These are some audio clips about air traffic control that might be of interest to avgeeks. It was not dangerous or illegal. It was just an entertaining exchange between some Toronto air traffic controllers and Emirates pilots.
Pilots from Emirates get confused about gate assignment
This is EK241, an Emirates Airbus A380 flight from Dubai to Toronto. The plane was preparing to taxi to the gate after it touched down at Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
Emirates normally operates from Terminal 1 at YYZ. However, the A380 was instructed to travel to Terminal 3 due to congestion in Terminal 1's international arrivals hall.
The Emirates pilots were told by air traffic controllers to taxi to gate A34A via taxiways A or AK. However, the paperwork of the pilots showed that the A380 was too large to park at that gate and that the A380 could not taxi on those taxiways.
The pilots and the air traffic controllers get into a heated argument.
Emirates pilot: I've flown into Toronto many times with my A380. Never parked at C gates. My paperwork indicates that all taxiways going in that direction are red and not approved. We are not allowed to use the C gate. If you would like us to park there, we will need a follow me. I don't know what else to say. Because I don't know what else to say, I will give you a number that you can call. It's perfect for the job, and I can't speak for your paperwork. However, I will give you a number so you can call them. You can also pass me to apron. All I can do is pass you over to apron. Emirates pilot: I'm not calling anyone from here. The park brake will be activated. Because my paperwork indicates that there are no red taxiways at AK, I cannot take the plane until I get confirmation that it is okay to go.
The pilots eventually get in touch with the apron controllers who resolve the problem. In this instance, gate C34A was acceptable for an A380, provided that both gates are empty. Pilots are assured that there will be wingwalkers when they pull into the gate. The plane was soon at the gate, and it took only minutes for it to get there.
Listen to the ATC audio here.
This audio is what makes it so interesting
Both the pilots as well as air traffic controllers act professionally. However, it is interesting to see how things quickly get heated and create a standoff. The air traffic controller says I don't know what to say to you, and advises the pilots that they call a number. Meanwhile, the pilots tell the controller that they will put on their parking brakes and they won't call anyone.
Although I'm not a pilot or an air traffic controller, you can see both sides and I believe both were trying their best to make sense of the chaos.
Pilots are responsible to ensure safe operation of the plane. It is understandable why they don't want to taxi anywhere that their paperwork prohibits. They could be in trouble if they do.
In the sense that the air traffic controllers gave proper instructions to pilots, they were sending them to a gate suitable for the A380 and taxiways that could accommodate the large jet.
It came down ultimately to a discrepancy in the gate that Emirates pilots expected (which presumably was the paperwork prepared for), and the gate at a different terminal they were assigned.
Bottom line
Some audio is from an interaction between pilots of Emirates A380 and controllers at Toronto International Airport. Emirates assigned the Emirates plane a gate at a different terminal than they expected. Emirates paperwork did not show that the gates or taxiways were able to handle the A380.
The pilots did not want to take on risk that could lead them to be held accountable. Although the matter was quickly resolved, it did become tense for a brief moment.
What do you think of this ATC audio recording?
