Controller at N90 (New York Approach)
 

Not sure where to post this, but this seems like as good a place as any.

There is a seasoned controller at New York Approach (N90), who sounds like when he isn’t controlling he drinks whiskey and smokes non stop. With that said, he is super laid back on the radio and also incredibly efficient and competent. It’s a joy to hear his very distinct voice. He usually says “Good job”, “Hey Buddy” and makes audible grunts and conversational comments on the radio which are hilarious. He sounds like he doesn’t have a care in the world, like he is in the zone.

He typically works 128.55/120.15, the JAIKE arrivals at the NJ satellites and the PHLBOs at EWR.

Anyone know who I’m talking about? His style is so distinct I wanted to know who he was, he reminds me of “Kennedy Steve” back in the day.

I know NY airspace can be busy, but I appreciate the competency of the controllers. It’s much better than going into MIA approach or center. Ugh.

He's my favorite controller. I love when i get on his freq.

The man might enjoy his privacy.

Yes, please don't post somebody's name in this context without his permission. Feel free to share in the crew room or on your company forums but not here.

I had a friend at SOCAL who was very engaging on the radio, he actually enjoyed the notoriety and liked to meet and drink with pilots, and parlayed that into early retirement and a successful real-estate business.

We know him well at B6!
“Can you gimme two fifty in that 190 and take it down to 3?”

Back in the early 90’s three tower controllers at Detroit City Airport played in a band and did gigs at a dive bar down the street. Lots of us pilots used to go hang for drinks.

Does whispering Will still work in Tuscon?

That’s what she said...

Sorry. Couldn’t resist.

Yup-Friday evening during the holidays and his pulse never breaks 50. Pure excellence.

We have a guy at SoCal approach who's like this. Absolutely, 100% unflappable in any and all situations, and talks to each and every crew as if he's directing only them - like personalized service.

Of course, we've all gotten the guy who sounds like Joe Pesci on the radio. Every TRACON has THAT guy too. ;)

Jammed up on ILS 4R you can ask for a visual 4L to make a commute and without asking the tower he just clears you for it. He just knows it will work and makes it happen. Foxtrot to the gate.

If it's the same guy, and I think it is, as it was told to me by a buddy that worked at AirNet going in and out of EWR. Also, I think he'll occasionally transmit to you before you can even check in;

EWR controller: "'Morning Starcheck XXXX how ya doin?. descend and maintain (whatever) expect the visual (4R/22L)

Starcheck: "Morning, descend and maintain XXXX how ya doin'?"

Controller: "Standby Starcheck I'll get back to you"

Controller issues instructions to a couple other airplanes.

Controller "Starcheck, you asked how I was doin. Started off rough, had a power outage earlier and it was a mess, plus traffic was worse than normal getting here. But then I took a break and ate the leftover meatball sandwhich my wife made me so I'm actually doing pretty good after that."

Doesn't skip a beat, talks to other airplanes.

that guy HAS to be retired by now. he was an old timer when I was there 20+ years ago.

Anyone have an archived LiveATC feed of one of his shifts? Would love to hear this guy!

Lots of pilots say hello to him by name. I’ll give a hint without calling him out so if it’s him you’ll know. His first name is the same as one of the authors of the four Gospels. 😏

One of my favorite controllers as well. His style is unmistakable.

Ah yes, the Gospel of Marv

The Wheat and Rye?

The other airport. Downtown Detroit. This really was the kind of place that if someone yelled “RAID” we just came in there to “use the phone.” Right off 8 mile road. But I have been to the Wheat and Rye. Plate of nachos and a pitcher of mediocre beer for $8.

We must not be talking about the same guy?

Love that guy!! I had to declare an emergency after takeoff from EWR probably 6-7 years ago. He was the controller working our flight. Man, when I heard his voice, it was like an entire different level of calm. Heck of a controller!!!

I love that guy. I’m always happy when I check in and hear he’s on frequency.

Haven't been there in at least a decade; that description brought his voice to mind immediately.

