I remember as a kid I wanted to be an ATC and my dad got me all the info I needed to do it as a career. Now I'm a designer, thank god, what was I thinking!!!!?
but actually he does the right thing. ALL follow the same traffic pattern, 2 approach levels, all follow the same railroad, all lined up, identification by "rocking wings", all landing lights on gears down, all ready for landing in a quartermile rythm...
This audio reminded me very much about how we used to run traffic at the Santa Monica Airport (CA).
I have seen a lot of questions about "rock your wings". The object is to control as many planes as possible. If you have two way communications you lose 50% of your "air time". That is why you hear the controller take control of the radio frequency and doesn't give it up.
We used to have 3000 ops a day on 1 runway (1 controller) at SMO.
@wanderingnome If this is Fisk Approach than how do you observe an aircraft rocking its wings? while looking at a radar screen????? with no windows....
@15Qabbey They actually set up shop on a small hill in Fisk, Wisconsin, which is about 5.5 nautical miles from Oshkosh and directly under this approach. Take a look at this video to see what I mean: youtube.com/watch?v=l-PVcLyYcH0
@15Qabbey The aircraft were told to cancel their VFR clearences and follow the train tracks out their right windows. If he's working GCA, he's thinking non-radar on radar. He's giving the aircraft advisary to contact/monitor tower on 126.6.
Have no fuckin' idea how he can tell aircraft are rocking their wings on radar. He's a fuckin' wizard.
@Mooose201 Cuz he's not looking at a radar. Hes standing out side at a way point looking up at the airplanes lined up and gives them directions as they fly over him. If you've ever been to Oshkosh its its pretty amazing what these guys do.
@immortaljatt05 Nope. This is Oshkosh, so it's insanely busy--too busy for two-way radio communication, so the controllers are pretty much the only ones talking, meaning they have no way of knowing the call signs.
@immortaljatt05 in addition, the controller would need aircraft to have a reporting transponder that could tell him the information, which many do not, and nontheless, it is easier to ask about what he sees out his window, eg high wing above water tower, then look at the scope that he may or may not have and use the tail number, which is much longer than the time to say red cessna.
The 'rock your wings' is more for the benefit of the controller so he knows he has the right guy in sight he is advising as well as keeping the pilots quiet so as not to clutter the channel. The photos in the video of controllers all sitting around a big room with radar have nothing to do with this controller who is probably standing in the back of a truck on a grassy hill. And they don't ask for permission to land, they just join a railroad track and fly inbound till the controller sees them.
@awesomeskierboy Yeah, if you've ever been to KOSH you'll see why. It's like LAX traffic (air-wise) but like 10 times more heavier. And that's what control towers do :P They give you options/orders you follow them. You can only advise them if something is seriously wrong.
@avi614614 he wants the pilot to bank left then bank right
this saves time on communication as you hear the airspace is busy and most the traffic above are light aircraft
so if he says "Cessna coming over the rail road rock your wings if you hear me" so the pilot in that aircraft would turn left then right to acknowledge that he herd then the controller would say "turn heading 80" this cuts down on the airwave traffic or radio traffic
Its always amazing to see the light aircraft coming to Oshkosh. Notice you don't; hear any of the private pilots calling back. That's a good air traffic controller.
i can imagine the radar just looked like a line turning to the right over the railroad tracks and the guy is just there with a pair of binoculars saying rock ur wings
As has been previously mentioned, this is a recording of the Fisk VFR approach control into Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA, during the week of the Airventure fly-in, during which the airport briefly becomes the busiest in the world. For further info, google "Airventure NOTAM."
@1irishluck, boomslang isn't quite right. ALL aircraft rock their wings to acknowledge transmissions during Oshkosh, whether they have a transmitter or not.
These controllers are rock stars! They do an impossible job, year after year. I've been there three times, and the inbound traffic is absolutely insane! These controllers are very special, very talented people. They probably drink a lot of coffee too. They should be like the north Pacific fishermen - work this one event each year, and you've done a year's service! But ya know, I've actually heard they volunteer for this! If that ain't heroism... Everyone at Wittman! Skol!
@dcs002: the inbound traffic is absolutely insane!
You are not exaggerating either. The last time I was there was in 1973 and it was INSANE even back then. The aircraft of all sorts circling the field looked like a cloud of mosquitos and I am NOT kidding. The whole time, they were landing scheduled airline flights on the other runway at the other side of the field.
@dcs002 its the other way around. you get asked to work Oshkosh. Before that you have to work Sun n Fun airshow down in Florida. (It's another massive airshow btw thats all flown over the water if i remember correctly). You are the best of the best IN THE NATION if not the world if you get asked to work Oshkosh. My dad's a center controller and my oldest bro is a tower controller and I'm a pilot so its always fun at those family gatherings.
@kidf22 Wow! A family where it's ok to talk incessantly about aviation! People in my family usually give me ~2 minutes, and if I'm still talking about aviation someone yells at me. I thought the controllers volunteered because of a documentary I saw maybe 2 decades ago. I'm guessing no one's required to work Oshkosh, and that might have been all the directors meant by calling them "volunteers." I've seen many Sun n Fun articles and always wanted to attend, but I live in MN, & Oshkosh is closer.
