Short Final: Feathered Dangers

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Air traffic control at Ramona Airport issued repeated and detailed warnings about a flock of geese to a departing aircraft.
  • The tower continuously tracked the birds' movement and altitude, eventually leading the aircraft to sight them.
  • The author, a pilot, expressed strong appreciation for these vigilant bird traffic calls, noting the frequent bird hazards at that airport.
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We were on a training flight to Ramona Airport. The ceiling was 3000 broken on a gorgeous winter day in San Diego. We heard the tower talking to an aircraft departing the pattern:

Tower: “Caution. Birds, westbound 700 feet.”

A few minutes later we heard:

Tower: “Those birds are geese flocking up.”

This was followed by:

Tower: “The birds are behind you now at 2000.”

Aircraft: “Birds in sight.”

Considering how many feathered dangers we face at that airport, we really appreciate those traffic calls.

Shairrie L. Van Duzer
San Diego, CA

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