Houston
Air traffic controllers in Houston first alerted Federal Aviation Administration supervisors on March 25, 2011, around 1:30 p.m. and those supervisors forwarded a tape of the episode to Southwest Airlines to take action against the pilot.
The Southwest Airlines pilot, who was not identified by the FAA or the airline, could be heard talking to his co-pilot in the cockpit, expressing frustration over the airline hiring so many flight attendants that he found to be unsuitable for dating.
"A continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes," the pilot said over the Houston Center air traffic control frequency, which covers hundreds of miles over Texas.
Pilots within certain altitude guidelines over that entire geographic area were unable to communicate with Houston Center air traffic controllers for the entire four-minute duration of his conversation since his headset microphone was stuck.
"Eleven (expletive) over-the-top (expletive) ass (expletive) homosexuals and a granny," the pilot said as he complained to his co-pilot about the lack of flight attendants who caught his interest.
His co-pilot then responded inside the cockpit about one of those groups, but his response could not be heard on the recording. It is unclear whether the co-pilot refers to people who are gay, or people who are older, or people who are overweight, and the pilot is then heard responding, "Well I don't give a (expletive). I hate 100 percent of their (expletive)."
The pilot used a slur against gay flight attendants, saying he had gone to a bar with a group of flight attendants. He described that trip to the bar by saying, "Once with the granny and the (derogatory term) and I wish I hadn't gone."
In a statement issued to Local 2 Investigates about the ordeal, the FAA wrote the following.
"On March 25, 2011, about two-and-a-half minutes of conversation that included offensive language and disparaging characterizations of certain groups and individuals was transmitted on an FAA air traffic control frequency as the result of a stuck microphone in an aircraft cockpit. An air-traffic controller in the Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center alerted all of the airplanes on the frequency to check for a stuck microphone and indicated that the conversation being broadcast was inappropriate over the air. The FAA determined that the broadcast likely came from a Southwest Airlines flight and sent an audio recording of the conversation to the airline for further action. The incident occurred during a phase of flight in which personal conversations are permitted in the cockpit. Nevertheless, the FAA expects a higher level of professionalism from flight crews, regardless of the circumstances."
Cece Cox, the CEO of Resource Center Dallas, which advocates for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) issues in the city where Southwest Airlines is based, said, "This individual has made statements that are anti-woman, anti-age, and anti-gay in a way that can't be disputed and they're hateful and they're damaging to the employees of Southwest Airlines as well as consumers of Southwest Airlines."
She also said, "I hope it's an isolated incident. I hope they look and see what's happening in their culture because clearly this incident shows that there's something happening in this culture that allowed this person to make those kind of remarks and exhibit this kind of hostility, discrimination, and hate," she said, adding that means people who were targeted in this rang may not feel safe flying with the airline.
Southwest Airlines responded by saying the pilot was suspended without pay, but the airline would not say how long that suspension lasted.
Airline spokesperson Brandy King declined to answer questions about the punishment, saying the airline considers it a "family matter."
In an email, King wrote, "We are committed and dedicated to maintaining the highest standard of ethics in the industry; in fact we’ve built our Company’s reputation on the Golden Rule: treating others as you would like to be treated. The actions of this Pilot are, without question, inconsistent with the professional behavior and overall respect that we require from our Employees. The Pilot in question has been addressed by Leadership and was suspended without pay. Prior to being reinstated, he underwent additional diversity education to reinforce the Company's expectations for all Employees to demonstrate respect for others. The pilot has formally apologized to FAA Controllers and his base Leadership. He will continue to undergo regular diversity and inclusion education as part of his recurrent training."
The Resource Center's Cox reacted to the punishment, saying, "I'm glad to hear that Southwest seems to be addressing the issue. I wouldn't want to see (sensitivity) training used as a punitive measure after someone does a bad deed. I hope that their training is sufficient that their people are prepared in advance for how to be inclusive in the workplace."
Local 2 Investigates obtained the recording from the FAA through the federal Freedom of Information Act, and the entire recording has been posted online (with expletives covered).
An air traffic controller attempted on several occasions to play tones over the Houston Center radio frequency or interrupt the pilot so that he would hear over a different radio that his microphone was stuck.
