Short Final

Editorial Staff

Monday, October 05, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The article highlights an irritating communication technique observed on CTAF involving the incorrect use of "left final" or "right final."
A pilot was repeatedly heard reporting "Turning left, final, runway 20," which prompted a correction.
Another pilot interjected, clarifying that "final" is a straight line and therefore does not have a "left" or "right" designation, implying the importance of standard aviation phraseology.

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Overheard in IFR Magazine's 'On the Air' Section

CTAF offers a smorgasbord of irritating communications techniques. Somewhere in California’s Central Valley, I heard a pilot repeatedly report, “Turning left, final, runway 20.”

After what must have been the tenth “left final,” a pilot who’d obviously had it replied:

“There is no left final; there is no right final – just final. It’s a straight line!”

Ralph Lund
Malpaso, California