@dcs002 same here. livin in Indiana, I mainly end up dealing with Purdue flight students (Purdue airport is five minute flight from my home field) which is a problem since they got their new Cirrus aircraft. Absolutely NOT the best flight trainer. My oldest bro is always sayin how bad they are with em. Flying a DA-20 Katana, (Katana in the landing pattern-100 knots, Cirrus-over 120 knots) its a pain in the ass when they are doin touch and gos. Almost got killed by one of em a month ago.
@kidf22 If they do 120 KIAS in the pattern they should be doing wider patterns, right? I thought the AIM said 1 mile patterns for high performance a/c & 1/2 mile for us guys in the bug-smashers. (Long time since I read that section - never piloted high performance, but rode jump seat into uncontrolled airports in twin turboprop commuters. I'm a Cessna guy - 85 in the pattern in Skyhawks, I don't remember 152's, probably the same. Ever call the Purdue tower (by phone) and ask for advice?
@dcs002 i believe they do 1 mile patterns. I was taught to do 1 mile patterns in the Diamond. I also have about 20 (not logged) hours in both a Cessna 150 and 172. my oldest brother btw works at Purdue tower (I mentioned how he knew how bad the students were with the Cirrus) The field I fly out of is uncontrolled. had a discussion with my bro about it and now i understand that they are not used to uncontrolled but I don't see why they are cleared to go to an uncontrolled one without instruction.
@kidf22 sorry i meant without being cleared by the instructor. However i don't think that would help anyways being most of the instructors are actually sophomores in their flight program from what I was told. Wasn't a bad thing when they had Piper Warriors (they had em when i was getting my initial instruction in Cessnas and it was outta Purdue airport). The flight department just made a bad decision choosing Cirrus instead of Cessna or Diamond (the other two companies who offered deals).
@kidf22 I think a lot of instructors are young, & they don't instruct for the love of it; they need hours for a better job. (My CFI spent more time begging me to introduce him to my airline's chief pilot [I dispatched] than instructing me. I was NOT prepared for that checkride!) I agree that it's a risky set-up when a/c with highly different pattern speeds and low skill-level pilots converge at an uncontrolled airport. I'd MUCH prefer radar service in that pattern. See & avoid well, my friend!
@anthonyd5189. Um, where's KOSH? I'm assuming that Kansas is part of that designator :)
I'm in the UK, & used to live near one of the 4 Heathrow stacks. They run a 45-second interval on each runway (1 dep. & 1 arr.) & the Tower can get quite intense at times.
This tower crew is seriously busy. Do they rotate desks, to get a break from the intensity?
@archolman Also I might add, this isn't the actual tower. This is the guy controlling traffic at Fisk. Since they have so many airplanes coming in at once they get them in a single-file line quite a ways out. On this arrival they pass over Ripon, then follow railroad tracks to Fisk. The Fisk controller will then have them fly the route to the runway(why some are told to go East over the road and some to follow the tracks). Then they get handed off to the tower(the freq. change he gives)
I just Googled the event, & I'd like to see that someday. We have the 40th RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo ) coming up at Fairford this July, which is an excellent military show.
@archolman This is the EAA convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Truly truly wild. Aircraft are not allowed to speak over the frequency- you can only respond with rock your wings. Each of 4 runways has three dots on it. They literally land three airplanes AT A TIME on the same runway- each one landing on one of the three dots at the same time. So its not unusual for 12 planes to be landing at the same time.
I don't think they get much a break- its a week of this once a year
@AlevliTurkGs it is basicaly a simply, fast way of acknoledging ATC messages used in busy airports or emergency situations when a clear ATC channel in critical.
@AlevliTurkGs it is basicaly a simply, fast way of acknowledging ATC messages used in busy airports or emergency situations when a clear ATC channel in critical.
@AlevliTurkGs it is basicaly a simple, fast way of acknowledging ATC messages used in busy airports or emergency situations when a clear ATC channel in critical.
@IMSA28 Read below. During this event they bring in a lot more controllers and I would just assume that dealing with such a huge inflow of air traffic they would like to keep the pilots off the radio as much as possible to keep the frequency clear.
@IMSA28 There was so much traffic that the controller had to order radio silence and he gave instructions with aircraft acknowlegment. When you have that much traffic, you don't have time for all the pilots to keep calling in. At least that is what is taught to us in the Air Force.
To answer all the questions, there are a set of controllers known as the FISK VFR controllers at this air show. Unlike radar controllers, these guys are literally sitting outside a trailer along the flight path with a pair of binnoculars addressing the aircraft as they fly over the trailer. That is how the controllers can see them rocking their wings.
@Amar7605 I'm not sure I've never had enough courage to fly into OSH, we usually fly into Fond Du Lac which is roughly 15 NM south of Osh Kosh. Even at Fond Du Lac it gets pretty hectic. Talk about short finals...and everyone watching you...before you go you better know your airplane and what it can do.
Other than that...Osh Kosh is a fantastic event filled with the best people in the world! PILOTS!
"First wave of Canadian Geese, lower yer gears and maintain FL 3200, turn left 020, when you see the rr tracks contact approach at 116.86 then turn your landing lights on and maintain FL LEV 1500, All you mother geese better be lookin' after yer babies during approach !!! High wing Cessna flap yer wings so you dont mess the fly geese... flap yer wings !!! LOL
If ya can hear me, flap yer wings...,maybe the mallards flighing northward should heed the directions, and maybe they MIGHT see those railroad tracks !!! Being a Northern Candian Goose.. that would be confusing !!!!
