Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An air traffic controller at Jacksonville Center initially gave an incorrect heading (320) to an airliner.
  • The controller quickly corrected the heading to 230, humorously attributing the numerical mistake to dyslexia.
  • The pilot reciprocated the humor, acknowledging that similar errors are common among pilots, and complied with the correct instruction.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Heard over northern Florida last night:

Jacksonville Center:
“Airliner XYZ: Turn left, heading 320.”

Airliner XYZ:
“Is that a 320 heading for Airliner XYZ?”

Jacksonville Center:
“No, that should be, ‘Turn left, heading 230’ for Airliner XYZ. Sorry about that. Five out of four controllers are dyslexic.”

Airliner XYZ:
“No problem. Five out of three pilots, same thing. Airliner XYZ turning left, heading 230.”


Tom Ahonen
via e-mail

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