Narrative:

I leveled at FL270. Flight was filed for FL330. This was my second trip from pns to clt that day. On the first trip, I had been given FL290 by atl center. After about 5 mins, I requested and immediately received FL330 -- which was my filed altitude. On my second trip from pns, I was assigned FL270. I was given a frequency change to ZTL center 125.57 and checked in. After observing no planes within 40 NM on my TCASII, I requested 'higher.' no response was received in approximately 1 min, so I requested 'FL330 when available.' the controller then responded that he had heard me before, that he was busy, and that I should be more patient. His tone was condescending and surly. I was angered by this 'putdown!' I responded, 'I might try that tomorrow.' he did not understand me and asked me to repeat my comment. Realizing that my anger had made me equal his unprofessional manner, I elected to remain silent. I thought the incident was over until approximately 5 mins later when I was told to call atl center when I was on the ground. I called atl center and was told that the tape would be probably reviewed. I told the atl representative that I was highly upset by his controller and would not tolerate this unprofessional and surly behavior. I also apologized for my unprofessional remark. The bottom line is: 1) controllers should not make 'surly and unprofessional remarks' and, 2) when this occurs, pilots (me) should defend themselves in a professional manner.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH ATC ATTITUDE IN ZTL AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I LEVELED AT FL270. FLT WAS FILED FOR FL330. THIS WAS MY SECOND TRIP FROM PNS TO CLT THAT DAY. ON THE FIRST TRIP, I HAD BEEN GIVEN FL290 BY ATL CTR. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS, I REQUESTED AND IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED FL330 -- WHICH WAS MY FILED ALT. ON MY SECOND TRIP FROM PNS, I WAS ASSIGNED FL270. I WAS GIVEN A FREQ CHANGE TO ZTL CTR 125.57 AND CHKED IN. AFTER OBSERVING NO PLANES WITHIN 40 NM ON MY TCASII, I REQUESTED 'HIGHER.' NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED IN APPROX 1 MIN, SO I REQUESTED 'FL330 WHEN AVAILABLE.' THE CTLR THEN RESPONDED THAT HE HAD HEARD ME BEFORE, THAT HE WAS BUSY, AND THAT I SHOULD BE MORE PATIENT. HIS TONE WAS CONDESCENDING AND SURLY. I WAS ANGERED BY THIS 'PUTDOWN!' I RESPONDED, 'I MIGHT TRY THAT TOMORROW.' HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND ME AND ASKED ME TO REPEAT MY COMMENT. REALIZING THAT MY ANGER HAD MADE ME EQUAL HIS UNPROFESSIONAL MANNER, I ELECTED TO REMAIN SILENT. I THOUGHT THE INCIDENT WAS OVER UNTIL APPROX 5 MINS LATER WHEN I WAS TOLD TO CALL ATL CTR WHEN I WAS ON THE GND. I CALLED ATL CTR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TAPE WOULD BE PROBABLY REVIEWED. I TOLD THE ATL REPRESENTATIVE THAT I WAS HIGHLY UPSET BY HIS CTLR AND WOULD NOT TOLERATE THIS UNPROFESSIONAL AND SURLY BEHAVIOR. I ALSO APOLOGIZED FOR MY UNPROFESSIONAL REMARK. THE BOTTOM LINE IS: 1) CTLRS SHOULD NOT MAKE 'SURLY AND UNPROFESSIONAL REMARKS' AND, 2) WHEN THIS OCCURS, PLTS (ME) SHOULD DEFEND THEMSELVES IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.

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.