The aircraft inbound to OSH during the airshow aren't supposed to acknowledge the radio calls. The frequency congestion would be too much. Look up the VFR arrival procedures for OSH during the EAA fly in........
For the record this is a recording of Fisk VFR approach, not the tower. However having worked at OSH during the airshow, Fisk can be entertaining! The controllers also work Fondu........Thanks for sharing.....brings back some great memories!
Wait wait wait, I'm confused. How come no one is responding? Is this NORDO? Is this a special situation, or is this everyday at Oshkosh? I'm confused.... and can this controller see all the planes? How would be tell if the plane rocked its wings or not? Confuzzled, it would be great if someone could clarify this. Thanks :)
@AnimationGenius this is for the oshkosh airshow, they bring in controllers from all over the country that are experienced in busy airspace because i think a couple hundred thousand planes come in for the airshow and theres no time for them to respond
@AnimationGenius just what it sounds like... the controller can see you, so the aircraft rocks it wings to acknowledge instead of responding on the radio
@3IDLukeK Oh, so I'm guessing these planes are all quite close to the tower? Because if I was the ATC, just finding my plane with my eyes would be difficult.. Unless the controller first looks outside, finds the plane he wants to talk to, then looks on the radar for callsign, etc? Yeah?
Just like an expressway in rush hour, everyone the same speed minimizes accidents/catastrophe. Same/posted speed and follow instructions precisely and Osh Kosh is a breeze. Done it twice. 1st time was no problem; second time I'm in a loaded TBM 850 trying to follow a guy in an amphib who's doing about 60 knots ... maybe. EVERYONE had to do a 360 on their spot to let this guy go thru. After about 10 minutes the traffic got smooth again. If you CAN'T do 90, stay home or drive the Cavalier.
Ok guys, this is not everyday Oshkosh. During this event, controllers from all over the place come in advance to read and prepare all of the procedures set for the event. Aircraft are asked to not readback instructions to reduce chatter. This event brings in an unbelievable amount of aircraft, runways are divided into sections to have multiple landings at once, if you think this is ridiculous, go to the event and see for yourself.
@RainbowManification Really? I think most airplanes have two way capability, he just doesn't want other pilots squelching and stuff..it' quicker this way
@RainbowManification He says "If anybodies fuel is critical advise now" They have radios. If it was NORDO they would be using light signals. The last place you want to be with no radios would be at this air show.
@Hikarilover123 I know this has probably been replied to over a thousand times but there's a lot of plane's coming in at the airport, there's absolutely no time for a reply. So "rocking wings" is a confirmation that the pilot heard the ATC. The railroad tracks is a special object that pilots have refference to when flying ... if you ever fly into Oshkosh you'll see the tracks ... it kind of stands out.
This guy is unbelievable. Does OSH bring in other controllers (paid?) from other facilites to help with the event? Wonder where this guy's from...I'm thinking a lvl 12 TRACON...
If you've never been to oshkosh during airventure, you wouldn't believe the amount of planes landing and departing. They land over top of each other etc...with that being said, it is very well organized and planed as much as possible. Why the rocking of wings..its an acknowledgment the pilot hears the controller..this eliminates the pilots having to read back everything the controller says thus stopping frequency congestion. many spotter controllers all over helping and watching all the time.
Damn good job... Just remember to "Rock Your Wings"
117nathanmyers 1 hour ago
jhiudahgdhjgff runway 3 afyagfjgyqiufhb iuuqw approaching system ygfafafaeiufjaek af uaegfahj gauifh 80 knots udyhjqgffqehj touch and go afhjgfeqhbvq 80 hundred feet iuwf hjwbfewifhewjbfewfuhewjvbn wjehebfwn eiiweofw clear for takeoff uqefqb hjwvfq wdfqufq turn 325 heading, front window fvwjefvwhfiuwewkejbn wweiuhb 90 knots, 185 miles per hour bewhjbewf ewjc wechejcbew!!! GIVE ME OXYGEN !!!!!!!!! WAIT I LATE 0.000003 SECONDS :D
Kiko56370 9 hours ago
@Kiko56370 FASTEST FIUFBEFEGEWVHJBDSVSVHJEWUKRERIOIQWU EVER. WHY THE GUINESS DONT TAKE FASTEST TALKER ? BUT THIS IS AWESOME :) GREAT JOB !!!
Kiko56370 9 hours ago
shit bricks... interesting...
GunsMoreGunsAndStuff 5 days ago
UGLY VEDEO
benzeema1 1 week ago
This is fuckin incredible
HittokiriBatosai 1 week ago
Been there, done that ! What fun, What an event. very well organized.
seneca65r 1 week ago
Apparently it's one of the most stressful jobs in the world.
OriginalYTName 2 weeks ago
Unbelievable job by this incredible controller. wow. GREAT job.
Trauncher 2 weeks ago
@mrjadedoel combat controllers do this while getting shot at
WARLOCKakaTROLL 2 weeks ago
I remember as a kid I wanted to be an ATC and my dad got me all the info I needed to do it as a career. Now I'm a designer, thank god, what was I thinking!!!!?
MrJadeDoel 2 weeks ago
wow how easy
alaskanthizzlam 3 weeks ago
These guys do an incredible job under huge pressure.Total respect.
Q3ToPBuZz 4 weeks ago
Pfft how could this dude confuse a Piper with a Mooney? Just kidding..cool video.
