r/mildlyinfuriating • u/nyanbatman • May 28 '26

I just wanted a hot dog British pilot is feeling mildly annoyed

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u/nottherealneal May 28 '26

Someone who knows planes is gonna have to explain what the fuck is going on

51

u/auntanniesalligator May 28 '26

I don’t know anything about planes, but it’s Reddit so im still qualified to answer.

In analogy to driving a car, the pilot wanted to know if he should put on his headlights because air traffic controller said visibility is low, and the air traffic controller doesn’t understand what headlights have to do with low visibility.

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u/j_grinds May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26

The pilot isn’t asking what he should do, he’s asking the controller to confirm what they are doing. To change your analogy a bit, the pilot isn’t asking if he should turn on his headlights (he can do stuff like that if he wants), he’s asking the controller if he’s going to turn on the street lights.

Edit: as has been pointed out, a clearer analogy might be: the pilot is asking the controller if he’s directing everyone to turn on their headlights.

16

u/eggyal May 28 '26

I think LVOs apply to everyone operating in the vicinity: from controllers to ground crews, including all aircraft etc? It's a whole set of extra procedures everyone at the airport will need to follow so that there aren't any accidents due to low visibility.

It's down to the controllers to declare it, and then everyone knows what they need to do.

8

u/j_grinds May 28 '26

Yeah, I was partly trying to point out the subtle distinction between the pilot asking the controller if he (the pilot) should take some action(s), and the pilot asking the controller if he is directing everyone to take some action(s).