Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An Army OH58 helicopter requested an emergency landing at Kessler Air Force Base due to low fuel.
  • The pilot misunderstood the tower's question about "PPR" (Prior Permission) as an inquiry about navigational equipment.
  • Responding with their available equipment (transponder and ADF), the pilot did not directly address the permission query.
  • Despite the miscommunication, the emergency nature of the situation resulted in the tower clearing the helicopter to land.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Flying an Army OH58 in the early ’80s, we determined that we would not have the fuel to make our planned destination. Passing Kessler Air Force Base, we called the tower for landing instructions.

Kessler Tower:
“Do you have PPR?” [PPR = “prior permission”]

OH58 (not knowing what “PPR” stood for) :
“No. [pause] All we have is a transponder and an ADF.”

Kessler Tower:
“Clear to land.”


Mike Friel
via e-mail

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