636Castle 1 month ago
If you look on Google Earth you can see that AirVenture was going on when the imagery was captured.
Z0ne5ive 1 month ago
Get em!!!
This guy... I would like to shake this man's hand.
ScudRunnR 1 month ago
Give him a bonus
TEQparkour 1 month ago
I am a former controller too. Fantastic direction there. A man in charge.
AVMamfortas 1 month ago
This controller person used to do auctions, and took so many speech classes. He is awesome!
Hilarousmoments 1 month ago
I've flown in there before and this is normal for these guys. They do an awesome job every year, they have my deepest respect.
mrusa4440 1 month ago
This guy would make a awsome ham radio contester!!!! :)
Hamradioismyhobby 1 month ago
They get 20 min shifts with 20 min breaks cause it's so stressful
Double360Gaming 1 month ago
my mother in law yaps more than this guy.
sjmunoz 2 months ago 2
but actually he does the right thing. ALL follow the same traffic pattern, 2 approach levels, all follow the same railroad, all lined up, identification by "rocking wings", all landing lights on gears down, all ready for landing in a quartermile rythm...
markuslebt 2 months ago
this is insane. this guy must be sweating heavily LOL
markuslebt 2 months ago
auctioneers on life N death cool, calm, collect adrenaline. Drink a wheatgras,s goji, honey, cayenne, cocao smoothie... for real human jetfuel.
charukrsnadasa 2 months ago
jeez, this is like Wall Street lol
FreeLessonsOnGuitar 2 months ago
i would loose my mind doing this job ...way to stressful
9gent 3 months ago
@9gent one at a time. thats the only way to do it
blindninja907 2 months ago
@9gent thats why they don't allow you to work past age 35...
nicvallecillo 2 months ago
This audio reminded me very much about how we used to run traffic at the Santa Monica Airport (CA).
I have seen a lot of questions about "rock your wings". The object is to control as many planes as possible. If you have two way communications you lose 50% of your "air time". That is why you hear the controller take control of the radio frequency and doesn't give it up.
We used to have 3000 ops a day on 1 runway (1 controller) at SMO.
Savage0069 3 months ago
Good Job
naimul11 3 months ago
Beautiful job.
XbaWceHaWgX 3 months ago
how is this approach? rocking wings usually benefits the controller with the fancy windows
djroe86 3 months ago
This is actually Fisk Approach, not the tower. Just nitpicking :)
wanderingnome 3 months ago 10
@wanderingnome If this is Fisk Approach than how do you observe an aircraft rocking its wings? while looking at a radar screen????? with no windows....
15Qabbey 1 month ago
@15Qabbey They actually set up shop on a small hill in Fisk, Wisconsin, which is about 5.5 nautical miles from Oshkosh and directly under this approach. Take a look at this video to see what I mean: youtube.com/watch?v=l-PVcLyYcH0
wanderingnome 1 month ago
@15Qabbey The aircraft were told to cancel their VFR clearences and follow the train tracks out their right windows. If he's working GCA, he's thinking non-radar on radar. He's giving the aircraft advisary to contact/monitor tower on 126.6.
Have no fuckin' idea how he can tell aircraft are rocking their wings on radar. He's a fuckin' wizard.
Mooose201 1 month ago
@Mooose201 Cuz he's not looking at a radar. Hes standing out side at a way point looking up at the airplanes lined up and gives them directions as they fly over him. If you've ever been to Oshkosh its its pretty amazing what these guys do.
757mech1 1 month ago 2
Shouldnt he be using their call signs instead just calling out the make n model?
immortaljatt05 3 months ago
@immortaljatt05 Nope. This is Oshkosh, so it's insanely busy--too busy for two-way radio communication, so the controllers are pretty much the only ones talking, meaning they have no way of knowing the call signs.
wanderingnome 3 months ago
@immortaljatt05 in addition, the controller would need aircraft to have a reporting transponder that could tell him the information, which many do not, and nontheless, it is easier to ask about what he sees out his window, eg high wing above water tower, then look at the scope that he may or may not have and use the tail number, which is much longer than the time to say red cessna.
jfsa380 2 months ago
The 'rock your wings' is more for the benefit of the controller so he knows he has the right guy in sight he is advising as well as keeping the pilots quiet so as not to clutter the channel. The photos in the video of controllers all sitting around a big room with radar have nothing to do with this controller who is probably standing in the back of a truck on a grassy hill. And they don't ask for permission to land, they just join a railroad track and fly inbound till the controller sees them.
TherealDeltaEcho 3 months ago
This guy is in the zone.
NHDualrider 3 months ago
Damn good job. I'm a former controller and this is well controlled chaos. Outstanding.
memjayr 3 months ago 34
No offense but that ATC is shocking
fsxlucas1 3 months ago in playlist playlist
A MOONEY, A CLASSIC MOONEY
PSP2000MAN 3 months ago
sloppy
TheRearviewmirror67 4 months ago
This guy needs a fucking medal.
tinyman12323 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
"lot more crashing too, this is ATC at Oshkosh for the EAA Air show"
I dare be as brave as to suggest, a pilot should already know that the landing gear has to be down to land, prior to taking off
lexichronicle2 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Superb ATC!
thekingmaged 4 months ago
Superb ATC!
thekingmaged 4 months ago
There'd be a lot less talking if he didn't keep repeating stuff about railways, landing gear, distancing and lights
lexichronicle2 4 months ago
@lexichronicle2 lmfao word.
