---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Air traffic control is going to have a…"
description: "\"“Air traffic control is going to have a steamy old fit on your dime, boy. They can get in line behind the police, the people whose cars we trashed, the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/howard-tayler-8412_air-traffic-control_air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-s_2668731.jpg"
---

#  Air traffic control is going to have a steamy old fit on…

![“Air traffic control is going to have a steamy old fit on your dime, boy. They can get in line behind the police, the people whose cars we trashed, the Empire of Ob'enn, the Partnership Collective, and the Wormgate Corporation. Oh, and I think maybe some dark matter beasties from Andromeda. You…” quote by Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/howard-tayler-8412_air-traffic-control_air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-s_2668731.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/howard-tayler-8412_air-traffic-control_air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-s_2668731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/howard-tayler-8412_air-traffic-control_air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-s_2668731.jpg)

> ““Air traffic control is going to have a steamy old fit on your dime, boy. They can get in line behind the police, the people whose cars we trashed, the Empire of Ob'enn, the Partnership Collective, and the Wormgate Corporation. Oh, and I think maybe some dark matter beasties from Andromeda. You "think maybe"? -General Tagon &amp; Captain Andreyasn””

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Power structures often hide behind bureaucratic language, making control seem mundane.

**In simple terms:** Authority can be disguised as ordinary rules.

Key Takeaway

Question the language of authority.

Themes

power bureaucracy satire

Mood

witty ironic

Type

satirical commentary

When to use this quote

- political analysis
- organizational critique
- creative writing

Key Concepts

political satire science fiction comic storytelling

Questions to Reflect On

- What real‑world systems mirror this absurdity?
- How does satire reveal hidden power dynamics?

A Different Perspective

Humor may oversimplify serious issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Air traffic control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-traffic-control/) [Dark matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-matter/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Mercenaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercenaries/) [Sci fi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sci-fi/) [Traffic control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traffic-control/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/)

## Related quotes

> [A shortage of airports runways and gates along outmoded air traffic control systems have made U.S. air travel the most congested in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lahood/a-shortage-of-airports-runways-and-gates-along-outmoded-air-traffic/)

[Ray LaHood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lahood/)

> [I don't know: Why aren't people fascinated by air traffic controllers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-fuller/i-don-t-know-why-aren-t-people-fascinated-by-air-traffic-controllers/)

[Kurt Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-fuller/)

> [Usually, there is no equivalent of air traffic control at sea. Some busy areas operate 'traffic separation schemes,' but mostly, ships are treated like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-george/usually-there-is-no-equivalent-of-air-traffic-control-at-sea-some/)

[Rose George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-george/)

> [Pushing Tin,' I went to air traffic control school in Toronto for that. Passed with flying colors, by the way. If I ever become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/pushing-tin-i-went-to-air-traffic-control-school-in-toronto-for-that/)

[Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/)

> [Another air traffic controller fell asleep on the job, but he had a good excuse. He was watching President Obama’s deficit speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/another-air-traffic-controller-fell-asleep-on-the-job-but-he-had-a/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [The safety of the flying public should not be for sale. Handing air traffic control over to a private entity partly governed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nelson/the-safety-of-the-flying-public-should-not-be-for-sale-handing-air/)

[Bill Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nelson/)

> [“In early March 2015 the Government Accountability Office issued a report warning that the air traffic control system is vulnerable to cyberattack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/in-early-march-2015-the-government-accountability-office-issued-a/)

[Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/)

> [The reality is that we do not have an air traffic control system that is smart enough and technologically capable enough to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-may/the-reality-is-that-we-do-not-have-an-air-traffic-control-system-that/)

[James May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-may/)

> [“The thing you have to understand about that crash,” Ratwatte said, “is that New York air traffic controllers are famous for being rude, aggressive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-thing-you-have-to-understand-about-that-crash-ratwatte-said-is/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [I fly an aeroplane, and I think a lot about how much I do not want ever to run into an optimistic air traffic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-fly-an-aeroplane-and-i-think-a-lot-about-how-much-i-do-not-want/)

[Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/)

> [I think the hardest thing that, historically, the industry may have relied upon is that we can't control weather, we can't control air traffic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/i-think-the-hardest-thing-that-historically-the-industry-may-have/)

[Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/)

> [Where's your sense of adventure? It died under mysterious circumstances. My sense of self-preservation found the body, but assures me it has an airtight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/where-s-your-sense-of-adventure-it-died-under-mysterious/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“There are customers we serve, and customers we service. -Captain Andreyasn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/there-are-customers-we-serve-and-customers-we-service-captain/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [Any mother could perform the jobs of several air-traffic controllers with ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/any-mother-could-perform-the-jobs-of-several-air-traffic-controllers/)

[Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/)

> [There is also the fact that NORAD-Northeast was conducting war game exercises that morning, a fact that has been very little talked about and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-marrs/there-is-also-the-fact-that-norad-northeast-was-conducting-war-game/)

[Jim Marrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-marrs/)

## More by Howard Tayler

> [Only cheaters prosper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/only-cheaters-prosper/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“Maxim 34: If you're leaving scorch-marks, you need a bigger gun. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-34-if-you-re-leaving-scorch-marks-you-need-a-bigger-gun-the/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [When the messenger arrives and says 'Don't shoot the messenger,' it's a good idea to be prepared to shoot the messenger, just in case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/when-the-messenger-arrives-and-says-don-t-shoot-the-messenger-it-s-a/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“New orders: Make sure everybody who doesn't want to live here is aboard in five minutes. We are leaving. -Captain Kevyn Andreyasn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/new-orders-make-sure-everybody-who-doesn-t-want-to-live-here-is/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“Maxim 36: When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-36-when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-call-for-close-air/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“Maxim 30: A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-30-a-little-trust-goes-a-long-way-the-less-you-use-the-further/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“Maxim 24: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a big gun. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-24-any-sufficiently-advanced-technology-is-indistinguishable/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“Maxim 27: Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-27-don-t-be-afraid-to-be-the-first-to-resort-to-violence-the/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“Maxim 37: There is no "overkill." There is only "open fire" and "reload." -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-37-there-is-no-overkill-there-is-only-open-fire-and-reload-the/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“Two minutes worth of signal analysis told me all I needed to know. This station "talks" to the dark matter universe about what goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/two-minutes-worth-of-signal-analysis-told-me-all-i-needed-to-know/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Cross it? I'm making plans to destroy the bridge from orbit. -Colonel Ceeta &amp; Captain Tagon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/we-ll-cross-that-bridge-when-we-come-to-it-cross-it-i-m-making-plans/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [The spirit of the law is the least of the things we're prepared to violate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/the-spirit-of-the-law-is-the-least-of-the-things-we-re-prepared-to/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“Welcome to your new bodies, gentlemen. If you'd like, I can help you start your own 'dysmorphia is all in your head' support group.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/welcome-to-your-new-bodies-gentlemen-if-you-d-like-i-can-help-you/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [Maxim 3: An ordnance technician at a dead run outranks everybody. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-3-an-ordnance-technician-at-a-dead-run-outranks-everybody-the/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

> [“You know... confessing to avoid prosecution is a time-honored strategy. I don't want to be honored with time. Honor me with "slap-on-the-wrist," or maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/you-know-confessing-to-avoid-prosecution-is-a-time-honored-strategy-i/)

[Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

[Explore all 81 Howard Tayler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/)

## More Air traffic control quotes

> [There is also the fact that NORAD-Northeast was conducting war game exercises that morning, a fact that has been very little talked about and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-marrs/there-is-also-the-fact-that-norad-northeast-was-conducting-war-game/)

[Jim Marrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-marrs/)

