Short Final: Callsigns

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An air traffic controller engaged in humorous banter with a pilot whose flight callsign was "Twinkles 345."
  • The pilot, transporting a college men's basketball team, expressed their dislike for the unusual "Twinkles" callsign.
  • Despite the lighthearted exchange, the controller ultimately used the full, distinctive callsign "Twinkles Three Forty-five" for flight instructions.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Upon checking into a Kansas City Center sector, I caught the following conversation already in progress:

Kansas City Center: “Uh Three Forty-five, what type of cargo are you carrying?”

345: “We’re carrying a college men’s basketball team.”

Center: “Ah, roger. I was just wondering about your callsign.”

345: “We don’t like it better than anyone else.”

Center: “Do they wear sparkly pink uniforms?”

345: “Don’t go there, Center.”

Center (with forced seriousness): “Roger … Twinkles Three Forty-five, fly heading 230. Descend and maintain 4000.”

Doc Copley

Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE

Please support AVweb.

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker. Ads keep AVweb free and fund our reporting.
Please whitelist AVweb or continue with ads enabled.