Short Final: The Forest

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

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A Phoenix Departure controller instructed a pilot to squawk code "five three three three."
The pilot humorously responded by saying "squawking five and the forest."
The air traffic controller chuckled in response to the pilot's witty readback.
Despite the non-standard communication, ATC confirmed radar contact and cleared the pilot.

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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