Short Final: Be Nice!

Editorial Staff

Friday, April 19, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot in a fast single-engine piston aircraft was instructed by air traffic control to reduce speed for a regional jet ahead.
The pilot humorously responded to the tower controller, highlighting the perceived irony of the "single-engine piston" having to slow down for the "twin jet."
The exchange was lighthearted, with the controller playfully telling the pilot to "be nice," and the pilot complied while chuckling.

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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