> [Growing up in Hawaii, my natural instinct was to think that I was going to become a professional surfer or skater. Moving to Los…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-mock/growing-up-in-hawaii-my-natural-instinct-was-to-think-that-i-was/)

[Evan Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-mock/)

> [“Ask Tabby to hack into air traffic control and see which flight has those coordinates.” I point at the screen. “Find out where it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-geissinger/ask-tabby-to-hack-into-air-traffic-control-and-see-which-flight-has/)

[J.T. Geissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-geissinger/)

> [Our enemies are also seeking the abilities to sabotage our power grid, our financial institutions, our air traffic control systems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-enemies-are-also-seeking-the-abilities-to-sabotage-our-power-grid/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I think the hardest thing that, historically, the industry may have relied upon is that we can't control weather, we can't control air traffic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/i-think-the-hardest-thing-that-historically-the-industry-may-have/)

[Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/)

> [ I'm confident because of the - what we \[USA government\] call the strategic agreement we're now working on with them, we will be deeply… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-m-confident-because-of-the-what-we-usa-government-call-the/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [“AUGUST 5, 1981. That’s the date it became official. It’s rare that we can point to an exact date when a business theory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/august-5-1981-that-s-the-date-it-became-official-it-s-rare-that-we/)

[Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/)

> [I fly an aeroplane, and I think a lot about how much I do not want ever to run into an optimistic air traffic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-fly-an-aeroplane-and-i-think-a-lot-about-how-much-i-do-not-want/)

[Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/)

> [“The thing you have to understand about that crash,” Ratwatte said, “is that New York air traffic controllers are famous for being rude, aggressive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-thing-you-have-to-understand-about-that-crash-ratwatte-said-is/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [From bank accounts to financial systems, power grids to air traffic controls - our most critical infrastructure remain attractive cyber targets, and if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/from-bank-accounts-to-financial-systems-power-grids-to-air-traffic/)

[Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/)

> [There are many things in life over which you have no choice. But the greatest activity of life is well within your dominion. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-are-many-things-in-life-over-which-you-have-no-choice-but-the/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [The reality is that we do not have an air traffic control system that is smart enough and technologically capable enough to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-may/the-reality-is-that-we-do-not-have-an-air-traffic-control-system-that/)

[James May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-may/)

> [“In early March 2015 the Government Accountability Office issued a report warning that the air traffic control system is vulnerable to cyberattack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/in-early-march-2015-the-government-accountability-office-issued-a/)

[Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/)

> [Advances in technology - hugely beneficial though they are - render us vulnerable in new ways. For instance, our interconnected world depends on elaborate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/advances-in-technology-hugely-beneficial-though-they-are-render-us/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [“Don't you think...doesn't it seem sometimes like life is like a plane?...And we're all piloos, you know, of our own planes. When things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-friesen/don-t-you-think-doesn-t-it-seem-sometimes-like-life-is-like-a-plane/)

[Gayle Friesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-friesen/)

[Browse all 35 Air traffic control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-traffic-control/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Air traffic control is going to have a steamy old fit on your dime, boy. They can get in line behind the police, the people whose cars we trashed, the Empire of Ob'enn, the Partnership Collective, and the Wormgate Corporation. Oh, and I think maybe some dark matter beasties from Andromeda. You \"think maybe\"? -General Tagon & Captain Andreyasn”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Howard Tayler"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-steamy-old-fit-on-your-dime/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Air traffic control"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-steamy-old-fit-on-your-dime/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/howard-tayler-8412_air-traffic-control_air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-s_2668731.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/howard-tayler-8412_air-traffic-control_air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-s_2668731.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/howard-tayler-8412_air-traffic-control_air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-s_2668731.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Air traffic control is going to have a steamy old fit on your dime, boy. They can get in line behind the…” — Howard Tayler",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Howard Tayler",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Air traffic control is going to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-steamy-old-fit-on-your-dime/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/air-traffic-control-is-going-to-have-a-steamy-old-fit-on-your-dime/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
