Small aircraft pilot had inappropriate controller response at sfb.

Attributes
ACN	460120
Time
Date	200001
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfb.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 1100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sfb.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	460120
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : sfb.tower

Narrative:

Approaching sfb, called tower 10 mi southwest. Was told to enter left downwind for runway 27C and report 3 mi southwest of airport. Frequency was very congested at the time. Controller also mentioned 'stay north of south shore of lake monroe.' as lake monroe is north of the airport, and I was southwest and told to enter left downwind for runway 27C, this instruction left me confused. However, I could not get a word in to query the controller. I called him at 3.5 mi southwest of airport and he very irritably said 'are you north of south shore of lake monroe?' I told him this would put me in a right downwind. He then said 'just fly south for 1 min, then turn east.' which I did. I am a professional pilot and have been flying for a long time in some of the busiest airspace in the world. I have had my airplane at sfb for about 1 yr. I have noticed that several of the tower controllers are very easily irritated and become abusive on the frequency without provocation. This often results in the controllers yelling on the frequency and being very rude for absolutely no reason. In other words, when you scream, your message is not heard. If some of these gentlemen would get some manners, their instructions would become much clrer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT HAD INAPPROPRIATE CTLR RESPONSE AT SFB.

Narrative: APCHING SFB, CALLED TWR 10 MI SW. WAS TOLD TO ENTER L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 27C AND RPT 3 MI SW OF ARPT. FREQ WAS VERY CONGESTED AT THE TIME. CTLR ALSO MENTIONED 'STAY N OF S SHORE OF LAKE MONROE.' AS LAKE MONROE IS N OF THE ARPT, AND I WAS SW AND TOLD TO ENTER L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 27C, THIS INSTRUCTION LEFT ME CONFUSED. HOWEVER, I COULD NOT GET A WORD IN TO QUERY THE CTLR. I CALLED HIM AT 3.5 MI SW OF ARPT AND HE VERY IRRITABLY SAID 'ARE YOU N OF S SHORE OF LAKE MONROE?' I TOLD HIM THIS WOULD PUT ME IN A R DOWNWIND. HE THEN SAID 'JUST FLY S FOR 1 MIN, THEN TURN E.' WHICH I DID. I AM A PROFESSIONAL PLT AND HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR A LONG TIME IN SOME OF THE BUSIEST AIRSPACE IN THE WORLD. I HAVE HAD MY AIRPLANE AT SFB FOR ABOUT 1 YR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OF THE TWR CTLRS ARE VERY EASILY IRRITATED AND BECOME ABUSIVE ON THE FREQ WITHOUT PROVOCATION. THIS OFTEN RESULTS IN THE CTLRS YELLING ON THE FREQ AND BEING VERY RUDE FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN YOU SCREAM, YOUR MESSAGE IS NOT HEARD. IF SOME OF THESE GENTLEMEN WOULD GET SOME MANNERS, THEIR INSTRUCTIONS WOULD BECOME MUCH CLRER.

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.