Short Final: Descent Guidance

Sir Isaac Newton. Credit: Wikimedia
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An aircraft was observed at a high altitude during the base-to-final turn in a busy traffic pattern.
  • Another aircraft questioned how the high-flying aircraft would descend.
  • A witty response was given: "I usually use gravity."
  • The exchange highlights communication and observations among pilots in a busy airspace.
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Overheard on a Unicom frequency:

In a busy traffic pattern, one aircraft turns base to final with arguably excessive altitude. A couple of other aircraft in the pattern chime in:

Aircraft No. 1 – “That looks awfully high. How is he going to get down from up there?”

Aircraft No. 2 – “I usually use gravity.”

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