Short Final: ATC Diplomacy

Air Traffic Controllers can be very diplomatic in nudging us toward use of proper phraseology. I overheard this recently transiting NorCal airspace:

Controller: “Coast Guard 123, traffic 11 o’clock, westbound, altitude indicates 3500 feet.”

Coast Guard 123: “NorCal, Coast Guard 123, we have eyeballs on traffic.”

(Pause)

Controller: “Sorry, Coast Guard 123, I missed that. Did you say you have traffic in sight?”

Coast Guard 123: “Uh, affirmative NorCal, Coast Guard 123 has traffic in sight.”

Controller: “Copy that, thank you Coast Guard 123.”

William A. Cole
Petaluma CA