Short Final: On Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An instructor at a flight school makes unusually long "final" approach calls, such as "45-mile final" and later a "30-mile final."
  • A student pilot reacts with surprise to the extended approach distance, highlighting its uncommon length.
  • The instructor's progressively bored tone underscores the prolonged nature of their approach, adding to the anecdote's humor.
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One of the joys of being based at an airport with a very active flight school (Orange County, Montgomery, New York) is the entertainment value of some of the radio transmissions. Witness:

Slightly bored instructor voice: “168 Lima Alpha, 45‑mile final Runway 22.”

Overly excited voice, hence probably a student: “Did you say 45‑mile final?!”

Instructor: “Sorry, actually it’s a late call. We were lined up 20 miles ago.”

Sometime later, even more bored instructor voice: “168 Lima Alpha now 30-mile final Runway 22 …”

Daniel Spitzer, MD
Piermont, New York

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