Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Cascade Airways, a 1970s airline known for "VFR on-top" flying, was involved in a humorous ATC exchange.
  • When asked about the clouds, a Cascade pilot playfully described their shapes (like a bunny or a pony) rather than providing a meteorological report.
  • The pilot's unexpected and non-standard response was met with silence from Air Traffic Control.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Back in the early ’70s, I was an FO for now-defunct Cascade Airways in the Pacific Northwest. We were known to ATC as the VFR on-top airline. The following exchange was heard one day:

ATC:
“Ah, Cascade 123, Seattle Center; what do the clouds look like for you out there?”

Cascade 123:
“Well, let’s see — there’s one at 12 o’Clock that looks like a fat little bunny and another at 9 o’Clock that looks like a big pony with a really long tail.”

ATC:
[no reply]


Bob Kay
via e-mail

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