Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A Continental Airlines pilot sarcastically reported encountering a "smooth spot" on Newark Liberty Airport's notoriously bumpy runway after takeoff.
  • The pilot's report humorously implied that the vast majority of the runway was rough and in poor condition.
  • Newark Tower's "dead silence" in response suggested an acknowledgment and understanding of the pilot's pointed observation.
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We were holding short at Newark Liberty airport when the previous 737 called the tower shortly after it lifted off from Newark’s notoriously bumpy runway.

Continental Airliner:
“Tower, this is Continental XXXX. Do you have time for a runway report?”

Newark Tower:
“Yeah. Go ahead.”

Continental:
“Tell the Port Authority on this take-off, about 2,500 feet down the runway, we encountered a smooth spot.”

Newark Tower:
[dead silence]


M.D. Larson
via e-mail

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