Short Final: A ‘Swivel-Head’ Kinda Day

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Amidst pop-up thunderstorms causing disruptions and heavy ATC workload around Dulles, a pilot decided to cancel their IFR flight plan.
  • Air Traffic Control acknowledged the cancellation with a vivid warning for the pilot to "Use caution for airplanes ... everywhere!", highlighting the busy and potentially complex VFR environment.
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From AVweb reader Eliot Danner:

Flying with a friend in my Baron from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Winchester Regional Airport (KOKV) in Virginia, it was a pop-up thunderstorm kinda day. Potomac Approach was dealing with a storm cell over Dulles International and various diversions, issuing holds to long-haul jets—the usual circus.

Me (after waiting for a pause): “Potomac, N1234, cancel IFR.”
Potomac: “N1234, thank you, IFR cancellation received, squawk VFR, frequency change approved. Use caution for airplanes … everywhere!”
Me: “Looking everywhere, over to advisory.”

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