The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced an investigation into a viral incident of pilots making animal sounds like “meow, meow” on an air traffic control (ATC) frequency, saying all communications should be limited to the safe operation of the aircraft.
According to ATC.com, the communication took place on an ATC frequency Sunday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, outside the nation’s capital.
“FAA regulations prohibit pilots from engaging in nonessential conversations when below 10,000 feet,” the agency said, according to People.
“The conversations must be related to the safe operation of the aircraft,” The New York Times quoted the FAA as saying. The agency said it would investigate “all situations where pilots may have violated any regulation.”
A spokesman for the airport watchdog said they had no information about the reports of the interaction. The identities of the pilots and the exact details of their flights remain unclear, and the Federal Aviation Administration does not verify third-party recordings.
The person also appeared to be talking about regional airliners, noting that many pilots begin their careers with regional airlines before moving on to operate larger aircraft for major carriers.
What happened?
Based on the audio, the pilots seemed to be joking. However, they were immediately reprimanded by another voice, seemingly controlling ATC on the frequency: “You must be professional pilots. The response only elicited more meows and barks.
“Meow,” said one pilot into the radio. “Meow,” replied the co-pilot.
“Meow meow meow meow,” replied one of the pilots.
“Ruff! Ro-ro-ro-ro-ro!” another pilot made a sound.
“That’s why you keep flying RJ,” the individual seemed to be referring to regional airliners.
Many pilots begin their careers with regional airlines before moving on to operate larger aircraft for major carriers.
A spokesman for the airport watchdog said they had no information about the reports of the interaction. The identities of the pilots and the exact details of their flights remain unclear, and the FAA does not verify third-party recordings, the NYT reported.
Meanwhile, according to ABC News, Dennis Tajer, a pilot and spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, the union that represents American Airlines pilots, said: “It’s not fun, it’s a serious frequency and it has a serious purpose. Anything that taints it with idle humor or any kind of mockery is not received well and should stop.”
Steve Abraham, a former air traffic controller at JFK with 30 years of experience, told NBC Washington that joking about the frequency is “against the rules,” but he linked it to “doing 56 for 55.”
“Some people in the aviation profession – and I don’t begrudge them – expect it to be fully on 105% of the time,” Abraham noted, “they were just making a quick joke. Sometimes a little frivolity reduces the tension.”
