Short Final

Control: Continental XXX give me a good rate please through FL100? Continental XXX: Well sir, we are doing 2000fpm Controller: Could you make it 3000 fpm? Continental XXX: No Sir. Controller: Oh … do you not have a speedbrake? Continental: Yes sir, I do, but that is for MY mistakes, not for YOURS!

Overheard on tower frequency at El Monte, Ca. airport, several years ago… Tower: “Cessna Nxxxx., say your location.” Cessna Nxxxx: “I’m over here!”

As I was heading across the Desert a few monthes back, at the height of the Iraqi war, and wanting to cut through R2515 around Edwards Air Force Base, I had the following exchange with Joshua Approach…Joshua Approach, Musketeer 123 requesting transition through R2515.Joshua: Restricted area currently off limits, but let me talk to them […]

Overheard while flying east from Dayton…Approach: Cirrus 123, whats your speed?Cirrus 123: Now showing 200kts over the ground, on the GPS.Unknown Pilot on Frequency: Thats one fast-moving cloud!

While flying through Colorado Springs Class C the other day, I heard the following exchange: United 1234: “Springs Approach, United 1234. We cant read the localizer. Is there a problem?” Approach: “The box is actually sitting right behind me. Theyre doing an upgrade and it should be back in service this Winter.” United 1234: “We […]

I was in the pattern at FXE one night and I heard an aircraft taxiing out from Banyan Air Service tell the tower that he saw some debris on the taxiway. As the aircraft got closer the pilot said it looked like a pair of goggles on the taxiway. Discussion then ensued between the aircraft, […]

I fly skydivers and am talking to controllers at the best ATC facility around quite often. One day traffic on the frequency was a little light so one of the controllers had a little fun:Cessna123: Jumpers away!Approach (in his best kid-on-a-ride voice): WEEEEEEE!

After holding short of runway 4, with the vice-president of the company riding shotgun and no traffic in sight… Pilot: “Cessna 123, still holding short.” Tower: ” Cessna 123, Hold your taters.” Pilot: “Taters held, over.” Tower: “Cessna 123, release taters, [chuckle] Runway 33, position and hold.” The VP was impressed and the pilot is […]

The July 3-20 Inventing Flight celebration in Dayton, Ohio, kicked off this weekend with a hot air balloon launch and a visit by President Bush. Events celebrating 100 years of flight will continue at various locations through the year Nearly fifty yars ago when I was a NAVCAD (Naval Aviation Cadet), one of our classmates […]

The definition of irony: Naming an airport after a President that fired all of the Air Traffic Controllers.