Short Final

Several years ago while training for my instrument rating, I was flying with my instructor in dark-night rainy weather. My instructor was a big fan of realistic training and I was receiving a double dose of it on this evening. Our destination was KPIM (Pine Mountain, GA). We were planning to have dinner with my […]

Nashua Airport (KASH) was a madhouse. The pattern was stretched out, and filled with student airplanes. Folks were getting messages like, “You are number 5 for the field.” I was number 1 for departure and told that tower that I was ready when they could take me. The tower was apologetic. “I’ll get you out […]

I was flying into David Wayne Hooks Airport, north of Houston. Hooks is a busy airport with business jets and constant flight training, both initial and advanced. Thus, the controllers there must be sharp and keep their sense of humor as they deal with both students and experienced pros in Gulfstreams. I was on approach […]

We were new to the area and flying out of Arcata, California, KACV (which, by the way, may have the longest name of any GA airport in the U.S.: “California Redwood Coast‑Humboldt County Airport”). A few miles up the coast we contacted Seattle Center. After radar contact was confirmed, the controller asked, “Do you have […]

Arriving at 3B0 – Southbridge for breakfast at the new diner, I discovered the crosswind was gusting a touch more that I had hoped. Ready to go to my alternate, I managed to get down without making a complete klutz of it and kept the little wheel at the back while VERY slowly taxying in […]

I was departing ATL 10 or so years ago. As you get to the end of the ramp, you contact north or south (as appropriate) ground control giving call sign, ramp (there are 9) and ATIS information. It was late evening after most of the flights had departed, a time when maintenance crews often tow […]

A few years ago, and before our jets were capable of long‑range navigation, I routinely flew one of our flights from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. Late in the evening it was not uncommon to ask the Kansas City center for vectors to the Hector VOR (a common feeder fix […]

I was monitoring the tower frequency at a Kentucky class D one morning and overheard the following dialogue: Helicopter 1234: “Tower, helicopter 1234 at helicopter parking base of tower. Present position departure northbound VFR.” Tower: “Helicopter 1234 cleared as requested.” Helicopter 1234: “Helicopter 1234 lifting.” Tower: “Helicopter 1234, where are you located?” Helicopter 1234 (in […]

Passing through New York’s airspace this summer, we heard the following: New York Approach: “Airliner 123 descend maintain 5000.” Airliner 123: “Descend 5000.” New York Approach two minutes later: “Airliner 123 descend maintain 5000, you appear to be climbing.” Airliner 123: “We are descending.” New York Approach: “Well you appear to be descending up, I […]

At my home airport, apparently the controllers know my voice. But this day I was flying a friend’s airplane back to our home airport from maintenance, and the weather was characteristically benign with smooth air and clear skies with unlimited visibility. Me: “Tower, Twin Cessna 9287A, 15 south. Landing with Whiskey.” There was a long […]