I have been in aviation since 1965, including a 5 year stint in ATC.
At the risk of sounding preachy, I say again, the words
"control" and
"controller" in my opinion, contribute to the media's and the public's misconceptions about the whole system. ATC does not actually control anything. They advise, suggest, recommend, and give clearances to pilots.
They have the equipment and training to gather more information and can see a bigger picture than most individual pilots. With that, they
guide aircraft in such a way that the flow of air traffic continues to operate as safely and as smoothly as possible. They do not
help or
control the pilot with landing or take-off, they merely guide aircraft into a flow of enroute, landing or departing traffic. And it surprises some people that the pilot actually controls the airplane throughout.
ATC's primary job is to issue clearances, and directions in order to maintain separation between aircraft - and there are many rules and guidelines in the ATC manual that cover how separation is determined. Truthfully, ATC is a necessary part of the modern air traffic system due to the complex activity of modern aviation, particularly around bustling airports
However, the fact that aircraft can and do land and take-off at airports (particularly at night) where there is no
controller should come as no surprise to anyone who is even slightly familiar with the system. (hint, hint, Mr. FAA administrator and so called journalists)
When there is little or no bustle, aircraft can and do take care of their own separation on a regular basis. In fact it is happening somewhere in the US even as I type this, and will go on happening long after you've read it.
However as
us920669 points out, in remote areas (and I have flown in remote areas) some practices could be labeled
slipshod if applied to the ATC system and bustling modern airports. However in many cases they are simply practical methods adopted under local conditions and local customs.
Bottom line, from my personal experience, is that pilots for the most part do not want to end their careers and lives in a pile of smoldering wreckage. They will adopt whatever seems to be safe and efficient operational standards based on given conditions. It may look chaotic or even slipshod to some folks, but chances are, if you are one of them, you have considered the options and have chosen the one that seems most likely to result in you sleeping in your own bed at the end of the day.
Consider that recent news articles and some statements from those
on high, have labeled aircraft landing without the
help of ATC in the middle of the night, at sleepy, low activity airports as being slipshod and even dangerous operations. Yet, the pilots in those aircraft managed safe and effective landings under the given conditions. (I am willing to say
slipshod is in the eye of the beholder.)
That being said, I have seen my share of idiots and bravado driven pilots, both in the bush and in civilization. There is no denying they exist, and there is really nothing, or no one to stop them from taking risks, not even ATC or the FAA. They can ignore rules and laws as long as they can get away with it. It ends of course when they choose to ignore the rules and laws of aerodynamics and gravity.
Speaking for myself (and most pilots I know) I'd rather end my flying career in old age, in my own bed, dreaming of... well, never mind what, just accept that I'll be dreaming of something interesting.
