Short Final

Editorial Staff

Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An airliner, cleared for takeoff, was not ready as they were awaiting "numbers," leading air traffic control (ATC) to cancel their departure clearance.
The airliner captain subsequently announced to passengers that an "air traffic control delay" was the reason for the hold-up.
ATC overheard the captain's announcement and publicly corrected him, stating they were not the cause of the delay and admonishing him for misinforming passengers on the ATC frequency.

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Overheard in IFR Magazine's 'On the Air' Section

Some years ago at Des Moines, Iowa, I was holding in the run-up area when I heard the tower call an airliner:

Tower:
“Airliner 1234, cleared for takeoff. Runway 30 right.”

Airliner:
“Tower, we’re still waiting for our numbers.”

Tower:
“Roger, Airliner 1234. Cancel departure clearance; hold short of the runway.”

Airliner:
“Airliner 1234, holding short.”/p>

Several seconds later, the pilot’s voice came over the frequency, sounding both apologetic and put out:

Airliner Captain:
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re experiencing an air traffic control delay, but we should be on our way shortly, as soon as the tower releases us.”

[pause]

Tower:
“Nice speech, Captain, but ATC is not delaying you. Suggest you misinform the passengers on the PA, not my frequency.”

Ralph Lund
Mal Paso Creek, California