SmokiSounds 4 months ago
@lexichronicle2 lot more crashing too, this is ATC at Oshkosh for the EAA Air show.
Bmoney4206 4 months ago
@lexichronicle2 When people are continuously changing frequencies he repeats for individuals who just started listening
remas14 4 months ago
anybody got a nexium and valium?
rmachayes 4 months ago
i hope he makes at least a 5figure annualy,he is worth every single penny
Hoschi0913 4 months ago
I hope this man makes every penny he's worth, but I doubt it. I could listen to him all day and I'd flap my wings too!
cinnamongirl3121 4 months ago
This controller is amazing!!
dspera 4 months ago
why cant the airplanes communicate with the tower. is it to prevent from cluttering up the frequency. and why is the tower coaching all the pilots?
awesomeskierboy 5 months ago
@awesomeskierboy Yeah, if you've ever been to KOSH you'll see why. It's like LAX traffic (air-wise) but like 10 times more heavier. And that's what control towers do :P They give you options/orders you follow them. You can only advise them if something is seriously wrong.
aceflyer89 4 months ago
what does rock your wings mean?
avi614614 5 months ago
@avi614614 he wants the pilot to bank left then bank right
this saves time on communication as you hear the airspace is busy and most the traffic above are light aircraft
so if he says "Cessna coming over the rail road rock your wings if you hear me" so the pilot in that aircraft would turn left then right to acknowledge that he herd then the controller would say "turn heading 80" this cuts down on the airwave traffic or radio traffic
StevenKiberton 5 months ago
That looks like it takes incredible skill and concentration, props the the atc's at oshkosh.
CrazeKillen 5 months ago
Its always amazing to see the light aircraft coming to Oshkosh. Notice you don't; hear any of the private pilots calling back. That's a good air traffic controller.
w9awx1 5 months ago
I rock my wings back and forth, I rock my wings back and forth, I rock my wings back and forth, I rock my wings back and forth.
office888 5 months ago
i can imagine the radar just looked like a line turning to the right over the railroad tracks and the guy is just there with a pair of binoculars saying rock ur wings
k2477456 5 months ago
rack your wings?
nuclearthreat545 5 months ago
@nuclearthreat545 rock your wings
danapointg 5 months ago
i cant breath :...........
horizoner58 5 months ago
HOLY FUCK.
999lifegoes 5 months ago
As has been previously mentioned, this is a recording of the Fisk VFR approach control into Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA, during the week of the Airventure fly-in, during which the airport briefly becomes the busiest in the world. For further info, google "Airventure NOTAM."
Archer13C 5 months ago
hmmm didnt know rocking your wings was an official traffic procedure lol
1irishluck 5 months ago
@1irishluck when theres that much traffic who cares about being "official". whatever it takes to get them down without crashing aha
KiDFRANKKK 5 months ago
@1irishluck Non transmitter fixed wing aircraft rock their wings to acknowledge ATC transmissions.
boomslangx64 5 months ago
@boomslangx64 interesting thanks for the trivia i did not know that
1irishluck 5 months ago
@1irishluck, boomslang isn't quite right. ALL aircraft rock their wings to acknowledge transmissions during Oshkosh, whether they have a transmitter or not.
nighthawk808 5 months ago
@nighthawk808 oh ok yeah i think that makes sense they're a bit stretched on time there hehe
1irishluck 5 months ago
ive flown into atlanta at 4pm during the euro arrivals and that was nothing compared to this omg
hawker800FO 6 months ago
"Rock your wings." Sounds like a square dance call.
JetMechMA 6 months ago
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1981strike 7 months ago
Want to talk about not using radar! Kudos to that controller and all of them during the Airventure! I didn't think it was near that intense!
Caleb4100 7 months ago
Just Brilliant! I'm rocking my wings...lol
GaelicKnight 7 months ago
These controllers are rock stars! They do an impossible job, year after year. I've been there three times, and the inbound traffic is absolutely insane! These controllers are very special, very talented people. They probably drink a lot of coffee too. They should be like the north Pacific fishermen - work this one event each year, and you've done a year's service! But ya know, I've actually heard they volunteer for this! If that ain't heroism... Everyone at Wittman! Skol!
dcs002 7 months ago
@dcs002: the inbound traffic is absolutely insane!
You are not exaggerating either. The last time I was there was in 1973 and it was INSANE even back then. The aircraft of all sorts circling the field looked like a cloud of mosquitos and I am NOT kidding. The whole time, they were landing scheduled airline flights on the other runway at the other side of the field.
