Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • San Carlos Airport is a common location for pilot training, often resulting in unique radio communications.
  • A helicopter pilot once made an incomplete radio call, reporting only their altitude of 700 feet to the tower without specifying their location.
  • The air traffic controller humorously prompted the pilot for the missing position information by asking, "If I were in the airplane with you, where would I be?"
See a mistake? Contact us.

At San Carlos Airport, there is a lot of pilot training that occurs, so it is common to hear interesting radio calls.

One day, a helicopter pilot reported to the tower:
“We’re with you at 700 feet.”
… but did not provide a location.

The tower controller responded:
“If I were in the airplane with you, where would I be?”


Herb Patten

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