Short Final: We Have Oscar

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot on a PALS flight transported an Afghanistan war refugee and her helper-dog, Oscar.
  • The pilot humorously informed air traffic control, "We have Oscar," playing on the dog's name and the ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) broadcast.
  • The passenger, unaware of the pilot's playful communication, questioned why ATC needed to know about the dog.
See a mistake? Contact us.

My wife and I were on a PALS flight (PALS = Patient Airlift Services) and we had an Afghanistan war refugee and her helper-dog, Oscar, whom we took to Columbus, Ohio.

Approaching Columbus information Oscar was current on ATIS. I told the controller, “We have Oscar.”

After we landed, the lady whom Oscar was helping asked me, “Why did you need to tell him you had Oscar?”

Brian Gately
Brooklyn, New York

Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE