A while back we were transitioning Omaha’s airspace, and heard the following:
Omaha: “American 123, climb and maintain 10,000, one zero thousand.”
American 123: “One zero thousand. Your timing was stupendous, I was just picking up the mic to ask for higher.”
Omaha: “Actually, the clearance just came in from Center.”
After several unrelated calls, Omaha: “American 123, contact the stupendous controllers at Minneapolis Center, 119.6.”
Verne Wiese
Beavercreek, Ohio
Back in the early 1960s West German ATC was working to rule, clearances were slower than watching paint dry. As a BEA Viscount pilot flying from Berlin to West Germany Frankfurt was probably the most militant. I recall asking for startup clearance while still on a long approach to land, result was clearance given close to our STD. However I heard PanAm (remember them?} once clear of Frankfurt calling ” Clipper One, Frankfurt you are the second best ATC in the world!” Frankfurt departures answered ” Thank you sir, who then is the best?” Clippper One”Everybody else!” Then changed to another frequency.