Short Final

I was flying over central Kansas when I overheard Center clear a jet pilot “direct destination.” The pilot, grateful, confirmed the clearance and added the compliment, “You’re a gentleman and a scholar.” The controller, apparently unfamiliar with the phrase, replied, “Say again?” The pilot, simply replied, “Thank you. Have a great day.” Jerry Arnold Valentine, […]

This past September I overheard this: King Air 12345: “Potomac, King Air 12345, do you still need us to hold back to 190 knots?” Approach: “King Air 345, yes I do. There’s a Pilatus about 50 miles ahead of you, same altitude, and we need to maintain separation while I hand you off to the […]

I was flying my daughter cross‑country for her to spend some time with her grandparents. My mother‑in‑law was there on the tarmac waving enthusiastically and blowing kisses … as the twin Cessna who landed two minutes ahead of us taxied in! She was a good sport to admit this to me after the fact. Bob […]

At Valdez, Alaska for the annual fly‑in and STOL competition, a couple of planes arrived in short succession: a tailwheel Cessna with big Alaskan Bushwheel tires, followed by a Lake amphibian (not known for its short takeoff or landing capabilities). Tower: “Cessna 123, turn left if you’re competing, or right if you’re just here to […]

En route to Leesburg Executive around 1:00 a.m. inside Dulles Class Bravo, I heard a controller ask a United flight, “United XXX your choice 19R or 19C.” The pilot came back with 19C and once cleared for the visual he responded, “Cleared for visual. 19C United XXX. Over to tower, nighty‑night don’t let the bed […]

Spring brings with it the beginnings of rough air season, especially in mountainous terrain. This recent PIREP near Jeffco Airport in Colorado puts it in vivid terms. BJC UA/OV BJC180010/TM 1823/FL075/TP C182/TB MOD/RM PILOT STATES/GETTING SHOOK LIKE A BUG IN A JAR

While traveling into Valdez, Alaska for the annual fly-in and STOL competition, a couple of planes were trying to hurry in before the airspace closed for aerobatic practice. A couple minutes after tower gave “best forward speed” instructions to a Lake amphibian (not known for great forward speed), the following exchange was heard: Tower: “Lake […]

I’ve owned five different airplanes over the past 25 years and recently purchased a Piper Meridian. I was on an Angel Flight with a buddy who had flown with me many times but was taking his first flight in the Meridian. After takeoff, he asked me if I thought I’d ever get another plane. I […]

While flying one day in Northern California, I heard the following: Center: “Cessna 1234 are you planning to pass east or west of Mt. Diablo? Cessna: “We’re currently heading south. Center: (with a chuckle) “I understand that you’re heading south. But when you pass that mountain ahead, will it be on your left or right […]

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport has intersecting runways. Runway 7/25 handles all of the airlines and most private jets while the parallel 15/33 pair is for private piston aircraft—long as the normal westerly winds cooperate. Juggling the vast differences in approach speeds and timing on the intersecting runways requires a lot of skill and experience on […]