B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 113
Workload; Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
The First Officer was Pilot Flying; and touched down at the 1000 foot marker on Runway XXL. A second or two after touchdown; around 120 knots; the Tower Controller called us; instructing us to exit at Taxiway X; with traffic on short final. This was a critical phase of flight; and I was concentrating on thrust reverser and spoiler deployment; so I ignored the Controller. I sensed that the FO felt rushed to immediately transfer controls so that he could reply to the Controller. I instructed the FO to continue (meaning with control of the aircraft); and I remarked to the FO somewhat angrily (about the Controller; not the FO) to ignore the Controller. Still; I did not reply to the Controller. At that moment; maybe around 90 or 100 knots; the Controller again told us to exit Taxiway X; because of traffic on short final that 'would have to go-around;' in the Controller's words. At this point; I was extremely annoyed; and I tried my best to relay to the FO to continue decelerating and that we would take whatever exit we felt was safe. I believe the Controller called us around 60 or 70 knots again; telling us to exit; and I transferred controls from the FO to me. I began to locate Taxiway X and planned further deceleration and exit from the runway. The FO replied to the Controller; acknowledging our exit. I then got on the radio as I was exiting the runway and told the Controller something like; 'You called us at 120 knots;' implying to the Controller that he had done an extremely unprofessional job of managing traffic and interrupting us during a critical phase of flight. For the remaining taxi in; my adrenaline was high; and I was having trouble focusing on our taxi routing and instruction. I also forgot to turn off the seat belt sign at the gate; and the Flight Attendants had to call me to do so.This was a completely unnecessary and distracting action on behalf of the Tower Controller. I am amazed that Controllers are taught not to distract Pilots during critical phases of flight; yet this Controller chose to do so. I'd like to ask the Controller if he'd prefer causing a mishap on the runway due to his distracting actions; versus making the traffic on final execute a go-around. I have seen this type of action by Controllers more and more lately. For the first time in my years of professional flying; I am questioning the widespread quality and training of Controllers.
B737 Captain reported a Controller distracted them with instructions while the aircraft was still in a critical phase of landing.