Hello All, The other evening I was listening to the 'live' JFK/New Jersey TRACON for departure and approach, now having been an aviatior for the better part of 45 years, I have to say that during that time, I have heard some of the most unusual ATC/Pilot conversations you could think of. However, on this night, I do believe that all the guys and gals who worked ATC that evening should either get a huge pat on the back or a giant raise.It was about the time of the mass influx of inbound foreign traffic into JFK and and surronding airports and some of the readbacks, and such were absolutely ambiguous. Again, having been in this arena for so long, you learn to put together the pieces of garbled transmissions, but those working TRACON that evening really had their hands full and their professionalism shinned wonderfully.I know English is supposed to be the main language of air transportation, and even in this country, (USA), some of our 'English' is rather tainted with accents, but wow, it sure left me wondering that it was a small miracle that air to air incidents were almost never a happening. I am use to the fast, rapid staccato of pilots replying to ATC, but this evening in particular, well, most was just so much jabberwocky -- including some foreign accents which could have been in their own language as they were the farthest from English I have ever heard. No flames please, this is NOT anything against foreign pilots, more to the point, just that sometimes it is most difficult to understand them -- and that includes one from the US which had a 'Texas' drawl that even I couldn't figure out. Hats off to the guys and gals that keep NYC and the surronding area free from aircraft falling out of the sky due to mid-air's. They do it with almost NO complaints, they are faceless individuals who have the lives of thousands in their hands at one particular time and very seldom do they get the recognition they deserve.Best to all, and interested in your opinions also.Clayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

Here here. I am reading the 'Say again' columns (http://www.avweb.com/news/columns/182651-1.html) written by a real life ZTL en route controller, and my respect level for controllers has increased dramatically. They put up with a lot. Of course, my respect for pilots is increasing too. There ability to make out what ATC is asking and then work with them is nothing short of amazing.