Short Final: The Forest

Monday, January 04, 2021 at 07:20 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot humorously acknowledged an ATC squawk code ("Fife Tree Tree Tree") by creatively referring to it as "five and the forest."
Despite the controller being a "stickler for standard communications," they chuckled in response to the pilot's non-standard but clear reply.
The brief exchange illustrates a lighthearted moment of human connection during routine air traffic control communications.

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Departing Buckeye for Flagstaff, the Phoenix Departure controller was obviously a stickler for standard communications.

Phoenix: Two Seven Victor, Squawk Fife Tree Tree Tree.

Us: Okay, squawking five and the forest, Two Seven Victor.

Phoenix (chuckling): 27V, Radar contact, cleared on course, maintain VFR.

David Bunin