Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot requesting flight following gave a confusing initial location ("down below the water") to Chicago Center.
  • Air traffic control responded with a deadpan, humorous remark about the pilot's imprecise description.
  • The pilot then provided a standard and clear location ("ten miles south of Michigan City") after being prompted for clarification.
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Overheard in IFR Magazine's 'On the Air' Section
Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air”

Heard on Chicago Center frequency:

Pilot:
“Chicago, Piper 12345 en route to St. Louis. Request flight following.”

Center:
“Piper 12345, where in the world are you?”

Pilot:
“I’m down below the water [meaning south of Lake Michigan], heading for St. Louis.”

Center (deadpan) :
“Piper 123, it must be pretty wet down below the water. Want to try again?”

Pilot:
“I’m ten miles south of Michigan City.”

Center:
“That’s more like it.”


John Urschalit
via e-mail

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