Departing IFR out of KTOA; handed off to Socal Departure after take-off. Cardinal: "Good morning, Socal Departure. Cardinal 177VA is climbing through 700 for 3,000." Departure: "Cardinal 177VA, Socal. Please ident, and be advised the tower said your gear was still down." Cardinal: "That's a good thing. This is a fixed-gear Cardinal!" Stephen Feldman via e-mail More
United 123: "Oakland Center, United 123. Do you have a ride report for FL350? We're trying to have lunch, and it's a little bumpy." Oakland Center: "United 123, stand by. Southwest 4567, how's your ride at FL350?" Southwest 4567: "Dunno. Haven't had lunch yet." "Fly-a-Lot" via e-mail More
A few years ago, during the Annual Air Spectacular at a usually very quiet Baldonnel Military Air Field: ATC (to US military A10 Warthog on finals for a fly-by and demo) : "Caution. Cyclist crossing the active runway." A10 (hopefully jokingly) : "Do you want me to take him out?" Paddy Kilduff via e-mail More
Some Army helicopters are big and loud. Tower: "Army helicopter, cleared to land — runway 25." Army: "Cleared to land, 25." [after landing] Army: "Tower, be advised that there is a large flock of birds near the departure end of the runway." Tower: "Roger. And you didn't scare them away?" Ted Timmons via e-mail More
Conversation that took place while a student pilot was in the traffic pattern at KSAV: Control Tower: "Cessna 12345, how much time do you have?" Cessna 12345: "I have the plane until 5:30." Control Tower: "I meant, 'How many hours do you have?'" 12345: "About twenty." Michael Calarruda via e-mail More
Overheard while listening to an area radar center in England during the early '80s. Two United States Air Force Europe fast jets climbing out of a low flying area were trying to locate each other to join formation. "Ratch 13": "Ratch 12, where are you?" "Ratch 12": "Ratch 13, one mile south of Chester." "Ratch 13": "Ratch 12, say again." "Ratch 12": "Chester! Chester!" An undentified voice, in a strong Western Drawl: "I'm a-comin', Marshall Dillon!" Readers of a certain age will remember "Gunsmoke"! Gary Brindle via e-mail More
Long time ago! Army Caribou: "Raleigh Durham Tower, Army 73080 in position, runway 23, ready for take-off. Wait a minute, Tower — there is a turtle crossing the runway!" Tower: "Army 080, hold for crossing turtle; advise when clear." Army 080 (several minutes later) : "Raleigh Tower, turtle has cleared runway!" Tower: "Army 080, winds 240 at 6; cleared for take-off, runway 23. Use caution. Wake turbulence from departing terrapin." Scott McMillan via e-mail More
Years ago, I had an interesting ATC encounter in Washington airspace that I think would be humorous to your readers of "Short Final." While flying my RV-4 in the narrow VFR slot between the old Washington ADIZ and the expanded Camp David TFR, I lost my GPS. Without a VOR, I contacted Wash. Center. The call went as follows: N1234 (me): "Washington Center, N1234." Center: "N1234, go ahead." N1234: "I've lost all nav aids over Frederick, and I'm concerned that I will violate airspace and cause a little excitement. Please give me vectors to keep me out of trouble." Center: "No worries. Everyone is targeting you." Bruce MacInnes via e-mail More
Heard this at John Wayne Airport recently. The airliners often like to take off from runway 1L if the wind is within their take-off limits to save fuel. United 123: "John Wayne ground, say winds please." John Wayne Ground: "Winds are variable between 110 and 120 at 6 knots." John Wayne Ground (after a pause) : "Actually, I guess they aren't that variable, are they?" Mike Banner via e-mail More
Whitted Ground: "N12345, clear of the active, taxi to the Hangar Restaurant." N12345: "345 cleared to the restaurant via 'Bravo.'" Whitted Ground: "They're featuring five dollar hamburgers today." N12345: "Five dollars? I thought it was a hundred-dollar hamburger!" Whitted Ground: "For you, it's a hundred dollars. For me, it's five dollars." Michael J. McCarthy via e-mail More
And it may take more than a Disney movie to inspire them. More
Our latest winning photo comes from Richard Depinay of Keller, TX.
