Short Final

A couple of weeks ago, I was looking at weather in preparation for a local flight. As I reviewed all the data from the local area including pilot reports, I saw the following PIREP from a Cessna 172 who had been flying in the area: FL025/TP C172/TB CONT MOD CHOP/RM ITS LIKE BEING A BEACHBALL […]

Overheard on Austin Approach: AA123: “What’s going on down there? That’s the second time we’ve been vectored through the localizer!” This was followed by a long pause. AUS Approach: “Previous controller no longer a factor.” Paul Millner Berkeley, CA

Returning from Oshkosh 2019 (“AirVenture” has not quite captured the imagination), while going through security at the Appleton, Wisconsin, airport (KATW), the TSA officer asked me if I had cheese or sausage in my carry-on. I must have given a quizzical look and the officer said: “Oh that’s a Wisconsin thing.” Well, we all had […]

I love the KOHOE arrival into Denver. In fact, I even took a photo of our FMS showing my favorite fix sequence. Michael Reamy Victoria, TX

We were following the Lake Ontario shoreline north toward Billy Bishop Toronto City airport on Toronto Island near downtown Toronto. On frequency we heard the following. Toronto Terminal: “Piper 1234, turn heading 110, vector for traffic.” Piper 1234: “Oooh no! I’m not going out over the water—I’ve only got one spinney thing!” Toronto Terminal: “Piper […]

A few years ago, my wife and I were scooting along in our 1973 Cessna 182 from Visalia, California (KVIS) back home to Hubbard, Oregon (7S9) at 10,500 in VFR conditions. We were enjoying the ride having passed Mount Lassen on our right and Shasta Lake on our left, when Center called: Oakland Center: “November […]

I was flying home during the COVID‑19 pandemic, when the following took place: Spirit 936: “Atlantic City Approach, Spirit 936, 5000.” Atlantic City Approach: “Spirit 936, descend and maintain 3000, direct PRSTY. And if you don’t mind me asking, what’s your passenger count today?” Spirit 936: “We only have 2 passengers on board.” Me: “Only […]

Upon checking into a Kansas City Center sector, I caught the following conversation already in progress: Kansas City Center: “Uh Three Forty-five, what type of cargo are you carrying?” 345: “We’re carrying a college men’s basketball team.” Center: “Ah, roger. I was just wondering about your callsign.” 345: “We don’t like it better than anyone […]

Heard on So-Cal after a long period of silence: Cessna 234: “SOCAL Approach, Cessna Two Three Four.” SOCAL Approach: “Go ahead Two Three Four.” Cessna 234: “Just thought I’d check in to see if we’re still on the air. It’s been awfully quiet.” Approach: “Yeah, we’re still alive. Actually, it’s one of those relative things; […]

I heard the following exchange on a beautiful spring day when COVID had grounded almost everyone. Cherokee 123: “Approach, we are headed down to Okeechobee today and would like to come through the Class Bravo, and I guess we would like flight following, too … (long pause) … oh, and we would like to make […]