Short Final

During a formation flying clinic near Redmond, OR (KRDM) one fine spring day. Lead: “Alex, never tell anyone I said this, but you look very pretty right there.” Redmond Tower: “Good thing you said that for the whole world to know.” Peter King

The following was heard as my wife and I were flying our Mooney over the northern tip of the Great Salt Lake a few days ago and communicating with Salt Lake Center. Transient aircraft: “Center, do you have time for a question?” SL Center: “Sure, go ahead.” Transient aircraft: “OK, this is the $65 question. […]

Heard on a recent flight ATC: Skymaster 12345 clear to land 12345: I don’t know about a “Master” but my instructor thinks Im a pretty good pilot. Clear to land thanks. Greg Mills

I was flying an A-36 Bonanza through the SFO Class Bravo a few years ago and there was quite a bit of airline traffic departing at the time. ATC advised me of a Southwest 737 climbing out at my 1 o’clock and I let them know I had it in sight. Controller: “Southwest 9999 traffic […]

Overheard while flying through the New York Class B airspace: Pilot: Departure ABC 795 off 14L climbing to 5000′. Controller: Is this 725 or 795? Pilot: What did I say? Controller: 795. Pilot: Oh sorry, I guess this is 725. Controller: Don’t worry about it, I mix up call signs all day. Pilot: Yeah, but […]

We were inbound to Auckland after a long 12-hour Pacific sector through the night. It was around 5:00 a.m., and there were four other wide-body inbounds (787s, 767s, and 777s) arriving about the same time. Auckland Control was doing a no-nonsense job, without any chit-chat, when the terminal information changed due to a pressure difference […]

This dates back many years, to March 1989. I was transporting a heart for transplant, together with a doctor and nurse, from the southwest of England to Papworth Hospital near Cambridge. Because it was the middle of the night, the only open runway nearby was a USAF Alconbury. As I approached, I was asked a […]

I was tuned to Indy Center yesterday and heard this exchange with a plane on flight following: Indy Center:“Cessna 12345, contact Indy Center on 124.62.” Cessna 12345:“Can I have something that doesn’t end in a ‘2’ or a ‘7’?” Indy Center:“What was that request?” Cessna 12345:“Can I have a frequency doesn’t end in a ‘2’ […]

On a flight from Panama City, Florida to Asheville, North Carolina, I heard ATC asking another aircraft if his transponder was on — to which the reply was: “We’re putting quarters in the slot now.” Ray Mansfield

Many years ago, as a student pilot sitting on the ramp at Kansas City Downtown Airport, I was in the plane with my instructor listing to “information whiskey” on the ATIS recording when we heard a high-pitched squeal followed by laughter on the tape. My instructor turned to me and said:“Sounds like there’s a little […]