Short Final: Static

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A Cessna pilot experienced unreadable radio transmissions while in NorCal Approach airspace.
  • Air traffic control (ATC) identified the issue and advised the pilot to try an alternative radio.
  • The pilot successfully switched to a working radio, humorously stating they had "tossed that radio out the window already."
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Heard while transitioning NorCal Approach airspace near Sacramento:

Cessna 12345: (Broken, garbled transmission)

NorCal: “I believe that was Cessna 12345; you’re coming in unreadable. Do you have another radio you can try?”

(Pause)

Cessna 12345: “NorCal approach, how do you read Cessna 12345 now?”

NorCal: “Loud and clear now, your other radio was just static.”

Cessna 12345: “Thanks for that. Yeah, we tossed that radio out the window already.”

William Cole

Petaluma, California

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