Short Final: Happy Birthday

Editorial Staff

Friday, October 05, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An airliner flying west was granted a non-standard even altitude due to being too heavy to climb over weather.
Kansas City Center needed to justify this "wrong way" altitude to Denver Center.
The controller humorously convinced Denver Center by claiming the airliner was "the pride of the fleet" and it was the pilot's birthday.
The airliner's surprised response ("How did you know?") implied a coincidental accuracy or appreciation for the controller's quick wit.

See a mistake? Contact us.

I recently heard the following between Kansas City Center and an airliner. The airliner was trying to top some weather and had been granted an even altitude even though he was flying west, because he was too heavy to go any higher.

Kansas City Center: “Airliner 123, how long ’til you can go up? I have to sell this ‘wrong way’ to Denver.”

Airliner: “About 15 minutes.”

Slight pause, then:

Kansas City Center: “Well, what do you know? I told Denver you were the pride of the fleet and it’s your birthday, and he took it. Contact Denver Center on 133.9.”

Airliner: “How did you know?”

Don Stansberry

Huntsville, TN