Short Final: Horizontal Or Vertical

Editorial Staff

Monday, November 29, 2021 at 07:52 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot at Centennial Airport, flying a Super Decathlon, was instructed by air traffic control to perform a "360 for spacing" to avoid a slower aircraft.
The pilot humorously responded by asking ATC if they preferred the 360 to be horizontal, vertical, or longitudinal.
After a brief silence, the tower clarified that a "horizontal" 360 would suffice.

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My home airport is KAPA, which used to be Arapahoe County Airport but is now Centennial Airport in the south metropolitan area of Denver, Colorado.

One day I was flying my Super Decathlon and I was entering a right downwind to Runway 17 Right. I was overtaking a slower 172 ahead in the pattern. Tower came on frequency saying “18 Echo, do a 360 for spacing.”

“Roger that, tower,” I replied. “Would you prefer that 360 horizontal or vertical or even longitudinal?”

Tower was silent for a few seconds. “Ahhh, 18 Echo … ahhh … horizontal would be just fine.”

Drew Chitiea

Centennial, CO