Short Final: Destination Direct

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Air Traffic Control (ATC) experienced a system malfunction and requested an American Airlines pilot to confirm their flight route.
  • The American Airlines pilot provided a detailed route, including VORs and intersections.
  • An unidentified voice interjected humorously, suggesting a Delta pilot would have simply replied "Destination direct."
  • This humorous remark was met with amusement, indicated by multiple double clicks on the radio.
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Tooling along from Florida to Massachusetts one sunny afternoon, apparently ATC had some sort of computer hiccup.

Atlanta Center: “American 123, Atlanta Center; our system is having some problems, can you confirm your route?”

American 123: “ABC VOR, XYZ intersection, so-and-so arrival.”

Atlanta Center: “Thanks.”

Unidentified Voice: “A Delta pilot would’ve responded, ‘Destination direct.’”

Multiple double clicks were heard on the radio.

Charlie Tillett
Wayland, Massachusetts

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