Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [Merged]
Feb 9, 2024, 5:24 pm
#362
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Feb 16, 2024, 5:24 am
#365
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My reply would have been, "Oh that's strange! It's advertised in this month's Hemisphere's magazine and there's an option on the IFE for 'From the Flight Deck.' Plus, I had it working on a 772 just the day before yesterday, even with the Captain's PA invitation to listen in."
Feb 16, 2024, 12:08 pm
#367
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I love when pilots make up the most unnecessary lies when it comes to Channel 9... all they have to do is say "I don't want to turn it on"
Feb 16, 2024, 12:20 pm
#368
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My reply would have been, "Oh that's strange! It's advertised in this month's Hemisphere's magazine and there's an option on the IFE for 'From the Flight Deck.' Plus, I had it working on a 772 just the day before yesterday, even with the Captain's PA invitation to listen in."
What is the FA going to do with that info?
Feb 16, 2024, 12:34 pm
#369
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I'm fine if a Captain doesn't want it on -- it's at their discretion. I just don't like made up stories.
Feb 16, 2024, 12:37 pm
#370
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Which is ridiculous when we can just listen via the ATC app and wifi (at least when UA wifi is working) and hear the same content. Although I'm sure some pilots would flip out if they knew people onboard were listening on the app, or even if the app existed.
Feb 16, 2024, 3:44 pm
#371
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Feb 16, 2024, 5:07 pm
#372
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I thoroughly enjoy listening to it, but haven’t had it on a flight in years.
A United captain friend of mine refuses to turn it on. His fear is that someone onboard hears ‘ordinary’ communication and misinterprets it and it causes a headache. (He used the specific example saying min fuel in discussions with ATC).
My opinion is that LiveATC archives all these comms anyway, and people make YouTube videos about interesting ATC exchanges. Having channel 9 on or off doesn’t increase any real risk to the pilot.
I do wish United would encourage pilots to turn it on or reduce their fear of some sort of repercussions.
A United captain friend of mine refuses to turn it on. His fear is that someone onboard hears ‘ordinary’ communication and misinterprets it and it causes a headache. (He used the specific example saying min fuel in discussions with ATC).
My opinion is that LiveATC archives all these comms anyway, and people make YouTube videos about interesting ATC exchanges. Having channel 9 on or off doesn’t increase any real risk to the pilot.
I do wish United would encourage pilots to turn it on or reduce their fear of some sort of repercussions.
Feb 16, 2024, 7:03 pm
#373
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Folklore has it that one of the first situations to cause pilot angst was when a passenger reported to the FAA the pilots had alcohol in the cockpit. The ATC transmission was, "Ground, United xxx, we have Whiskey." Of course, that's short for having received ATIS W, where the ICAO spelling alphabet is used (alpha, bravo, charlie... whiskey... zulu).
Feb 17, 2024, 12:11 am
#374
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Folklore has it that one of the first situations to cause pilot angst was when a passenger reported to the FAA the pilots had alcohol in the cockpit. The ATC transmission was, "Ground, United xxx, we have Whiskey." Of course, that's short for having received ATIS W, where the ICAO spelling alphabet is used (alpha, bravo, charlie... whiskey... zulu).
Feb 17, 2024, 8:41 am
#375
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In the past, I have had PAXs actually criticize our interaction with ATC, and often times the CA will not turn on channel 9 for that reason. One time in particular, going into SFO, we had a passenger actually argue with us over the decision to accept an approach he felt we should not have accepted, for various reasons. Mind you, he was not an ATP or type rated for the Boeing, but marched into the flightdeck after the flight, and proceeded to criticize the last 40 minutes of our flight. It was downright bizarre. Making it even more ironic, it was during a line check, and the line check airman and he got into a pretty heated argument. People are very strange sometimes...
