Short Final: Ahoy, Matey

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, September 04, 2019 at 04:23 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An Army helicopter pilot at Camp Graling, Michigan, initiated communication with air traffic control using an unexpected pirate voice.
Graling Tower reciprocated the humor, responding in a similar pirate voice during the exchange.
This playful interaction concluded with the tower clearing a fleet of three UH-60 helicopters for takeoff.

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At Camp Graling, Michigan:

Army 12345 (in a pirate voice): “Graling Tower, Arrrrrmy Copter 12345, we be a fleet of three UH‑60s on Charrrrrlie taxiway, ready to set sail to the southwest.”

Graling Tower: “Army…(pause)…Army…(longer pause)… Arrrrrmy Copter 12345, ahoy, Matey. Clearrrrred for takeoff, Charrrrrlie taxiway.”

Robert Schapiro
“Somewhere in the Middle East”