Contact Seattle Center

You never see them. You never usually hear about them. Air-traffic Controllers. They are the brains and communications leading your flight and pilots from one city to the next, yet how often do you really think about them? Did you know controllers have one of the highest job burn-out rates? After my last trip, I understand why.
On a recent flight from Seattle to Baltimore, I plugged in to channel nine on the airline communications audio unit and listened in. If you ever want to hear some interesting chatter, plug in sometime and track your flight to your destination and hear what's flying on around you. I know for some of you, this is the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard, but you can learn some things about your flight and where you are at any given time.

As we approached Baltimore on a UAL Boeing 757, the local controller contacted our crew and began to direct our flight. This is a very busy airport with two other airports close by and our flight was directed into a flight pattern with approximately five other planes circling the airport waiting to land. The controller boldly gave more coordinates and air speeds to our pilot and did this about six more times as we circled and he did the same for the other flights keeping them turning in a circle towards to the airport and keeping us all equally spaced and headed in the right direction for a safe landing.

I was nervous just listening to him contact each plane and then hand us off to another controller to complete the landing. As we approached and were given our landing runway and gate turn-off, our pilot completed the landing and we arrived safely. After we touched down, our pilot radioed back to the tower a well deserved, "nice job, guys" (which I've never heard before).

The next time you're flying and wondering if your carry-on is going to fit in the overhead bin, think about how these unsung heroes are keeping the skies friendly and safe. G'day.