Doing my run-up and getting ready to depart for my first cross-country as a student, the tower instructed me to hold short.
Over the radio, in a frantic voice, I heard:
“Help me. Help me. I’m a student pilot on my first cross-country, and I’m lost. I’ve been flying around and around, and I don’t know where I am.”
I sat and listened as the controller failed to establish the student’s location. Finally, the tower told the student to please hold – then told me I was clear for take-off.
I flew away listening as the controller and student continued on and on trying to establish a ground reference.
Michael Woodard
