Short Final

Editorial Staff

Sunday, February 04, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot navigated extremely challenging, very low IFR conditions with stressed air traffic controllers and surrounding airports reporting missed approaches.
During the approach, the controller informed the pilot of a lack of radar coverage, stating they couldn't "see" the aircraft.
A humorous exchange between the pilot and controller lightened the high-tension situation, contributing to a successful landing despite the difficult circumstances.

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Flying back from St. Augustine Fl (SGJ) to Stennis International (KHSA) just before Christmas, my destination was very low IFR. The whole region and surrounding airports were either very low IFR or Zero Zero. Planes were going missed at Gulfport (KGPT) and surrounding airports and tensions were high with the controllers. I was cleared for the ILS 18 into Stennis and headvised he did not have radar this way.

Tower: “…and I can’t see you”

Comanche XXXX: “I can’t see you either!”

We both laughed and it changed his stressed tone, and I did make the landing.

Charlie Horton