Narrative:

We have recently experienced two incidents involving acrs in which the pilots have used vague terms when describing conditions affecting their aircraft. In one case, the pilot was on the ground and reported he had 'issues' before leaving the frequency for an extended period of time while on a taxiway. In the second instance, the pilot made reference to 'a situation' while airborne. The pilot wanted to circle the airport for an unspecified period of time, but was not specific regarding why he needed to circle. In both cases, the controllers and supervisors-in-charge had concerns about the safety of the flight crew and passenger and additional actions were taken to ensure each aircraft was not being unlawfully interfered with. Fortunately neither case involved unlawful interference. However, the words used by the pilots certainly raised suspicions and concerns among ATC personnel. In the post 9/tue/2001 climate we're in, pilots should be aware that vague references might be misinterpreted by ATC as a pilot attempting to covertly alert ATC to an instance of unlawful interference. Now, more than ever, ATC needs to know anytime a pilot is going to deviate from the 'normal routine.' we are all on a heightened state of alert and communication is key to ensuring ATC does not overreact to a minor problem or, even worse, under-react to a life threatening condition.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PROPER COM PROCS BY FLC. INCOMPLETE AND VAGUE COM BY FLC PROVIDES ATC CONCERNS.

Narrative: WE HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED TWO INCIDENTS INVOLVING ACRS IN WHICH THE PLTS HAVE USED VAGUE TERMS WHEN DESCRIBING CONDITIONS AFFECTING THEIR ACFT. IN ONE CASE, THE PLT WAS ON THE GND AND RPTED HE HAD 'ISSUES' BEFORE LEAVING THE FREQUENCY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WHILE ON A TXWY. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE PLT MADE REFERENCE TO 'A SIT' WHILE AIRBORNE. THE PLT WANTED TO CIRCLE THE ARPT FOR AN UNSPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME, BUT WAS NOT SPECIFIC REGARDING WHY HE NEEDED TO CIRCLE. IN BOTH CASES, THE CTLRS AND SUPVRS-IN-CHARGE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE FLC AND PAX AND ADDITIONAL ACTIONS WERE TAKEN TO ENSURE EACH ACFT WAS NOT BEING UNLAWFULLY INTERFERED WITH. FORTUNATELY NEITHER CASE INVOLVED UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE. HOWEVER, THE WORDS USED BY THE PLTS CERTAINLY RAISED SUSPICIONS AND CONCERNS AMONG ATC PERSONNEL. IN THE POST 9/TUE/2001 CLIMATE WE'RE IN, PLTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT VAGUE REFERENCES MIGHT BE MISINTERPRETED BY ATC AS A PLT ATTEMPTING TO COVERTLY ALERT ATC TO AN INSTANCE OF UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE. NOW, MORE THAN EVER, ATC NEEDS TO KNOW ANYTIME A PLT IS GOING TO DEVIATE FROM THE 'NORMAL ROUTINE.' WE ARE ALL ON A HEIGHTENED STATE OF ALERT AND COM IS KEY TO ENSURING ATC DOES NOT OVERREACT TO A MINOR PROB OR, EVEN WORSE, UNDER-REACT TO A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION.

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.