Last Friday morning, I was en route to Sun ‘n Fun. The weather at KLAL prevented canceling IFR and joining the Lake Parker VFR arrival. As I (along with several other aircraft) was issued a holding clearance at LAL VOR to wait my turn for the ILS runway 9 approach, I was reminded just how oblivious some pilots are.
A pilot came on the very busy TPA approach frequency and said, with all seriousness:
“N12345 requesting multiple approaches to Lakeland.”
Kudos to the professional controller, who simply responded:
“Negative. We have Sun ‘n Fun going on today.”
To which the pilot responded:
“O.K. How about Winter Haven?”
Al Rice
