Narrative:

During a VFR training flight, my student and I departed auburn (auo) for columbus (csg) to do some pattern work at the controled field. After listening to the ATIS, and getting the current winds and runway in use, we contacted approach on 125.5. We advised that we had the ATIS and were inbound for some touch and goes at columbus. The controller acknowledged and cleared us to proceed. Upon handoff to the tower, we were cleared to land, so I again requested a touch and go. After the touch and go, I inquired whether tower wanted right or left traffic, to which he responded, 'I need to know what you're doing.' upon clarification, it became clear that approach had not relayed our request to the tower. Again the tower controller scolded us for not requesting the touch and goes (multiple) with him. After several laps around the pattern, we requested to return to auburn, which we were granted. On upwind after the last touch and go, I asked the tower whether he would like a right or left turnout, and was scolded again, saying something like, 'you should know better.' we were then handed off, with no further problems. The controller's short temper not only caused the subject to freeze on the radios, but also served to discourage effective communications. I have always held that if you are unsure of a clearance, you should ask. This controller's tone and temper over an otherwise non-event could cause some pilots to hesitate to confirm a clearance, thereby compromising safety.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 INSTRUCTOR AND TRAINEE RECEIVE 'ATTITUDE' FROM CSG LCL CTLR WHEN ASKED TO CLARIFY TFC PATTERN OPS.

Narrative: DURING A VFR TRAINING FLT, MY STUDENT AND I DEPARTED AUBURN (AUO) FOR COLUMBUS (CSG) TO DO SOME PATTERN WORK AT THE CTLED FIELD. AFTER LISTENING TO THE ATIS, AND GETTING THE CURRENT WINDS AND RWY IN USE, WE CONTACTED APCH ON 125.5. WE ADVISED THAT WE HAD THE ATIS AND WERE INBOUND FOR SOME TOUCH AND GOES AT COLUMBUS. THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED AND CLRED US TO PROCEED. UPON HDOF TO THE TWR, WE WERE CLRED TO LAND, SO I AGAIN REQUESTED A TOUCH AND GO. AFTER THE TOUCH AND GO, I INQUIRED WHETHER TWR WANTED R OR L TFC, TO WHICH HE RESPONDED, 'I NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.' UPON CLARIFICATION, IT BECAME CLR THAT APCH HAD NOT RELAYED OUR REQUEST TO THE TWR. AGAIN THE TWR CTLR SCOLDED US FOR NOT REQUESTING THE TOUCH AND GOES (MULTIPLE) WITH HIM. AFTER SEVERAL LAPS AROUND THE PATTERN, WE REQUESTED TO RETURN TO AUBURN, WHICH WE WERE GRANTED. ON UPWIND AFTER THE LAST TOUCH AND GO, I ASKED THE TWR WHETHER HE WOULD LIKE A R OR L TURNOUT, AND WAS SCOLDED AGAIN, SAYING SOMETHING LIKE, 'YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER.' WE WERE THEN HANDED OFF, WITH NO FURTHER PROBS. THE CTLR'S SHORT TEMPER NOT ONLY CAUSED THE SUBJECT TO FREEZE ON THE RADIOS, BUT ALSO SERVED TO DISCOURAGE EFFECTIVE COMS. I HAVE ALWAYS HELD THAT IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF A CLRNC, YOU SHOULD ASK. THIS CTLR'S TONE AND TEMPER OVER AN OTHERWISE NON-EVENT COULD CAUSE SOME PLTS TO HESITATE TO CONFIRM A CLRNC, THEREBY COMPROMISING SAFETY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.