JetMechMA 6 months ago
@dcs002 its the other way around. you get asked to work Oshkosh. Before that you have to work Sun n Fun airshow down in Florida. (It's another massive airshow btw thats all flown over the water if i remember correctly). You are the best of the best IN THE NATION if not the world if you get asked to work Oshkosh. My dad's a center controller and my oldest bro is a tower controller and I'm a pilot so its always fun at those family gatherings.
kidf22 5 months ago
@kidf22 Wow! A family where it's ok to talk incessantly about aviation! People in my family usually give me ~2 minutes, and if I'm still talking about aviation someone yells at me. I thought the controllers volunteered because of a documentary I saw maybe 2 decades ago. I'm guessing no one's required to work Oshkosh, and that might have been all the directors meant by calling them "volunteers." I've seen many Sun n Fun articles and always wanted to attend, but I live in MN, & Oshkosh is closer.
dcs002 5 months ago
@dcs002 same here. livin in Indiana, I mainly end up dealing with Purdue flight students (Purdue airport is five minute flight from my home field) which is a problem since they got their new Cirrus aircraft. Absolutely NOT the best flight trainer. My oldest bro is always sayin how bad they are with em. Flying a DA-20 Katana, (Katana in the landing pattern-100 knots, Cirrus-over 120 knots) its a pain in the ass when they are doin touch and gos. Almost got killed by one of em a month ago.
kidf22 5 months ago
@kidf22 If they do 120 KIAS in the pattern they should be doing wider patterns, right? I thought the AIM said 1 mile patterns for high performance a/c & 1/2 mile for us guys in the bug-smashers. (Long time since I read that section - never piloted high performance, but rode jump seat into uncontrolled airports in twin turboprop commuters. I'm a Cessna guy - 85 in the pattern in Skyhawks, I don't remember 152's, probably the same. Ever call the Purdue tower (by phone) and ask for advice?
dcs002 5 months ago
@dcs002 i believe they do 1 mile patterns. I was taught to do 1 mile patterns in the Diamond. I also have about 20 (not logged) hours in both a Cessna 150 and 172. my oldest brother btw works at Purdue tower (I mentioned how he knew how bad the students were with the Cirrus) The field I fly out of is uncontrolled. had a discussion with my bro about it and now i understand that they are not used to uncontrolled but I don't see why they are cleared to go to an uncontrolled one without instruction.
kidf22 5 months ago
@kidf22 sorry i meant without being cleared by the instructor. However i don't think that would help anyways being most of the instructors are actually sophomores in their flight program from what I was told. Wasn't a bad thing when they had Piper Warriors (they had em when i was getting my initial instruction in Cessnas and it was outta Purdue airport). The flight department just made a bad decision choosing Cirrus instead of Cessna or Diamond (the other two companies who offered deals).
kidf22 5 months ago
@kidf22 I think a lot of instructors are young, & they don't instruct for the love of it; they need hours for a better job. (My CFI spent more time begging me to introduce him to my airline's chief pilot [I dispatched] than instructing me. I was NOT prepared for that checkride!) I agree that it's a risky set-up when a/c with highly different pattern speeds and low skill-level pilots converge at an uncontrolled airport. I'd MUCH prefer radar service in that pattern. See & avoid well, my friend!
dcs002 5 months ago
you gotta keep em separated
mininow 7 months ago
Ha! That sounds fun!!! I miss working fixed wings.
brnforce 7 months ago
sounds like he plays world of warcraft.
sgtkiko 7 months ago
Is this Atlanta ATC?
archolman 8 months ago
@archolman This i KOSH during the fly in. Pretty much for the few days that everyone is flying in this is the busiest airport.
anthonyd5189 8 months ago
@anthonyd5189. Um, where's KOSH? I'm assuming that Kansas is part of that designator :)
I'm in the UK, & used to live near one of the 4 Heathrow stacks. They run a 45-second interval on each runway (1 dep. & 1 arr.) & the Tower can get quite intense at times.
This tower crew is seriously busy. Do they rotate desks, to get a break from the intensity?
archolman 8 months ago
@archolman KOSH is in Oshkosh, WI. It's host to the EAA Airventure.
anthonyd5189 8 months ago
@archolman Also I might add, this isn't the actual tower. This is the guy controlling traffic at Fisk. Since they have so many airplanes coming in at once they get them in a single-file line quite a ways out. On this arrival they pass over Ripon, then follow railroad tracks to Fisk. The Fisk controller will then have them fly the route to the runway(why some are told to go East over the road and some to follow the tracks). Then they get handed off to the tower(the freq. change he gives)
anthonyd5189 8 months ago
@anthonyd5189. OK, thanks for that, The controller makes complete sense now. I'm now busy Googling EAA, & it looks superb.
archolman 8 months ago
I just Googled the event, & I'd like to see that someday. We have the 40th RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo ) coming up at Fairford this July, which is an excellent military show.
archolman 8 months ago
@archolman This is the EAA convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Truly truly wild. Aircraft are not allowed to speak over the frequency- you can only respond with rock your wings. Each of 4 runways has three dots on it. They literally land three airplanes AT A TIME on the same runway- each one landing on one of the three dots at the same time. So its not unusual for 12 planes to be landing at the same time.
I don't think they get much a break- its a week of this once a year
jmillski1 7 months ago
Is a GA class C or D AD, thats why is so damn busy. student pilot need instruction
Pipertomahawk 8 months ago
Controller Wife: "Hey honey how was work?"
Controller: "UHHHHh ummm (the drool starts falling)... aaaaa"
Controller Wife: "Another fly-in huh?"
Controller: "sssssex.... annnnndd beeeerr"
Controller Wife: "Roger that!"
LuvAirTraffic 8 months ago 27
@LuvAirTraffic TOOOO Funny!!! Too Funny!!! (it's the truth tho, huh?)
LifeStartCPR64669 6 months ago
@LifeStartCPR64669 It really is... true love is a controllers wife
LuvAirTraffic 6 months ago
This Controller is amazing
bjdudley90 8 months ago
wow!!! so many planes in 1:17
DemetrisDK 9 months ago
holy cow, how many planes fly in there?
aprepo 9 months ago
Rock ur wings ?