In one exchange, the air traffic controller said, "Okay, whoever is transmitting better watch what you're saying."
However, the pilot never realized his conversation was being broadcast and he continued.
While referring to certain flight attendants, the pilot said, "I still wouldn't want anyone to know if I had banged them."
He then took aim at the Southwest flight attendants based in Houston, saying, "Now I'm back in Houston, which is easily where the ugliest base is. I mean it's all these (expletive) old dudes and grannies and there's like maybe a handful of cute chicks."
One married male flight attendant, who spoke to Local 2 Investigates on the condition of anonymity, reacted by saying, "It's disturbing. Actually, it's embarrassing. It's an embarrassment."
The flight attendant said most of his colleagues go to work because it's a job.
"We don't go there to see who all we can (have sex with). It's a job. We go there to make money. We don't go there to party," he said.
Local 2 Investigates requested all documentation from the FAA about the incident, but those forms do not list the name of the pilot involved and efforts to determine his identity were unsuccessful.
He remains on the job and flying routes for Southwest Airlines.
After the pilot's microphone finally disengaged, other airline pilots then broadcast messages to Houston Center air traffic controllers, trying to catch up on flight instructions that they were unable to exchange during the broadcast.
One pilot exchanged instructions with the controller and ended his transmission by saying, "And that was not us."
The controller acknowledged his message and then that pilot replied, "And they wonder why airline pilots have a bad reputation."
A second airline pilot then exchanged flight instructions with controllers and punctuated his transmission by saying, "…and it wasn't us either."
The air traffic controller then answered, "Roger, I didn't think that was you."
Cox, with the Resource Center, said, "Southwest could reach out to the GLBT community, which I hope it does. I'm going to get on some Southwest planes this summer with my family. I'd like to know that I'm as valued as every other customer that walks onto that plane. I know that there are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees who work for Southwest, and when they hear these remarks, they're probably not going to feel very valued or safe at their workplace and I hope Southwest responds to that."
Local 2 Investigates transcribed the contents of the entire recording as follows:
Air Traffic Controller - (ATC) "United 242, you (center up)"
(Stuck microphone begins) Southwest Pilot: "Well, I had Tucson to Indy all four weeks and, uh, Chicago crews…11 out of 12…there’s 12 flight attendants, individual, never the same flight attendant twice.
"Eleven (expletive) over the top (expletive), (expletive) homosexuals and a granny." (silence)
"Eleven. I mean, think of the odds of that. I thought I was in Chicago, which was party-land."
(Possible attempt to interrupt by ATC)
Southwest Pilot: "After that, it was just a continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes…" (off mic from his copilot - inaudible)
Pilot answers: "Well I don’t give a (expletive). I hate 100 percent of their (expletive)."
"So, six months, I went to the bar three times. In six months, three times." (Another possible attempt to interrupt by ATC)
"Once with the granny and the (slur against gay people), and I wish I hadn’t gone."
"At the very end with two girls, one of them that was part do-able, but we ended up going to the bar and then to the crew at St. Louis, and all these two women wanted to do was, one wanted to berate her sister and the other wanted to ***** about her husband."
"Literally, for three hours, me and the F.O. (First officer). When that was done, got back to my room, I’m like why the (expletive) did I stay up?"
ATC: "OK, whoever is, uh, transmitting, better watch what you’re saying."
(Tones beeping)
Southwest Pilot continues: "They’re still both (inaudible), you know what I mean? I still wouldn’t want anyone to know if I had banged them."
(Tones beeping)
"So, I mean it was a complete disaster for six months."
"Now I’m back in Houston, which is easily where the ugliest base is. I mean it’s all these (expletive) old dudes and grannies and there’s like maybe a handful of cute chicks."
ATC: "OK, someone’s got a stuck mic and, uh, telling us all about their endeavors. We don’t need to hear that."
(Stuck microphone episode ends)
(Silence)
(Five seconds later, other commercial pilots check in with controllers)
"Uh, Houston, Skywest 6285, we're (gives numbers for his heading) ...and that was not us."
ATC: (Chuckles) "Skywest 6285, Houston Center: Roger, Climb and maintain flight level 360."
