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
About 40 years ago, when I was learning to fly at Christchurch International in New Zealand, I was holding for take-off on the grass when I heard this exchange from the tower with a visiting farmer who was heading back to the farm. Tower: "You're cleared for take-off — runway 29." Farmer: "Cleared for take-off; 29. Tower (a little while later) : "Bravo Chalie Alpha, nice take-off." Farmer: "Uh, thank you, tower." Tower: "Just one small thing: Next time, can you use the runway instead of the taxiway?" Barrie Smith via e-mail More
I heard this on a recent trip into New York's JFK Airport: Air Carrier: "Kennedy tower, how do you read?" Kennedy Tower: "Usually from left to right." Keith F. Lauder via e-mail More
Although AOPA’s Summit show in Fort Worth this week may mark the end of an era, it didn’t necessarily feel like that in the exhibit hall on Friday. Foot traffic was up and down throughout the show and vendors we're mulling their next moves for show attendance. More
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Brian Snider of Alliston, ON (Canada) went all the way to Croatia to bring back our latest blue ribbon photo.