AlevliTurkGs 9 months ago
@AlevliTurkGs it is basicaly a simply, fast way of acknoledging ATC messages used in busy airports or emergency situations when a clear ATC channel in critical.
GAFAAAAAA 9 months ago
@AlevliTurkGs it is basicaly a simply, fast way of acknowledging ATC messages used in busy airports or emergency situations when a clear ATC channel in critical.
GAFAAAAAA 9 months ago
@AlevliTurkGs it is basicaly a simple, fast way of acknowledging ATC messages used in busy airports or emergency situations when a clear ATC channel in critical.
GAFAAAAAA 9 months ago
@AlevliTurkGs kinda like turn left then right lightly and quickly...sorta waving :P
byroncoetsee 9 months ago
RAILROAD TRACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
t008er 9 months ago
Holy dogshit! This is so cool
Colt357B 9 months ago
sounds like pilots being railroaded....
manny298 10 months ago
You know it's busy when you drop the call signs and tell pilots to acknowledge you by rocking their wings
cchsnick2008 10 months ago 18
@cchsnick2008 Its oshkosh what do you expect?
MrMalak2k6 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@ 0:38 there is a picture of the ATC simulator owned by Dowling College's School of Aviation in Long Island, NY.
Jayvaughan08 10 months ago
@ 0:38 there is a picture of the ATC simulator owned by Dowling College's School of Aviation in Long Island, NY.
Jayvaughan08 10 months ago
@Cessna262 This is what Oshkosh sounds like during the week of their airshow.
atvmaster281 10 months ago
couldn't the aircraft call the tower instead of rock your wings?
IMSA28 11 months ago
@IMSA28 Read below. During this event they bring in a lot more controllers and I would just assume that dealing with such a huge inflow of air traffic they would like to keep the pilots off the radio as much as possible to keep the frequency clear.
FJones9508 11 months ago
@IMSA28 There was so much traffic that the controller had to order radio silence and he gave instructions with aircraft acknowlegment. When you have that much traffic, you don't have time for all the pilots to keep calling in. At least that is what is taught to us in the Air Force.
SgtWitt 11 months ago
@SgtWitt Heh, it's like the controller is briefing all the pilots in a conference room.
Agent1W 2 months ago
To answer all the questions, there are a set of controllers known as the FISK VFR controllers at this air show. Unlike radar controllers, these guys are literally sitting outside a trailer along the flight path with a pair of binnoculars addressing the aircraft as they fly over the trailer. That is how the controllers can see them rocking their wings.
perseverance85 11 months ago
You dont have any gear! Hehehehehehe
euplot 11 months ago
For anyone who've flown to Oskosh: can't you fly IFR? That way you're on a flight plan and you're vectored in. Or am I missing something here?
Amar7605 11 months ago
@Amar7605 You have to reserve a spot for an IFR flight plan ahead of time, they are very limited during the event. Everything done would be VFR.
Vtec01 10 months ago
@Vtec01 Wow, that's amazing. How confusing does it get?
Amar7605 10 months ago
@Amar7605 I'm not sure I've never had enough courage to fly into OSH, we usually fly into Fond Du Lac which is roughly 15 NM south of Osh Kosh. Even at Fond Du Lac it gets pretty hectic. Talk about short finals...and everyone watching you...before you go you better know your airplane and what it can do.
Other than that...Osh Kosh is a fantastic event filled with the best people in the world! PILOTS!
Vtec01 10 months ago
@Amar7605 If VMC, everyone does the VFR approach. If IMC, you can do an IFR approach.
jdpainter 9 months ago
Who is this guy!? I want to take lessons.
bronco8585 1 year ago
Hoe Lee Crap. . . . . .
bronco8585 1 year ago
"First wave of Canadian Geese, lower yer gears and maintain FL 3200, turn left 020, when you see the rr tracks contact approach at 116.86 then turn your landing lights on and maintain FL LEV 1500, All you mother geese better be lookin' after yer babies during approach !!! High wing Cessna flap yer wings so you dont mess the fly geese... flap yer wings !!! LOL
e081194eng 1 year ago 2
If ya can hear me, flap yer wings...,maybe the mallards flighing northward should heed the directions, and maybe they MIGHT see those railroad tracks !!! Being a Northern Candian Goose.. that would be confusing !!!!
e081194eng 1 year ago
It reminds me of flying to the AOPA fly in at Fredrick,MD(KFDK).They have to do things much differently than normal operations.
cdubois13 1 year ago
The aircraft inbound to OSH during the airshow aren't supposed to acknowledge the radio calls. The frequency congestion would be too much. Look up the VFR arrival procedures for OSH during the EAA fly in........
smokk58201 1 year ago
For the record this is a recording of Fisk VFR approach, not the tower. However having worked at OSH during the airshow, Fisk can be entertaining! The controllers also work Fondu........Thanks for sharing.....brings back some great memories!
smokk58201 1 year ago
turn left rock your wings. rail way rock your wings.. barney 2 niner 6 rock your wings
CrazeKillen 1 year ago
Wait wait wait, I'm confused. How come no one is responding? Is this NORDO? Is this a special situation, or is this everyday at Oshkosh? I'm confused.... and can this controller see all the planes? How would be tell if the plane rocked its wings or not? Confuzzled, it would be great if someone could clarify this. Thanks :)
AnimationGenius 1 year ago
@AnimationGenius this is for the oshkosh airshow, they bring in controllers from all over the country that are experienced in busy airspace because i think a couple hundred thousand planes come in for the airshow and theres no time for them to respond
3IDLukeK 1 year ago
@3IDLukeK Thanks for that explanation Luke. So what does "rocking wings" actually mean?