Skywest pilot: "360, Skywest 6285….And they wonder why airline pilots have a bad reputation."
(ATC calls another plane with instructions.)
(Aircraft answers)
ATC: "Number 7 Hotel Bravo: (gives instructions) Final 240."
Aircraft answers "7 Hotel Bravo.....And it wasn’t us either." (beeping times 2)
ATC: 'Roger, I didn’t think that was you." (Recording ends)
Air traffic controllers in Houston first alerted Federal Aviation Administration supervisors on March 25, 2011, around 1:30 p.m. and those supervisors forwarded a tape of the episode to Southwest Airlines to take action against the pilot.
The Southwest Airlines pilot, who was not identified by the FAA or the airline, could be heard talking to his co-pilot in the cockpit, expressing frustration over the airline hiring so many flight attendants that he found to be unsuitable for dating.
"A continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes," the pilot said over the Houston Center air traffic control frequency, which covers hundreds of miles over Texas.
Pilots within certain altitude guidelines over that entire geographic area were unable to communicate with Houston Center air traffic controllers for the entire four-minute duration of his conversation since his headset microphone was stuck.
"Eleven (expletive) over-the-top (expletive) ass (expletive) homosexuals and a granny," the pilot said as he complained to his co-pilot about the lack of flight attendants who caught his interest.
His co-pilot then responded inside the cockpit about one of those groups, but his response could not be heard on the recording. It is unclear whether the co-pilot refers to people who are gay, or people who are older, or people who are overweight, and the pilot is then heard responding, "Well I don't give a (expletive). I hate 100 percent of their (expletive)."
The pilot used a slur against gay flight attendants, saying he had gone to a bar with a group of flight attendants. He described that trip to the bar by saying, "Once with the granny and the (derogatory term) and I wish I hadn't gone."
In a statement issued to Local 2 Investigates about the ordeal, the FAA wrote the following.
"On March 25, 2011, about two-and-a-half minutes of conversation that included offensive language and disparaging characterizations of certain groups and individuals was transmitted on an FAA air traffic control frequency as the result of a stuck microphone in an aircraft cockpit. An air-traffic controller in the Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center alerted all of the airplanes on the frequency to check for a stuck microphone and indicated that the conversation being broadcast was inappropriate over the air. The FAA determined that the broadcast likely came from a Southwest Airlines flight and sent an audio recording of the conversation to the airline for further action. The incident occurred during a phase of flight in which personal conversations are permitted in the cockpit. Nevertheless, the FAA expects a higher level of professionalism from flight crews, regardless of the circumstances."
Cece Cox, the CEO of Resource Center Dallas, which advocates for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) issues in the city where Southwest Airlines is based, said, "This individual has made statements that are anti-woman, anti-age, and anti-gay in a way that can't be disputed and they're hateful and they're damaging to the employees of Southwest Airlines as well as consumers of Southwest Airlines."
She also said, "I hope it's an isolated incident. I hope they look and see what's happening in their culture because clearly this incident shows that there's something happening in this culture that allowed this person to make those kind of remarks and exhibit this kind of hostility, discrimination, and hate," she said, adding that means people who were targeted in this rang may not feel safe flying with the airline.
Southwest Airlines responded by saying the pilot was suspended without pay, but the airline would not say how long that suspension lasted.
Airline spokesperson Brandy King declined to answer questions about the punishment, saying the airline considers it a "family matter."
In an email, King wrote, "We are committed and dedicated to maintaining the highest standard of ethics in the industry; in fact we’ve built our Company’s reputation on the Golden Rule: treating others as you would like to be treated. The actions of this Pilot are, without question, inconsistent with the professional behavior and overall respect that we require from our Employees. The Pilot in question has been addressed by Leadership and was suspended without pay. Prior to being reinstated, he underwent additional diversity education to reinforce the Company's expectations for all Employees to demonstrate respect for others. The pilot has formally apologized to FAA Controllers and his base Leadership. He will continue to undergo regular diversity and inclusion education as part of his recurrent training."
The Resource Center's Cox reacted to the punishment, saying, "I'm glad to hear that Southwest seems to be addressing the issue. I wouldn't want to see (sensitivity) training used as a punitive measure after someone does a bad deed. I hope that their training is sufficient that their people are prepared in advance for how to be inclusive in the workplace."
