Short Final...

Short Final…

Editorial Staff

Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

At the extremely busy EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh 2003, air traffic controllers typically used non-verbal wing-rocking for pilot acknowledgment.
A controller humorously instructed a "Bell Helicopter" to rock its wings, then quickly realized the error.
The controller corrected, asking the helicopter pilot to transmit verbally, which they did.
The exchange concluded with the controller welcoming the pilot to Oshkosh and humorously stating, "you've earned your wings today."

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Somtimes they’re a little busy…

Overheard inbound to EAA’s AirVenture, Oshkosh, 2003, where only the controllers on the ground speak and pilots respond by rocking their wings.

Controller: Bell Helicopter, Fisk Approach. If you read, rock your wings.

Controller: Right… OK, I guess you really don’t have any wings. Bell Helicopter, if you read, transmit.

Helicopter: I read you, Fisk.

Controller: Roger, enter left traffic for runway 36, welcome to Oshkosh … you’ve earned your wings today.