Short Final

Editorial Staff

Monday, April 12, 2010 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot flying to a busy fly-in overheard an exchange between a controller and another pilot.
When asked if they controlled the airspace, the busy air traffic controller humorously and assertively replied, "In your location, I own from the surface up to God."
The author was left to ponder the practical meaning and airspace classification implications of the controller's statement.

See a mistake? Contact us.

I was on my way to a fly-in at KMPV last Saturday, VFR on flight following with Boston Center. It was quite busy. Over 60 planes from all over New England were converging (some IFR, some VFR) when I heard one pilot check on by asking whether that was the correct frequency and, “Do you control this airspace?”

Without hesitation, the very helpful, friendly, and very busy controller replied, “In your location, I own from the surface up to God.”

I wonder how high that goes. Is that Class G airspace?

Jim Quinn
via e-mail