Short Final: It's Been Done

Short Final: It’s Been Done

Friday, October 19, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot mishears air traffic control's instruction for a "left turn" as a "right turn" while receiving takeoff clearance.
Upon correction, the pilot humorously remarks on the implications of a "really long right turn."
The air traffic controller responds deadpan with, "It's been done," implying that similar or worse navigational errors have occurred.

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I recently heard this at Detroit Metropolitan Airport:

Tower: “Airliner 123, left turn to heading 185. Cleared for takeoff 21R.”

Pilot: “Right turn 185, cleared for takeoff 21R.”

Tower: “That’s a left turn, 185.”

Pilot: “Left turn 185 … that would’ve been a really long right turn.”

Tower (completely deadpan): “It’s been done.”

Chris Iriarte

Detroit, MI