Short Final: Team Rivalry

Editorial Staff

Friday, November 23, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Approaching Gainesville, FL, after a significant football loss for the Florida Gators, a pilot humorously reported the ATIS code as "Cornhusker" instead of "Gator."
The air traffic controller (ATC) played along, issuing a humorous instruction for the pilot to turn 180 degrees, proceed 20 miles, and hold for 2.5 hours.
The pilot acknowledged the joke, reported the correct "Gator" code, and was subsequently cleared to land.

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I was approaching Gainesville, Florida the week after the Florida Gators were destroyed by the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a bowl game and I listened to the ATIS. The code was Gator. When I called the tower I thought I would be cute so I said I had Cornhusker.

The tower controller got me real good as he told me to turn 180 degrees and proceed 20 miles and prepare to hold for 2 1/2 hours. I got a good laugh out of his instructions.

I called back and said I was able to get Gator, so he allowed me to proceed to the airport and land.

Bill Hinsley Jr.

Stuart, FL