Short Final

Doing my run-up and getting ready to depart for my first cross-country as a student, the tower instructed me to hold short. Over the radio, in a frantic voice, I heard: “Help me. Help me. I’m a student pilot on my first cross-country, and I’m lost. I’ve been flying around and around, and I don’t know where I am.” I sat and listened as the controller failed to establish the student’s location. Finally, the tower told the student to please hold – then told me I was clear for take-off. I flew away listening as the controller and student continued on and on trying to establish a ground reference. — Michael Woodard