My Class D airport seems to have little airspace it actually controls, having to talk to the overlying center for everything. The most common, of course, is to get an IFR release before any departure. Occasionally, our Tower controllers will try to anticipate to keep the traffic moving.
On a recent trip, there was one controller working Ground and Tower. I’d just completed my runup and was taxiing the rest of the way to the runway, when the controller called, “Four Zero November, how long before you’re ready?”
I replied, “Approximately zero seconds.”
That, being entirely unexpected and non‑standard phraseology, the controller inquired, “Uhhh, what?”
I figured it’d probably be best to re-deploy my professional radio techniques. “Four Zero November is ready to go now.”
“Okay, zero seconds. Standby for release.”
I acknowledged and the controller came back. “Four Zero November, I tried. I even used your ‘zero seconds’ with Center and he didn’t want to play. Expect a five‑minute delay for inbound traffic.”
Me: “Oh well. We all gotta do what we gotta do. I’ll maintain my zero‑second readiness.”
Tower (chuckling): “Roger that.”
Sal Cruz
Watsonville, CA
Nothing like a clever pilot.
Isn’t this a case of using over-precise numbers? Technically, he was ready for release in “zero minutes”.
Tell ATC what they want to know and leave the cutesy remarks to social media or some other venue where people like to waste time.