Short Final: Out The Window

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A helicopter pilot, located at the base of the control tower, requested and received clearance for a VFR departure.
  • After the helicopter reported "lifting," the tower controller surprisingly asked for its location again.
  • The pilot humorously retorted, highlighting their obvious visual position at the base of the tower, which ended with laughter from the controller.
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I was monitoring the tower frequency at a Kentucky class D one morning and overheard the following dialogue:

Helicopter 1234: “Tower, helicopter 1234 at helicopter parking base of tower. Present position departure northbound VFR.”

Tower: “Helicopter 1234 cleared as requested.”

Helicopter 1234: “Helicopter 1234 lifting.”

Tower: “Helicopter 1234, where are you located?”

Helicopter 1234 (in the southern Kentucky drawl): “Helicopter 1234 at helicopter parking base of the tower. Can’t you see out them windows up there?”

Tower responded with laughter.

Brett Sullivan
Salem, Illinois

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