Witnessed by me as an FAA controller at Waterloo (Iowa) in the mid-’80s. The G.A. ramp is next to the terminal ramp, so these two aircraft were parked in close proximity to each other. Here is how the exchange went:
Tomahawk 86B:
“Waterloo ground: Tomahawk 86 Bravo, ready to taxi.”
ATC:
“Tomahawk 86 Bravo: Roger, taxi to runway 30.”
TWA 687:
“TWA 687, ready to taxi.”
ATC:
“TWA 687, taxi to runway 30.”
[The controller has the Tomahawk follow the DC-9.]
ATC:
“Tomahawk 86 Bravo, follow the DC-9 off your right; taxi to runway 30.”
Tomahawk 86B:
“Tomahawk 86 Bravo. Roger.”
The DC-9 just sat there and sat there. Finally, the DC-9 started his taxi and apologized to the Tomahawk pilot. It went like this:
TWA 687:
“Sorry about the delay there, Tomahawk; this our first time in here.”
Tomahawk 86B:
“That’s O.K. I’m a student pilot, too.”
[Followed by complete radio silence … .]
David Morales
via e-mail