Local 2 Investigates obtained the recording from the FAA through the federal Freedom of Information Act, and the entire recording has been posted online (with expletives covered).
An air traffic controller attempted on several occasions to play tones over the Houston Center radio frequency or interrupt the pilot so that he would hear over a different radio that his microphone was stuck.
In one exchange, the air traffic controller said, "Okay, whoever is transmitting better watch what you're saying."
However, the pilot never realized his conversation was being broadcast and he continued.
While referring to certain flight attendants, the pilot said, "I still wouldn't want anyone to know if I had banged them."
He then took aim at the Southwest flight attendants based in Houston, saying, "Now I'm back in Houston, which is easily where the ugliest base is. I mean it's all these (expletive) old dudes and grannies and there's like maybe a handful of cute chicks."
One married male flight attendant, who spoke to Local 2 Investigates on the condition of anonymity, reacted by saying, "It's disturbing. Actually, it's embarrassing. It's an embarrassment."
The flight attendant said most of his colleagues go to work because it's a job.
"We don't go there to see who all we can (have sex with). It's a job. We go there to make money. We don't go there to party," he said.
Local 2 Investigates requested all documentation from the FAA about the incident, but those forms do not list the name of the pilot involved and efforts to determine his identity were unsuccessful.
He remains on the job and flying routes for Southwest Airlines.
After the pilot's microphone finally disengaged, other airline pilots then broadcast messages to Houston Center air traffic controllers, trying to catch up on flight instructions that they were unable to exchange during the broadcast.
One pilot exchanged instructions with the controller and ended his transmission by saying, "And that was not us."
The controller acknowledged his message and then that pilot replied, "And they wonder why airline pilots have a bad reputation."
A second airline pilot then exchanged flight instructions with controllers and punctuated his transmission by saying, "…and it wasn't us either."
The air traffic controller then answered, "Roger, I didn't think that was you."
Cox, with the Resource Center, said, "Southwest could reach out to the GLBT community, which I hope it does. I'm going to get on some Southwest planes this summer with my family. I'd like to know that I'm as valued as every other customer that walks onto that plane. I know that there are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees who work for Southwest, and when they hear these remarks, they're probably not going to feel very valued or safe at their workplace and I hope Southwest responds to that."
Local 2 Investigates transcribed the contents of the entire recording as follows:
Air Traffic Controller - (ATC) "United 242, you (center up)"
(Stuck microphone begins) Southwest Pilot: "Well, I had Tucson to Indy all four weeks and, uh, Chicago crews…11 out of 12…there’s 12 flight attendants, individual, never the same flight attendant twice.
"Eleven (expletive) over the top (expletive), (expletive) homosexuals and a granny." (silence)
"Eleven. I mean, think of the odds of that. I thought I was in Chicago, which was party-land."
(Possible attempt to interrupt by ATC)
Southwest Pilot: "After that, it was just a continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes…" (off mic from his copilot - inaudible)
Pilot answers: "Well I don’t give a (expletive). I hate 100 percent of their (expletive)."
"So, six months, I went to the bar three times. In six months, three times." (Another possible attempt to interrupt by ATC)
"Once with the granny and the (slur against gay people), and I wish I hadn’t gone."
"At the very end with two girls, one of them that was part do-able, but we ended up going to the bar and then to the crew at St. Louis, and all these two women wanted to do was, one wanted to berate her sister and the other wanted to ***** about her husband."
"Literally, for three hours, me and the F.O. (First officer). When that was done, got back to my room, I’m like why the (expletive) did I stay up?"
ATC: "OK, whoever is, uh, transmitting, better watch what you’re saying."
(Tones beeping)
Southwest Pilot continues: "They’re still both (inaudible), you know what I mean? I still wouldn’t want anyone to know if I had banged them."
(Tones beeping)
"So, I mean it was a complete disaster for six months."
"Now I’m back in Houston, which is easily where the ugliest base is. I mean it’s all these (expletive) old dudes and grannies and there’s like maybe a handful of cute chicks."
ATC: "OK, someone’s got a stuck mic and, uh, telling us all about their endeavors. We don’t need to hear that."
