In one of the more bizarre and funny things I have seen while covering the travel industry over the last few decades, pilots were heard making cat and dog sounds over an air traffic control frequency at Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA).
Snippets of the interaction have racked up millions of views on social media after two pilots were heard meowing and barking at each other and at air traffic control.
@cbsnews Two pilots appeared to make meowing noises and dog barks as they communicated with each other before air traffic control at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport called them out on Sunday. “You guys, you need to be professional,” an air traffic controller is heard saying. #pilots ♬ original sound – cbsnews
The first pilot said “meow” over the radio. The second pilot responded with another “meow.” The DCA air traffic controller was not laughing. He replied, “You guys need to be professional pilots.” One of the pilots then responded, “meow meow meow meow,” and the other barked, “Ruff! Ro-ro-ro-ro-ro!” The controller shot back, “This is why you’re still flying RJ,” referring to a small regional jet. One of the pilots then gave a sad “meow” to end the exchange.
I sent the video to two of my pilot friends, and they both replied, “This happens all the time!” I followed up, thinking that meant once a month. My friend said it happens several times a day, which was even more surprising. That same friend added that it happens to her often when she checks in on Mexico’s frequency, especially because she is a woman.
My other pilot friend said it is usually young regional jet pilots acting immature. I asked if they ever get in trouble, and they said no. It is difficult to identify who is doing it, which surprised me.
I am told that if pilots and air traffic controllers hear someone they know on the radio and want to chat, they switch to an air-to-air frequency nicknamed “fingers,” which is 123.45. However, they also realize that most other pilots will likely switch over as well to listen in on the “private” conversation.
The frequency where the catcalling happened was 121.5, which is an emergency frequency. Pilots are not supposed to use it unless there is an actual emergency, but sometimes people get bored and misuse it.
According to The New York Times, “A spokeswoman for an authority that manages the airport said that they did not have any information on reports of the interaction. The identities of the pilots and the exact circumstances of their flights were unclear, and the Federal Aviation Administration does not validate third-party recordings. But the agency said in a statement on Wednesday that it was investigating the reported interaction. Regulations prohibit pilots from ‘nonessential conversation’ when below 10,000 feet in altitude.”
I found the recording both disturbing and hilarious. It is funny to hear, but given recent incidents, especially the crash at DCA, it also feels reckless. Social media, of course, had plenty to say:
@eliasbsalas: stop that right meow
@ChristopherDWheeler: Air traffic controllers and pilots fighting like cats and dogs
@DebbiePet-g5t: Like driving through the desert, boring. Gotta have some kind of humor. Lighten up, peeps. Meow
@emsauce75: You guys need to be professional right MEOW!!!
@bonedust82: As long as my flight lands safely, I do not give one meow what sounds they make
@blob9133: The sad little “meow meow…” after ATC said “this is why you still fly an RJ” is the best part. Translation: “yeah, yeah, I know…”
How about you? Funny, reckless or ?
