On Wednesday, September 11, 2013, while taxiing to show parking for this years Reno Air Races, we overheard another aircraft’s communication with Reno Ground that went something like this:
Learjet:
“Reno Ground, Lear 12345. Request taxi to Atlantic’s main office ramp.”
Ground:
“Lear 12345, are you here for the races?”
Learjet:
“Affirmative.”
Ground:
“Then you will have to go to show parking.”
Learjet:
“I have specific instructions to go to the main ramp at Atlantic.”
Ground:
“I’m sorry, sir, but you have to go to show parking.”
Learjet:
“I have a VIP on board, and I need to go to Atlantic’s ramp.”
Ground:
“You cannot go to Atlantic’s ramp. You have to go to air show parking.”
Learjet:
“I have Bob Hoover on board, and I am instructed to deliver him to Atlantic’s main office on their ramp.”
Ground:
“You cannot go to Atlantic’s ramp. You have to go to air show parking.”
Learjet:
“Do you know who Bob Hoover is?”
Ground:
“No, I don’t.”
Learjet:
“Then get me somebody that does.”
At this point, we needed to shut down our aircraft, so we did not hear the remainder of the communication. But, rest assured, Bob Hoover was in fact at the Reno Air Races.
Mike Hanson
via e-mail
