Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot humorously questioned how an "unmanned" aerial vehicle could "have him in sight."
  • Air Traffic Control clarified that the UAV was accompanied by a manned T-38 spotter plane.
  • The controller humorously noted that such "can't see him" jokes are usually reserved for stealth aircraft like F-117s.
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An exchange overheard while flying over the Mojave Desert:

Joshua Approach:
“Bonanza 50Y, traffic two o’clock, five miles. Unmanned aerial vehicle has you in sight.”

50Y (me):
“50Y looking. If he’s ‘unmanned,’ how can he have me in sight?”

Joshua Approach:
“Oh. He’s got a T-38 spotter plane, so really it’s a flight of two … . Now you’re three o’clock, three miles.”

50Y:
Yeah, I was kidding. I know they have cameras and instrumentation. But I still don’t have them in sight.”

Joshua Approach:
“They’re passing behind you now. No factor. And we usually reserve the ‘I can’t see him’ jokes for the F-117s that come through here.”

Marc Zorn
via e-mail

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