Short Final: Watch Your Language

Credit: Wikimedia
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot recounts his first flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with his wife.
  • Throughout the flight, the pilot frequently responded to air traffic control with "16 Romeo is IMC."
  • His wife humorously misunderstood "IMC" as "IFC," believing it was a secret pilot term meaning "in the f'ing clouds."
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From IFR Magazine reader David Brown:

In 1994, my wife and I flew from Virginia to Daytona, Florida. This was our first flight together in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Several times, the controller called out traffic for us, and on most occasions, I responded with “16 Romeo is IMC.”

When we landed at Daytona Beach, my wife asked me what “IFC” meant. I corrected her that it was “IMC,” which meant we were in the clouds and unable to spot traffic, so we were flying in instrument flight conditions.

After a brief pause, she said, “OK, I knew that, but I thought that maybe ‘IFC’ was some sort of secret pilot/controller lingo that meant we’re ‘in the f’ing clouds.’”

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