Short Final

Tower: Skyhawk xxx follow Baron on four mile final for 17L. Skyhawk: Baron in sight. a little later… Tower: Skyhawk you’re 10 knots faster than the Baron. Slow down. Skyhawk: Yeeha!!! (Followed by hysterical laughter.) Tower: Right … not something you hear every day.

Carrier 1234: Cape Approach, can we get direct Boston? Approach: Your wish is my command… Carrier 1234: Approach, got time for another wish? Approach: Nope, you used up your wish. Carrier 1234: I don’t get three? Approach: Carrier 1234, did you say Boston, or Austin? Carrier 1234: …I’ll take that as a “No.”

All pilots, use caution for flocks of birds on and in the vicinity of the airport… Tower: Skyhawk XXXXX, be advised there are 10,000 seagulls near the approach of runway 15. Skyhawk: Roger. Is that an official count? Tower: Just a quick count. (pause)Tower: Skyhawk XXXXX, be advised there are 10,435 seagulls near the approach […]

Overheard at KLAS, Dec. 19, 2003, 9:30pm… ATC: NABCD, after departure turn left heading 175 climb and maintain at or below 4,000, departure 125.9 and squawk XXXX. Pilot: Any chance of a higher inital altitude? ATC: We give you 4,000 in case of lost com. Pilot: I know thats why I want higher.

Heard on the Ellington Field ATIS on Christmas Eve.: “… on initial contact advise you have Ellington information Rudolph.”

Overheard December 18, 2003, at a local gliderport… “A moment of silence everyone, for today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the tow plane.”

At a busy local airport one sunny Saturday flight instructors were hopping in and out of different aircraft all day long: Unidentified pilot: Montgomery Ground, Cessna, er, Cessna … wait … who am I today? [pause]I’ll have to call you back. Ground: Roger, call back when you know who you are.

Taxing back for a departure on Rwy 23 at Morristown (MMU), I noticed a group of 10 or so snow geese walking across the taxiway toward the runway. I paused for a moment and started to maneuver in behind the group of waterfowl. Then I heard … GROUND CONTROL: Cessna 123, those things are really […]

Over Philly on a gorgeous CAVU Sunday… Cessna XXX: Philly approach, Cessna XXX with you at 4,500. Philly Approach: Cessna XXX, Roger, Altimeter 30.69 and numerous targets in your vicinity. Cessna XXX: Could you be more specific about the targets? Philly Approach: OK, 12 o’clock, 1 o’clock, 2 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock, 5 o’clock […]

When I called the Oakland FSS today for a preflight briefing and asked about TFRs in the area I received probably the best explanation so far of what the blanket National Security NOTAM meant in practice: “Just the usual one that’s been in place for a while, you know, don’t be makin’ pylon turns around […]