Short Final: It's Been Done

Short Final: It’s Been Done

Friday, October 19, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot at Detroit Metro Airport initially misread or misheard an air traffic control instruction for a "left turn," instead stating a "right turn."
The controller quickly corrected the pilot, who then humorously acknowledged the significant navigational difference their mistake would have caused.
The tower's deadpan response, "It's been done," humorously implied that similar miscommunications leading to unexpected maneuvers have actually occurred.

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I recently heard this at Detroit Metropolitan Airport:

Tower: “Airliner 123, left turn to heading 185. Cleared for takeoff 21R.”

Pilot: “Right turn 185, cleared for takeoff 21R.”

Tower: “That’s a left turn, 185.”

Pilot: “Left turn 185 … that would’ve been a really long right turn.”

Tower (completely deadpan): “It’s been done.”

Chris Iriarte

Detroit, MI