Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A Challenger aircraft was flying in Houston Center's airspace without establishing contact.
  • Houston Center had to ask another aircraft, Citation 123, to relay a message to the Challenger to initiate communication.
  • The communication breakdown occurred because New York Center failed to hand off the Challenger to Houston Center's frequency.
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Climbing out of Houston on a Sunday afternoon:

Houston Center:
“Citation 123, please see if you can contact Challenger ABCD on 128.17 and have them contact Houston Center.”

[A few minutes pass.]

Challenger ABCD:
“Houston Center, this is Challenger ABCD checking in at flight level 360.”

Houston Center:
“Roger, Challenger ABCD. Descend to FL 240. What was the last frequency you were on?”

Challenger ABCD:
“It was New York Center 132.05. They never handed us off.”


Peter Serodino
via e-mail

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