Short Final: Left Turn

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Key Takeaways:

An airliner pilot misinterpreted air traffic control's instruction to turn left.
The pilot initially responded with "Right turn," indicating a misunderstanding.
The air traffic controller corrected the pilot, stating it was a left turn.
The pilot humorously acknowledged the error, suggesting a right turn would have been extensive, and the controller dryly confirmed that such errors have occurred before.

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I recently heard this at Detroit Metropolitan Airport:

Tower: “Airliner 123, left turn to heading 185. Cleared for takeoff 21R.”

Pilot: “Right turn 185, cleared for takeoff 21R.”

Tower: “That’s a left turn, 185.”

Pilot: “Left turn 185 … that would’ve been a really long right turn.”

Tower (completely deadpan): “It’s been done.”

Chris Iriarte
Detroit, MI