Short Final

Last week, while helping a friend move his airplane from El Monte airport to Hawthorne airport, we were on approach into El Monte when I heard the aviation equivalent of “Who’s on First”: El Monte Tower:“Helicopter 11 Alpha, say parking.” Helicopter 11A (heavy foreign accent) :“Uh, please repeat.” El Monte Tower:“Helicopter 11 Alpha, say parking.” Helicopter 11A:“Alpha, Parking.” El Monte Tower (using a slow, deliberate tone) :“Helicopter One-One-Alpha: Say parking on El Monte Airport.” Helicopter 11A:“Parking on El Monte airport, Helicopter 11 Alpha.” A slight pause in the interchange, and then: Helicopter 11A:“11 Alpha requesting take-off with left downwind departure.” I landed uneventfully, dropped off my friend at his hangar, and taxied back out for take-off. When I was cleared for take-off and while taxiing onto the runway, I asked: (Me, to the Tower):“Do you suppose that guy in the helicopter ever figured out who’s on first?” El Monte Tower (uproarious laughter in the background) :“I doubt it.” Bill Allenvia e-mail