MU-2
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 610; Flight Crew Type 290
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
Upon being cleared for a visual approach to the active runway we were vectored to intercept the final south of the FAF for noise abatement. We were then vectored to the south to make room for a B737 approaching from the southwest. At this point the Captain (pilot not flying) became concerned; as it seemed that the airliner (B737) was receiving priority handling and we were being vectored unnecessarily. He asked the Approach Controller if it would be easier for them if we canceled IFR so we could proceed direct. We were promptly told that it would not make a difference and that he would have to sequence us the same no matter what. The Captain then requested a phone number in order to ask the Approach Supervisor to discuss the arrival once on the ground. The flight then made an uneventful approach and landing. Upon speaking with the supervisor on the phone; he accused us of not using our proper call sign; not using proper phraseology; interrupting other aircraft communications; and hogging the frequency. The Captain requested that the supervisor pull the tapes in order to prove that we had NOT done any of what was accused. The only extra communications we made with the Approach Controller was to offer up canceling IFR and to ask for the telephone number in order to speak with a supervisor after the flight. The frequency was not busy; with no more than three aircraft on at the time.We share a similar sounding tail number with a neighboring flight department that has been known; in the past; to query controllers. I believe that due to this; the supervisor handled an innocent question gruffly. This is not the first time we have been vectored like this during our approach into this airport and have been told by other pilots who are based there that they have encountered the same situation. I feel that we were unjustly accused of improper radio usage and that tension between controllers and pilots on the ground will cause tension in the terminal area adding stress to an already high workload/stressful phase of flight. I think that pilots and controllers need to put themselves in each other shoes to understand both sides of the operation. As a relative 'New Guy'; I also believe that old grudges between certain pilots and controllers need to be left on the ground.
MU2 First Officer believes that an ongoing feud between Controllers and certain pilots is leading to arrival delays and an unsafe working environment.