Short Final: Overwater

Editorial Staff

Monday, September 14, 2020 at 05:30 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Air traffic control (ATC) near Toronto instructed a single-engine Piper aircraft to turn to a heading that would take it over Lake Ontario.
The Piper pilot refused the instruction, expressing discomfort with flying over water due to having only one engine.
ATC promptly adapted, rescinding the initial turn instruction and instead directing the Piper to maintain its current heading, climb, and be aware of opposing traffic.

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We were following the Lake Ontario shoreline north toward Billy Bishop Toronto City airport on Toronto Island near downtown Toronto. On frequency we heard the following.

Toronto Terminal: “Piper 1234, turn heading 110, vector for traffic.”

Piper 1234: “Oooh no! I’m not going out over the water—I’ve only got one spinney thing!”

Toronto Terminal: “Piper 1234, maintain current heading. Climb and maintain 3400. Traffic 12 o’clock, four miles, opposite direction, 2300 feet is a Cardinal.”

Daniel Eberl

Iowa City, IA