AnimationGenius 1 year ago
@AnimationGenius just what it sounds like... the controller can see you, so the aircraft rocks it wings to acknowledge instead of responding on the radio
3IDLukeK 1 year ago
@3IDLukeK Oh, so I'm guessing these planes are all quite close to the tower? Because if I was the ATC, just finding my plane with my eyes would be difficult.. Unless the controller first looks outside, finds the plane he wants to talk to, then looks on the radar for callsign, etc? Yeah?
AnimationGenius 1 year ago
@AnimationGenius yea there pretty close, might be using optics too, but yea he doesnt even use callsigns, just aircraft type
3IDLukeK 1 year ago
did he lose reciever capability???
yeahdude4931 1 year ago
railroad tracks? airport fail?!?!
boeing7971 1 year ago
@boeing7971
Typical instruction to follow a ground landmark.
You = Aviation geek fail
tanker013 1 year ago
@tanker013 do you know what a joke is?
You= No sense of humor
boeing7971 1 year ago
im tankin the bus!
jfsa380 1 year ago
That is really busy! Probably very stresful.
debarthepilot 1 year ago
Daffy Duck clearly isn't a match for this controller.
Physicspilot 1 year ago
Just like an expressway in rush hour, everyone the same speed minimizes accidents/catastrophe. Same/posted speed and follow instructions precisely and Osh Kosh is a breeze. Done it twice. 1st time was no problem; second time I'm in a loaded TBM 850 trying to follow a guy in an amphib who's doing about 60 knots ... maybe. EVERYONE had to do a 360 on their spot to let this guy go thru. After about 10 minutes the traffic got smooth again. If you CAN'T do 90, stay home or drive the Cavalier.
dave0mary 1 year ago
Bravo!!!!! I'm ATC, I understand him.
Schtirlitz1 1 year ago
@Schtirlitz1 So do i, i fly for SkyWest, places like KLAX on a Friday, or KMIA, it's utterly hectic sometimes.
biggestMetallicAfan 1 year ago
@Schtirlitz1 YES! LOL
loseyourself630 1 year ago
when i flew there, NO ONE. it was like a ghost town... this is all the airshow stuff. lol
Logo3801 1 year ago
felt like i was listening to an auctioneer.
RainbowManification 1 year ago
0:54- I'm not sure if you're rocking 'em or not.
ariwcharles 1 year ago
o_0 ..*PassesOut* .....Very confusing. This is a very stressful career choice, but as far as finances and benefits go it will be very rewarding ..
shaunjonez2009 1 year ago
whats the airport code for example "PDX"
nathanfishing3000 1 year ago
@nathanfishing3000 just google oshkosk airport.. Its so easy to figure that out, stop being lazy. KOSH
olsonr 1 year ago
Ok guys, this is not everyday Oshkosh. During this event, controllers from all over the place come in advance to read and prepare all of the procedures set for the event. Aircraft are asked to not readback instructions to reduce chatter. This event brings in an unbelievable amount of aircraft, runways are divided into sections to have multiple landings at once, if you think this is ridiculous, go to the event and see for yourself.
CZULAviation 1 year ago 2
@CZULAviation I hate these events, hard to keep the rules and I think I will have a heart attack.. but.. ok, I m a well trained atco..lol
docinhocarioca 1 year ago
these are NORDO (No Radio) airplanes in a Class E airport, they can listen but they can not talk.....
kbhkbhkbh 1 year ago
whats with rocking wings and railroad tracks?
Hikarilover123 1 year ago
@Hikarilover123 He is talkin to NORDO aircraft
RainbowManification 1 year ago
@RainbowManification Really? I think most airplanes have two way capability, he just doesn't want other pilots squelching and stuff..it' quicker this way
skidrum11 1 year ago 2
@RainbowManification He says "If anybodies fuel is critical advise now" They have radios. If it was NORDO they would be using light signals. The last place you want to be with no radios would be at this air show.
maxmiggo 1 year ago
@Hikarilover123 I know this has probably been replied to over a thousand times but there's a lot of plane's coming in at the airport, there's absolutely no time for a reply. So "rocking wings" is a confirmation that the pilot heard the ATC. The railroad tracks is a special object that pilots have refference to when flying ... if you ever fly into Oshkosh you'll see the tracks ... it kind of stands out.
aceflyer89 1 year ago
Whats with all the wing rocking busiess?
Hanglands 1 year ago
This guy is unbelievable. Does OSH bring in other controllers (paid?) from other facilites to help with the event? Wonder where this guy's from...I'm thinking a lvl 12 TRACON...
zachoe 1 year ago
If you've never been to oshkosh during airventure, you wouldn't believe the amount of planes landing and departing. They land over top of each other etc...with that being said, it is very well organized and planed as much as possible. Why the rocking of wings..its an acknowledgment the pilot hears the controller..this eliminates the pilots having to read back everything the controller says thus stopping frequency congestion. many spotter controllers all over helping and watching all the time.
brad325is 1 year ago
@Tex24Whiskey how does this compare to LAX?
MeAndMyM14 1 year ago