Short Final

My wife, the captain, and I were flying to AirVenture 2017 in our C-152 in July. We were on an IFR flight plan out of Gainesville, GA (KGVL) and cruising at 5000 feet. We were talking to Atlanta Center. Centre: “Cessna 1234, cleared to FL230.” We just looked at each other and laughed. Fairly quickly, […]

On the Saturday night before AirVenture opened, I was listening on my iPhone to KOSH tower for 27, wishing I was there instead of doing yard work. Evidently, weather was not great so traffic was slow when I heard a pilot tell tower he was turning final. Tower: Low wing cleared to land 27 Pilot: […]

Heard over rural Massachusetts. Cherokee XYZ (tremulous voice): “Albany Approach, Cherokee XYZ five miles northeast of Pittsfield at 3500 feet, requesting fight following to Kilo Oscar Romeo Delta.” Silence: all on frequency were contemplating the Cherokee, a student pilot at the controls, attempting the impossibly long flight to Chicago and then penetrating the O’Hare airspace. […]

Heard recently on the CTAF frequency at Arlington Municipal Airport (KAWO) in Washington: Cessna 123: “Departing 34, straight out to the west.” Eric Taylor

Heard from a foreign student turning off after landing at a strange airport.Tower: What are your intentions?Student: Returning to China as soon as possible! Robert Reser

Heard over Joshua Approach in the southern California Mojave Desert: Approach: “All aircraft on frequency, turn right five degrees.” After a moment’s pause…. Approach: “All aircraft on frequency, return to previous heading. I am now retired. So long” Stephen Hackney

Last month, on a calm day, we were number two for takeoff on 27R in ATL. Delta was holding short number one. Delta: Delta 123 requests wind check. Tower:No answer Delta:Delta 123 requests wind check. Tower:No answer. After a few seconds Delta cleared line up and wait. Delta: Delta 123 wants a wind check Tower(slowly […]

While flying in New York air space I heard this controller: Controller: Piper turn right 20 degrees. No response Controller: Piper turn right 20 degrees Still no response (must have seen Piper turn on screen) Controller: Piper instead of nodding your head, key your mic and answer me!!! Alan Kane

Holding at the holding point Nelson, New Zealand, we were waiting for the cabin to be cleared before calling ready.Tower:“Link XXX, are you ready?”Link XXX:“Just waiting on the cabin.”Tower:“It’s right behind you.” Justin Zangerl

Heard at JFK one summer day after a very long ground roll and subsequent lift off by a British Airways 747. Tower: “Speedbird XXX noise violation.” Speedbird XXX:”Send it to the ()(*&^% Queen.” Real story. Dan Jenkins