Short Final

Late in the afternoon of July 4, I was flying with my wife from Nebraska to Philadelphia International Airport in our Piper Cherokee. Stationary storms around the airport were causing major departure delays. As we landed on Runway 35 we could see planes lined up all along Taxiway K—nearly to the intersection with Runway 35. […]

Flying in the north, we had just landed at Resolute Bay (CYRB), a bustling arctic metropolis with a last reported population of 198 people and a 6500‑foot gravel runway that’s surprisingly manned 24/7. Before turning off the radios, we heard the following exchange on the common frequency: United: “Resolute Bay radio, this is United 1234. […]

After a routine frequency change to Kansas City Center, I had a lot of trouble hearing the controller. On the fourth try I finally heard a scratchy reply: Center: “N327JZ, Kansas City, how do you hear?” Me: “I’ve got you now but it’s weak and broken.” Center: “Welcome to the FAA, where everything is weak […]

My home airport often has gliders operating north of the field, which led to the following exchange: Cessna C-FABC: Pitt Tower, C-FABC ready for takeoff 26L, northbound departure. I guess I’ll have to fly west for a while for the gliders? Tower: Negative, I can clear you direct north; the gliders are down for refueling. […]

Sept. 5, 2019. Hurricane Dorian is pounding the North Carolina shoreline. We are CAVU in Ohio headed for New England and hoping to slide across the top of the weather, which is an arc of clouds 350 miles to the southeast of us, clearly rising above the horizon. We have been getting handed from one […]

Cruising over the upper Midwest we heard this exchange: Aircraft: “Indy Cen … (SCREECH) … vember 12(SQUEAL) … checking in at … (HOWL)” Indy Center: “N123 Congratulations! You win the award for the worst … radio … ever!” Angelo Iannuzzo Lowell, MA

At Camp Graling, Michigan: Army 12345 (in a pirate voice): “Graling Tower, Arrrrrmy Copter 12345, we be a fleet of three UH‑60s on Charrrrrlie taxiway, ready to set sail to the southwest.” Graling Tower: “Army…(pause)…Army…(longer pause)… Arrrrrmy Copter 12345, ahoy, Matey. Clearrrrred for takeoff, Charrrrrlie taxiway.” Robert Schapiro “Somewhere in the Middle East”

Overheard over South Carolina, with the busy Atlanta arrivals streaming overhead: Delta 1234: “Center, Delta 1234 flight level 230.” Atlanta Center: “Delta 1234, welcome. Cross OZZI at 12,000 and 250 knots.” Delta 1234: “Cross OZZI at 12,000 and 250 knots. And what runway can we expect?” Atlanta Center: “You’ll have to ask Approach on the […]

I took off from Erie after a major front had passed through much of Pennsylvania and Baltimore and was tracking northeast across Pennsylvania. I ducked underneath the clouds and was flying IFR in mostly VMC with a few scattered clouds. I checked in with Baltimore Approach and it went like this: Me: “Baltimore Approach, Tomahawk […]

After dropping off our Angel Flight West passenger we were climbing out of Henderson, Nevada. On the guard frequency (121.5) we heard a sound not heard before. We reported the transmission to Las Vegas Departure. The exchange went this way: Departure: “Does it sound like someone is playing a video game?” Me: “Actually, more like […]