Too often, pilots do too much to please ATC. Just say no to requests to operate at the envelope’s corners.

By Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Air traffic controllers have an unenviable job, at least as far as pilots are concerned. Even though they’re well-paid and do their work inside, there’s too much stress, the consequences of being wrong can be too high and they have the FAA for a boss. Trying to fit a 200-knot airplane in behind one doing only 100 knots is just one of the challenges many controllers face daily; for the most part, pilots can be oblivious to what’s happening on the other end of the frequency. …