Short Final: Switching To Guns

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An air traffic controller advised an F-18 pilot ("Shooter One One") and a Regional Jet pilot ("RJ123") about each other's close proximity and opposing directions.
  • The F-18 was flying 1000 feet above the Regional Jet, both 5 miles apart.
  • Upon receiving the traffic advisory, the Regional Jet pilot humorously responded, "Roger. Switching to guns," which the observer found amusing.
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Returning from Montgomery Field, California, to my home field of Boulder City, Nevada, l was north of Palm Springs when l overheard this exchange:

Los Angeles Center: “Shooter One One, you have an RJ at your 12 o’clock, five miles and a 1000 feet below, opposite direction.”

Shooter One One: “Looking for traffic.”

Center: “RJ123 you have a single F‑18 at your 12 o’clock, five miles and a 1000 feet above, opposite direction.”

RJ123: “Roger. Switching to guns.”

No response from Center but l imagined they were having a good laugh like l was.

Darrel Davidson

Boulder City, NV

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