Features Flight Planning Flight Safety Short Final

Short Final

Editorial Staff
Verified
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot repeatedly reported their heading as "Southwest" in response to Air Traffic Control (ATC) requests.
  • ATC became increasingly agitated, expecting a numerical heading rather than a general directional description.
  • The communication breakdown was resolved when ATC explicitly commanded the pilot to fly a specific numerical heading (225 degrees), which corresponds to Southwest.
See a mistake? Contact us.

I had just departed a famous airport and proceeded on course.

Tower: Cessna XYZ, what is your heading?

Cessna XYZ: XYZ heading Southwest.

Tower: Cessna XYZ, what is your heading?

Cessna XYZ: XYZ heading Southwest.

Tower (agitated): Cessna XYZ, I need to know your heading

Cessna XYZ: XYZ heading Southwest.

Tower (very agitated): Cessna XYZ, fly heading 225 degrees

Joe Serdynski

Editorial Staff

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