meow
Some love it, some hate it, but we've all heard it - that's right, pilots meowing on guard frequency (121.5).
When did it start? Does (or did) it represent something?
Does ATC ever do it?
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2$\begingroup$ Don't know if that is better or worse than "guuuuuaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrddddddddddd"... $\endgroup$– Ron BeyerCommented Jun 27, 2021 at 1:19
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4$\begingroup$ We've all heard it? Not so. Indeed, I don't really know what you mean by "on guard". $\endgroup$– jamesqfCommented Jun 27, 2021 at 17:26
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1$\begingroup$ @james, you are familiar with the "guard frequency" 121.5, I hope? It is common for pilots to make a transmission on guard unintentionally, upon which they will receive the reply "ON GUARD" from a multitude of airline pilots. Or, if they're unlucky, a pilot impersonate whoever the first guy tried to contact. Usually this happens to airline pilots but GA folks may also mistake guard for CTAF, or so I gather from the responses I overhear at my facility. When I transmit on guard, I will say "N12345, Podunk Approach on guard," and so will other pilots if they are using guard intentionally. $\endgroup$– randomheadCommented Jun 27, 2021 at 19:34
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2$\begingroup$ This problem seems to be specific to CONUS (which may also be a clue toward its origins), so not everyone will have heard it. $\endgroup$– StephenSCommented Jun 27, 2021 at 19:57
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6$\begingroup$ Do I look like a cat to you boy? Am I jumpin' around all nimbly bimbly from tree to tree? Am I drinking milk from a saucer? DO YOU SEE ME EATING MICE? $\endgroup$– Dean F.Commented Jun 30, 2021 at 5:27
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1 Answer
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“Meow” is a reference to a well known movie trope from the US mindless 2001 comedy from the improvisational comedy troupe, Broken Lizard Production, called Super Troopers. In the film, the main characters are Vermont State Highway Patrol law enforcement officers who play games and pranks to break up the monotony of patrolling a very rural area. The same trope is repeated in the 2018 sequel, Super Troopers 2.
After the movie premiered, law enforcement officers would often mimic the characters in the movie amongst themselves. It is extremely rare that a police officer would do this with the general public. It would be a matter of professionalism.
I would hazard a guess that ATC controllers conduct themselves according to a similar professional standard and decorum. Any utterance of “meow” on frequency is more likely to come from a General Aviation pilot.
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1$\begingroup$ I would +1 for the origin if you had stopped there, but the article linked by @DeltaLima suggests it is airline rather than GA pilots. $\endgroup$– StephenSCommented Jul 3, 2021 at 17:36
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1$\begingroup$ I postulate that the ATC includes, just as any cohort, a wide range of personal traits. There are asshats among them too. $\endgroup$– Jpe61Commented Jul 14, 2021 at 7:53