About 40 years ago, when I was learning to fly at Christchurch International in New Zealand, I was holding for take-off on the grass when I heard this exchange from the tower with a visiting farmer who was heading back to the farm.
Tower:
“You’re cleared for take-off – runway 29.”
Farmer:
“Cleared for take-off; 29.
Tower (a little while later) :
“Bravo Chalie Alpha, nice take-off.”
Farmer:
“Uh, thank you, tower.”
Tower:
“Just one small thing: Next time, can you use the runway instead of the taxiway?”
Barrie Smith
via e-mail