Back in the day there was a CLT clearance delivery guy who read out every departure/route clearance in the form of an "Auctioneering Voice" announcement. Great stuff.

Auctioneer in CLT was always fun to hear

Did this guy used to work Kennedy arrivals? I feel I know who exactly this guy is. He’s hands down my favorite controller. His voice is.... soothing

Any of y'all regional guys remember the girl that used to work the late shift in TOL in the early 2000s? You could listen to her all night.

Yes. And I did. She was around in 98-99 when I was flying an MU2 every night, all night, between DET and CVG. Even though I wasn’t landing TOL I would tune in the ATIS when I flew over just to ummm keep my arousal level up. For situational awareness of course. The way she said, “Information Papaaaahaaaaaahhhhh.”

That’s probably the most Embry-Riddle thing I’ve ever read.

Can Riddle pilots even handle an MU-2 😉

What’s Embry Riddle? Wayne State University in downtown Detroit and part 61 mom and mom all the way. When your freight hub has dudes all night it’s the little things. Like women. And the fact that flying the same 4 legs a night, by yourself, all week is boring..You can only listen to so much Coast to Coast AM all night long on the ADF. Or 760 WJR at 50,000 watts...

Didn’t attend Riddle. Didn’t even go through an aviation program. Heck didn’t even start college until I was 26. Part 61 mom and pop flight school through ATP. And no. Riddle pilots can’t handle the Mitz. Especially single pilot 🤣. To be honest it was pretty crazy to cut me loose in that thing. I had 2500TT and 125 multi. Worked for Epps out of PDK but did the Detroit Cinci run. Everyone else was getting 36K a year but Detroit paid 40K. Hazard pay! No one wanted it. One of the planes in the fleet was 10HT. Smelled like coconut oil. Couldn’t figure out why. Until they told me it used to be owned by Hawaiian Tropic.😂

Omg! Love Coast to Coast AM 😀

It was coming out of a pretty low powered radio station after midnight but I could get it most of the night. ADFs. Man, I’m old. My GPS was a KLN89B. Approved for non-precision only.

Hearing his gravely voice is like coming home. If you stick around long enough, you'll get to know him on a first name basis. That's if he doesn't retire. Was supposed to retire a few years ago, but has been taking the waivers to stay on. I believe he has a Baron that he flies on his days off.

Few more months
 

Read this thread the other day and he was on frequ today. Couldnt resist saying something to him. Was based in EWR for the longest time, anytime he was working it was always a good time. Such a relief to hear someone having a good time and just loving their job. He was very happy to hear he had a thread on here and was laughing over frequ, also wanted to know if he got a prize for it 😂. He said he is retiring in a few months.. total bummer. I never pictured this guy on a scope but rather in a recliner feet up reading the paper with a cigar just trucking airplanes through EWR final. Good times, will defiantly be missed.

Anyone have a LiveATC timeframe or youtube video where this legend might be heard ?

You’re not that old... the Navajos I used to fly (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) were VOR navigation only. I wonder how many of the young ‘uns here know what a MEA gap or a VOR changeover point is...

And a bourbon. Seems like a bourbon guy. Neat. Leave the bottle.

When I started my flight school after being furloughed in 2009, I sent my first instrument student in about 10 years for a checkride. He passed, but the examiner called to debrief me. He said he covered up the student’s heading indicator and the student started doing timed turns. The examiner said that works, but why not just use the ground track off the GPS? I asked what would happen if the student didn’t have a GPS and the examiner blew that off as an unrealistic possibility. Said I was “old school”. We became friends over time, but my students still did timed turns or compass turns on their checkride. But I did make sure they knew about the GPS track too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CAirBear (Post 3176160)

Omg! Love Coast to Coast AM 😀

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Brings back some memories! I remember first stumbling upon that show on the radio 15 years ago, appropriately enough as I was driving “coast to coast,” through the night, relocating for my first regional job.

Looking back it harkens to a time when “crackpotism” seemed more innocent and less depraved than most of today’s varietals.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...l_portrait.jpg

RIP. Art Bell - Wikipedia