February 9, 2009 Short Final

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Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"

We were flying from Chatham, Massachusetts to Nantucket with flight following from Cape approach. The weather was marginal VFR with heavy haze and reasonably poor visibility when, out of the mist, we heard this on the air:

Cape Approach:
"Cessna Four Five Six, are you aware that you are heading toward a restricted area?"

Cessna:
"No, I wasn't aware of a restricted area. What's in there?"

Cape Approach:
"It's some type of microwave installation."

Cessna:
"Yup, I see a tower ahead."

Cape Approach:
"That's the tower I want you to miss. If you fly near that tower, it could ruin all your equipment, and you'll never have any children."

Cessna:
"Roger that. Turning now ... ."

Although he never mentioned whether he was turning toward or away ... .

William H. Cummings
Chatham, Cape Cod