Short Final: Final Frontier

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A flight instructor, tired from a day of repetitive radio calls, injected humor into a clearance request by quoting Star Trek.
  • Air Traffic Control responded in kind, completing the humorous exchange with a Star Wars reference.
  • The interaction showcases a lighthearted and memorable moment between a pilot and ATC during routine aviation communication.
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During one very long day when I was a full time instructor, I ended up with five students in a row all early in the PPL syllabus so I did all the radio calls at our busy, towered airport. On flight five, I called clearance with my call sign and got a casual “Same as last time, Dave?” reply.

“Absolutely not,” I said and continued with: “Flight training, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Cessna 152 GABC on its one-hour mission to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before: local practice area West!”

The solemn reply, “Cessna GABC squawk 1234. Fly the XXX departure. Contact ground on 121.9 and may the Force be with you.”

David Gagliardi

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