A few years ago, and before our jets were capable of long‑range navigation, I routinely flew one of our flights from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. Late in the evening it was not uncommon to ask the Kansas City center for vectors to the Hector VOR (a common feeder fix into the Los Angeles basin). So the conversation would go something like this:
“Kansa City Center, Airliner 234 requesting vectors to Hector, if you’re able.”
“Airliner 234, Kansas City Center, standby a minute while I coordinate that with the Hector Sector Vector Director.”
An example of an alliteration tongue twister indeed.
John Wittenborn
Olathe, Kansas
that is not an alliteration, it is 4 words that rhyme.
Regardless… it’s pretty darned funny!
Great point, John. It’s not funny after all.
my bad.. yes still extremely funny for ATC
It was a long time ago but as controllers we used to use “Vector to Hector” and “Drag it to Daggett”
It has a Dr. Seussian rhythm to it:
“Mister Gump has a seven-hump Wump.
So, if you like to go Bump! Bump!
Just Jump on the Hump of the Wump of Gump.”
Sounds like a line out of “Airplane!” on the Kansas City Center response.
Roger, Roger, Over Overt, what’s the clearance Clarence? Did you have the fish? I’m Roger Murdock, the co-pilot.
Do you like gladiator movies?