Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An Army OH-58 helicopter, low on fuel, requested an emergency landing at Kessler Air Force Base.
  • Kessler Tower inquired if the pilot had "PPR" (prior permission).
  • The pilot, unfamiliar with the acronym, misunderstood "PPR" as a type of navigational equipment, humorously listing their actual equipment (transponder and ADF).
  • Despite the miscommunication, the tower promptly granted clearance for 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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