Short Final: Be Nice!

A few years ago I was flying into my home field in my Columbia 400. Descending, I was doing a bit over 210 knots 10 miles out, number two for landing. Ahead of me was a regional jet…

A few years ago I was flying into my home field in my Columbia 400. Descending, I was doing a bit over 210 knots 10 miles out, number two for landing. Ahead of me was a regional jet. As I approached the field I had the following conversation:

Tower: "999TJ, reduce speed for landing traffic."

Me: "The single‑engine piston will gladly slow down for the twin jet."

Tower: (holding back laughter) "Now be nice!"

I threw in my speed brakes and chuckled all the way to the numbers.

Chris Watson
Charleston, SC