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 about their intended path (east or west) around Mt. Diablo.
The pilot responded with their current heading ("heading south") rather than their plan for navigating the mountain.
The controller had to clarify the question, rephrasing it to ask if the mountain would be on the aircraft's left or right side.

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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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