Listen Up

I remember working the Lansing sector one day. WG was working the Jackson Sector which runs along the southern boundary of Lansing. He had a departure push going on, I had a few arrivals, but mostly overflight traffic.

I had this one general aviation aircraft at FL230 eastbound when one of WG's planes took a turn off the departure path and started flying towards my sector.

WG called to the aircraft, but received no response.

Now the data block tells me his aircraft should be climbing to FL280, so to give him time to get above my GA guy I turn mine twenty degrees left.

WG's aircraft slows his climb at twenty-one thousand feet, ten mile southeast of mine, converging.

"November four-sierra-papa, descend and maintain flight level one-niner zero. Expedite your descent."

He reads it back and I watch his altitude to make sure he's hurrying down. He's not.

"November four-sierra-papa, expedite your descent through flight level two-one zero, turn thirty degrees left, vectors traffic."

WG's aircraft continues to climb slowly, and continues to converge.

"November four-sierra-papa, report leaving flight level two-one zero."

He finally clears twenty-one, which provides me with the separation I need. I clear him back on course. I'll give him twenty-three back later.

I watch as WG's plane fly's through my sector and into Chicago Centers airspace, then I turn and look at WG, who shrugs.

My GA guy asks me what that was all about, and I tell him.

Later we find out that the aircraft that went off course gave Clearance Delivery at Pontiac Tower a hard time. He kept reading back "as filed" instead of the preferential departure route.

So you pilots out there, this is a word to you. Listen up. We don't just make these routes up for shits and grins. It could mean your life.