Short Final: Maintain 200 Knots

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 04:17 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Smiley, an Atlanta TRACON controller, was assigning 180 KIAS to all incoming aircraft.
A pilot, Corporate 123, initially reported a speed of 160 KIAS before correcting to 180 KIAS.
The controller humorously responded by instructing Corporate 123 to maintain 200 knots.
This implied that Corporate 123's reported 180 KIAS was somehow 20 knots slower than everyone else's.

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One beautiful day in Atlanta Center, Smiley, a well‑known character at the TRACON, was the final approach controller and was assigning everyone 180 KIAS to the marker.

Atlanta Center: “Corporate 123 say speed.”

Corporate 123: “160 … Ahh I mean 180.”

Atlanta Center: “Corporate 123 maintain 200 knots. Your 180 is 20 knots slower than everyone else’s.”

Lawrence Marquez

Collierville, Tennessee