Short Final: Mirage

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot received traffic alerts from both their aircraft system and air traffic control for nearby traffic during a landing approach.
Despite the alerts, the pilot was unable to visually spot the other aircraft.
Upon being informed the traffic was a "Mirage," the pilot humorously remarked that this explained why it couldn't be seen, eliciting a chuckle from the tower.

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I was inbound for landing at Reid‑Hillview airport and had a traffic alert off to my left, 300 feet higher and faster. About a minute after the traffic alert the tower told me I had traffic above and to the left of me. I replied that I did not have traffic in sight.

Tower said, “It’s a Mirage.”

I replied, “No wonder I can’t see them,” eliciting a chuckle out of the tower guy.

Anonymous