July 20, 2009 Short Final

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Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"

I heard this one at Detroit Metro as I was taxiing to parking. It was between a helicopter pilot and the control tower quite early one morning:

Helicopter Pilot:
"Metro tower, Helicopter 234 at Signature. Request northwest departure information Tango."

Tower:
"Helicopter 234, northwest departure approved. No known traffic in the area. Departure is at your own risk; area not visible from the tower."

Helicopter Pilot:
"Helicopter 234: Roger — departure approved, and it's always at our own risk: We're in a helicopter!"

Geoff Braden
Columbus, Ohio