Alarming: Quito Airport Air Traffic Control Audio

I am not sure what is going on, but this is concerning. If you don't know anything about avgeeks, then skip this post, but I know many of you do.

The air traffic controller in Quito is no longer working.

VASAviation has audio from a recent night at the UIO, where the controller's communications were rather alarming.

An airline pilot claims that the aviation authorities in Ecuador are trying to cover up the situation, rather than investigate it.
The nine minute video contains communications that happened over the course of two hours, but the periods without communication are removed.
Despite the fact that there are several flights to and from the United States around that time, the controller is responsible for ground, tower, and approach.
If you don't speak Spanish, I recommend starting the video at 80 seconds in, which is the point at which communication is mostly with pilots of American, Delta, and United; the controller's communication gets worse, and if you just want to hear the worst of it.

You can see the video 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110

What is happening with the air traffic controller?

Those who are used to listening to air traffic control audio will be able to tell how off the controller is. There are sometimes language barriers, but this goes far beyond that.

There are a few things that are unusual about air traffic control audio.

The controller is mumbling and slurring his words and has to correct his instructions multiple times.
When a Delta pilot requests clearance to taxi, the controller seems to give takeoff clearance multiple times instead.
The controller repeatedly tells pilots to contact another frequency, when in reality he is on 118.35.
The controller gives the pilot a takeoff clearance instead of a flight clearance when he requests a squawk and altitude.

It is anyone's guess what seems off. I don't think we have enough information to conclude that the controller was drunk. It is possible that he was exhausted, had a health condition that caused him to act out of character, and was on medication that was having side effects.

I don't think any airline pilot would feel confident relying on someone like this for instructions.

The bottom line.

Air traffic control audio from an overnight shift has been posted online, and the communications are surprising. Hopefully this incident gets investigated because something isn't quite right with the controller.

What do you think about this audio?

Ben is the founder of OMAAT.