Video: YouTube Salute To Famous New York Controller Kennedy Steve

The controller, who retired in 2017, has a huge cult following online. This video takes his ATC act and adds in airplanes and more.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Kennedy Steve, born Stephen Abraham, was a famous and highly effective JFK air traffic controller known for his quick wit, sarcasm, and engaging personality.
  • His memorable interactions with pilots are celebrated in numerous YouTube videos, including an animated one by creator Nassault using realistic video game visuals.
  • The "real gold" of his legacy lies in his outlandish, off-the-cuff exchanges with pilots, such as the "Welcome to New York" incident, which often led to humorous participation from other pilots on the frequency.
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There aren’t many celebrities in the world of Air Traffic Control, but one of the most famous every is Kennedy Steve, born Stephen Abraham, was a JFK controller who retired in 2017. He was quick-witted, funny to beat the band, sarcastic and also really good at his challenging job. There are literally dozens of YouTube videos celebrating Kennedy Steve’s work, but this one takes it to the next level by animating it using popular and unbelievably realistic video game to illustrate the animator’s idea of what the situation was at the time. It’s visually compelling. Great work by YouTube creator Nassault.

But the real gold here is Kennedy Steve himself and his outlandish off-the-cuff interactions with the pilots, such as when one pilot makes his cabin announcement with the mid still keyed, broadcasting his “Welcome to New York” message for everyone on frequency. Kennedy Steve says, “Let the abuse start. C’mon, you can’t let him get away with that,” to which other pilots on frequency chime in with remarks and follow-up questions, such as, “What was the temperature again?”

This one is a can’t-miss. You will love every second.

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