(Stuck microphone episode ends)
(Silence)
(Five seconds later, other commercial pilots check in with controllers)
"Uh, Houston, Skywest 6285, we're (gives numbers for his heading) ...and that was not us."
ATC: (Chuckles) "Skywest 6285, Houston Center: Roger, Climb and maintain flight level 360."
Skywest pilot: "360, Skywest 6285….And they wonder why airline pilots have a bad reputation."
(ATC calls another plane with instructions.)
(Aircraft answers)
ATC: "Number 7 Hotel Bravo: (gives instructions) Final 240."
Aircraft answers "7 Hotel Bravo.....And it wasn’t us either." (beeping times 2)
ATC: 'Roger, I didn’t think that was you." (Recording ends)
06-22-2011, 02:23 AM
#2
veut gagner à la loterie
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: Light Chop
Posts: 23,286
I'm a third of the way through, but I'm stopping to go get some popcorn. 
But I must confess, multiple stuck mic's in my life. One time at a busy flight school my entire lesson was broadcast over CTAF. I've learned never to really say anything bad and I've had several and witnessed several stuck mic's even at Delta. But nothing compares to hearing one stuck mic at a wedding that had groomsman talking about the uh wedding night.
Stuck mic's suck.
I'm just curious if disciplinary action over free speech no matter how offensive it is to someone is something SWA via the FAA should be allowed to do over a private conversation being inadvertently recorded? I dont like it.
But I must confess, multiple stuck mic's in my life. One time at a busy flight school my entire lesson was broadcast over CTAF. I've learned never to really say anything bad and I've had several and witnessed several stuck mic's even at Delta. But nothing compares to hearing one stuck mic at a wedding that had groomsman talking about the uh wedding night.
Stuck mic's suck.
I'm just curious if disciplinary action over free speech no matter how offensive it is to someone is something SWA via the FAA should be allowed to do over a private conversation being inadvertently recorded? I dont like it.
Last edited by forgot to bid; 06-22-2011 at 02:43 AM.
06-22-2011, 03:23 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: B777 Capt
Posts: 844
Originally Posted by forgot to bid
I'm just curious if disciplinary action over free speech no matter how offensive it is to someone is something SWA via the FAA should be allowed to do over a private conversation being inadvertently recorded? I dont like it.
I wonder if the FCC could be a factor with the swearing?
Other than that the guy is entitled to his opinion in the non-sterile environment. What kills me is the factions that want to beat on this guy for not embracing diversity. They all want everyone to see the world through their rainbow colored glasses. If they are entitled to have their opinion and talk about their activities and "partners", then this guy should be entitled to talk about how bangable the FA's are.
When I was a kid we had "little house on the prarie". Everyone wound up blind. Make that same show today and Hollywood would have every kid cast member dealing with their gay or lesbian issue.
L
06-22-2011, 03:45 AM
#5
Super Moderator
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,945
Originally Posted by fly4fun
Cece Cox, the CEO of Resource Center Dallas, which advocates for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) issues in the city where Southwest Airlines is based, said, "This individual has made statements that are anti-woman, anti-age, and anti-gay in a way that can't be disputed and they're hateful and they're damaging to the employees of Southwest Airlines as well as consumers of Southwest Airlines."
She also said, "I hope it's an isolated incident."
There..case closed, the reporters can move along now.
06-22-2011, 05:00 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: 737 CAPT
Posts: 1,882
Originally Posted by usmc-sgt
It is. Never once have I ever heard a fellow pilot mention anything derogatory about a flight attendant. Certainly not because of their sexual orientation, age, or body type.
There..case closed, the reporters can move along now.
There..case closed, the reporters can move along now.
06-22-2011, 05:03 AM
#10
Back on TDY
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
Posts: 12,487
Originally Posted by GoldenGoose
Unacceptable behavior.
Hopefully, SW can survive the
Inevitable boycott that will probably
Occur in response.
I'm sure they're looking at some huge
Fines.
Hopefully, SW can survive the
Inevitable boycott that will probably
Occur in response.
I'm sure they're looking at some huge
Fines.
This was a private conversation that was accidentally broadcast. People still have the right to private speech...even if the speech is boorish.
Carl
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