Short Final: Going One Direction or the Other

Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An air traffic controller asked a pilot for their intended passing direction relative to Mt. Diablo (east or west).
The pilot responded with their current heading ("heading south"), failing to provide the requested spatial information.
The controller clarified the question with a chuckle, emphasizing the need to know if the mountain would be on the pilot's left or right.

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While flying one day in Northern California, I heard the following:

Center: “Cessna 1234 are you planning to pass east or west of Mt. Diablo?

Cessna: “We’re currently heading south.

Center: (with a chuckle) “I understand that you’re heading south. But when you pass that mountain ahead, will it be on your left or right side?”

Phil Verghese

Santa Clara, CA

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