Short Final

For AVweb fans who are also students of music theory, from reader Mike Toews: I teach aerobatics part-time at a local flight school and received the following text from a musically inclined student who was getting frustrated with numerous booking cancellations due to weather, maintenance, scheduling issues, etc., etc. “I’m writing a song called ‘Aerobatic […]

From IFR Magazine reader Thomas Clements: I frequently fly my Saratoga from Glens Falls, New York, to Ogdensburg, New York, over the Adirondack Mountains and through several large military operating areas (MOAs). The same controllers at Boston Center work both civilian aircraft and a lot of military aircraft. Recently, as I was approaching non-towered Ogdensburg, […]

From IFR Magazine reader David Brown Overheard on a flight near Daytona Beach, Florida: Daytona Approach: “King Air 1234, continue up the beach for a left base to Runway 25R.” King Air (in his best, super-deep, cool pro-pilot voice): “We’ll follow the beach for 25R. We’ve got a rookie in the right seat today, so […]

Long before ADS-B came along, I flew my Grumman AA1-B to write a story about a company that conducted upset and unusual-attitude training in a Mudry CAP 10 aerobatic trainer. After spending time learning about the program, I asked if we could try for a good air-to-air shot from the Grumman (with a telephoto lens […]

From IFR Magazine reader Jay Olmstead: I heard the following flying through Houston’s Class Bravo: Houston Approach: “Skyhawk 1234A, maintain 4,500. I was going to climb you but there’s a Bonanza coming up from behind and you’re just not fast enough.” Skyhawk 1234A (laughing): “Well – that’s not very nice!”

“My fiancé and I were chaperoning my 94-year-old grandparents on a flight to a vacation destination. Grandma walks just fine, but my World War II Marine veteran Grandpa had to use a wheelchair to get to his seat. “There was a hefty crosswind and we landed rather hard (just like I always do in my […]

From IFR Magazine reader Chris St. Germain On a nice fall afternoon, I was returning to my home airport after a Missouri Pilots Association board meeting. I heard Kansas City Center give a fellow member who was 10 minutes ahead of me a traffic advisory as we were nearing Kansas City: Center: “Warrior 1234, be […]

From an IFR Magazine reader – Name withheld by request I am based at a non-towered field and some days it is more “uncontrolled” than others. Finishing up my flight review the other day, my instructor and I heard a traffic call that went something like this: “Small City Traffic, Piper Three Six Alpha Charlie […]

From AVweb reader Eliot Danner: Flying with a friend in my Baron from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Winchester Regional Airport (KOKV) in Virginia, it was a pop-up thunderstorm kinda day. Potomac Approach was dealing with a storm cell over Dulles International and various diversions, issuing holds to long-haul jets—the usual circus. Me (after waiting for […]

From an IFR Magazine reader who prefers to remain anonymous: Overheard on an ATC Center frequency near Toronto, close to rush hour for highway traffic: ATC: “Air Canada XYZ, expect Runway 23.” Air Canada XYZ: “Roger, Runway 23 (without a pause) Aw crap!” ATC: “Air Canada XYZ, is there a problem?” Air Canada XYZ: “Sorry […]