Short Final: Birthday Balloons

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Key Takeaways:

  • An American Airlines flight reported encountering red and white balloons at 3400 feet while approaching Tucson International Airport.
  • Air Traffic Control (ATC) immediately gathered details about the balloons and subsequently issued a caution to other incoming aircraft.
  • The incident demonstrates the process of pilots reporting aerial hazards and ATC relaying vital safety information to other flights.
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While holding short of 11L at Tucson International Airport recently I heard the following:

Tower: “American 1234 cleared to land 11L.”

American 1234: “Cleared to land 11L. By the way we passed some balloons out here at 3400. American 1234.”

Tower: “What color and what direction of movement?”

American 1234: “Red and white. Headed west.”

Skywest 123: “Skywest 123 on the visual 11L.”

Tower: “Skywest 123, cleared to land 11L. Use caution red and white balloons reported at 3400 moving west.”

Anonymous voice on frequency: “It’s my birthday.”

Another voice: “Mine too.”

Alvin Jones
Roswell, NM

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