Saturday, December 6, approximately 18:00 local time, I am sitting on the ramp at KTMB waiting on an IFR clearance. Here is the conversation I hear:
N1234:
“Tamiami Ground, N1234 at T hangar, ready for taxi.”
KTMB Ground:
“N1234, I don’t see you. Taxi up to and hold short of taxiway E.”
[pause]
KTMB Ground:
“N1234, I see you now. Confirm you are a flight of two.”
N1234:
“Affirmative. I am a flight of two.”
KTMB Ground:
“N1234, taxi E to 9R; cleared to cross 31.”
N1234:
“N1234 taxiing E to 9R. Cleared to cross 31.”
KTMB Ground:
“N1234, I confirm you are a flight of two.”
N1234:
“Affirmative. I am a flight of two.”
KTMB Ground:
“N1234, I only see one of you.”
N1234:
“Of course you only see one. My cabin windows are tinted. There are two of us in here.”
KTMB Ground:
“N1234, ‘a flight of two’ means there are two aircraft.”
N1234:
“How could I fly two planes?”
KTMB Ground:
“N1234, ‘a flight of two’ means there are two aircraft and one pilot is talking for both aircraft.”
N1234:
“No. There is just my plane, with two people inside.”
KTMB Ground:
“N1234, you should have filed ‘two souls on board’ and not put ‘flight of two’ in the remarks. I will adjust your flight plan.”
N1234:
“Sorry. Thanks.”
Jeff Mayerle
