Short Final: An Abundance Of Caution

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Key Takeaways:

  • While taxiing between two Boeing 737s at JFK, a Bonanza pilot was correctly warned by air traffic control about "jet wash."
  • Shortly after, ATC humorously, and incorrectly, warned the *second* Boeing 737 about "prop wash" from a preceding aircraft, despite it also being a jet.
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From IFR Magazine reader Ashok Joshi:

Taxiing to depart for our home in New Hampshire after picking my wife up at New York JFK Airport in my Bonanza, I was in line between a pair of Southwest Boeing 737s. As we waited for clearance to cross Runway 13/31, the ground controller said, “Southwest 123 cleared to cross Runway 13/31 on Echo. Bonanza 3680 Romeo, taxi to holding line; caution jet wash.”

After clearing me to cross the runway a minute later, ground control instructed the second 737, “Southwest 456, taxi to the holding line; caution prop wash.”

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