Narrative:

Air carrier X inbound to pbi (on approach control) noticed a great deal of radio traffic, and what appeared to be very abusive verbal communication by approach to several inbound aircraft. None directed toward our flight. On departure, air carrier X controller was doing normal job of handling large amount of traffic, which included air carrier, corporate and government aircraft. Noticed a different voice cut in and make sharp caustic commands. After several sequences of the other controller cutting in, it appeared or sounded like he took over. Bear in mind there was a lot of traffic and on several occasions, either the controller or other were cutting one another out. We were cleared to 10000 ft and level. I am aware we should have a clearance to higher and frequency change to center. (Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out.) controller was still very busy and very caustic, but I told first officer (PNF) not to call just yet, trying to avoid cutting someone out. Finally, departure called us and said we had not answered 2 previous calls. First officer said we didn't hear them and controller was again caustic. After 30 plus yrs of flying, I picked up the microphone and called the controller an 'ass,' that is the first profane word I have ever used on the radio. (Controller said I was too!) after change to center, I asked for pbi phone number. On the next day, I spoke to someone at pbi and discussed the situation. I asked her to listen to the tapes and told her I knew the controllers were very busy (overloaded) but I felt they were rude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X CAPT USED PROFANITY WITH ATC.

Narrative: ACR X INBOUND TO PBI (ON APCH CTL) NOTICED A GREAT DEAL OF RADIO TFC, AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE VERY ABUSIVE VERBAL COM BY APCH TO SEVERAL INBOUND ACFT. NONE DIRECTED TOWARD OUR FLT. ON DEP, ACR X CTLR WAS DOING NORMAL JOB OF HANDLING LARGE AMOUNT OF TFC, WHICH INCLUDED ACR, CORPORATE AND GOV ACFT. NOTICED A DIFFERENT VOICE CUT IN AND MAKE SHARP CAUSTIC COMMANDS. AFTER SEVERAL SEQUENCES OF THE OTHER CTLR CUTTING IN, IT APPEARED OR SOUNDED LIKE HE TOOK OVER. BEAR IN MIND THERE WAS A LOT OF TFC AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, EITHER THE CTLR OR OTHER WERE CUTTING ONE ANOTHER OUT. WE WERE CLRED TO 10000 FT AND LEVEL. I AM AWARE WE SHOULD HAVE A CLRNC TO HIGHER AND FREQ CHANGE TO CTR. (DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE THIS OUT.) CTLR WAS STILL VERY BUSY AND VERY CAUSTIC, BUT I TOLD FO (PNF) NOT TO CALL JUST YET, TRYING TO AVOID CUTTING SOMEONE OUT. FINALLY, DEP CALLED US AND SAID WE HAD NOT ANSWERED 2 PREVIOUS CALLS. FO SAID WE DIDN'T HEAR THEM AND CTLR WAS AGAIN CAUSTIC. AFTER 30 PLUS YRS OF FLYING, I PICKED UP THE MIKE AND CALLED THE CTLR AN 'ASS,' THAT IS THE FIRST PROFANE WORD I HAVE EVER USED ON THE RADIO. (CTLR SAID I WAS TOO!) AFTER CHANGE TO CTR, I ASKED FOR PBI PHONE NUMBER. ON THE NEXT DAY, I SPOKE TO SOMEONE AT PBI AND DISCUSSED THE SIT. I ASKED HER TO LISTEN TO THE TAPES AND TOLD HER I KNEW THE CTLRS WERE VERY BUSY (OVERLOADED) BUT I FELT THEY WERE RUDE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.