Short Final

I just started flying my new-to-me Corby Starlet (only four flying in the U.S.A!), and on my first trip into Santa Rosa, California, STS, a KingAir pilot at the hold line asked the tower:“What is that little plane that just landed?” She came back:“I’ll have him tell us.” My response was:“N8I Charlie Charlie — an […]

A while back, a controller at RDU International spoke in a robotic Cylon voice, using all official phraseology including “tree” and “fife” for “3” and “5.” We though he was trying to show everyone up and be a model of correctness. One night, I was practicing instrument approaches with a safety pilot, and that controller […]

On approach last week to an Eastern North Carolina airport, we heard a Piper J-3 announce:“Taking off on runway 23.” Followed shortly afterward by:“Headed toward the coast.” We then asked:“East or West Coast?” Robert Schellenberg

Piper Cub 12345:“Bozeman tower, Cub 12345 is with you 10 miles to the west. I would like to transit through your airspace to the west.” Bozeman Tower:“Cub 345, squawk 0123.” Piper Cub 12345:“Bozeman Tower, Cub 345 is unable to comply as this is a non-electrical Cub. Those transponders were not invented in 1945.” Bozeman Tower:“Cub […]

Years ago, like 1960, I was a newly hired DC-3 co-pilot for Continental Air Lines. We could fly either VFR or IFR, depending the weather situation at the time. Needless to say, we went for VFR whenever we could. [One day,] the weather wasn’t the greatest, but we thought VFR would work. Called ground for […]

En route from TRK to RHV recently in Centurion 7RR, I found myself on the same center frequency as Bonanza — 5JJ! I was really tempted to tell center:“7 Romeo Romeo would like to connect with 5 Juliet Juliet.” But I didn’t want to start a feud, so I bit my tongue and said nothing. […]

Overheard this while working in the pattern with a student years ago. Along the Connecticut coast, airports ABC and XYZ were often mistaken for each other by pilots. One day a student pilot pilot called in and was told to call a four-mile final for the active runway. When he did report on final, the […]

Last Friday morning, I was en route to Sun ‘n Fun. The weather at KLAL prevented canceling IFR and joining the Lake Parker VFR arrival. As I (along with several other aircraft) was issued a holding clearance at LAL VOR to wait my turn for the ILS runway 9 approach, I was reminded just how […]

In the late ’70, I was flying up the East Coast in the early morning, in the low stratus along the Atlantic beaches. Our flight, an Allegheny Commuter Twin Otter en route to Atlantic City’s Bader Airport, was operating IFR with Atlantic City approach. Essentially, we were on top at 2,000 with high cirrus above. […]

While monitoring traffic at KAPA, we overheard a Skyhawk pilot having a difficult day. Having gone around on his first attempt, he ended up safely on the ground on his second — if a bit long and far from gracefully. Tower:“Skyhawk 123, you O.K. there?” Skyhawk 123:“Yeah. We took a bounce there. [pause] I hope […]