Short Final

An Air New Zealand DC-10 en route from Auckland to Honolulu was about to pass the southbound company flight in the early morning hours, and its crew was chatting with another flight on the inter-plane frequency. In short order, a Qantas aircraft joined the conversation. A bit later, a USAF MAC aircraft called in as […]

Two airplanes took off from the same controlled airport right after each other — one a Cessna 172, the other a Cessna 182. The first off was the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, followed a minute or so later by his buddy in the Cessna 182. Both were headed for the same destination airport. Just before the […]

Pilot:“Center, N12345.” Center:“N12345, where have you been? We haven’t heard from you in a while.” Pilot:“I’ve been in Fort Myers for the last three months or so.” Center:“N12345 -“[Chuckles.]“No, you’ve been NORDO for the last 45 minutes; we haven’t heard a communication from you. When did you last speak to a controller?” Pilot:“I guess 45 […]

We love a pilot who accidentally says over the mic something everyone has thought at one time or another. When arriving at the first stop on our pilots association’s annual poker run, one of our pilots said on the frequency, for all to hear: “Geez. There’s more than one runway here. That makes it kinda […]

Late on a low-traffic night, an Ozark flight requested landing instructions into Des Moines, reporting his altitude as 6,000 feet. He was given clearance since no other traffic was in the area. After a few seconds, the Ozark pilot again called, saying:“Uh, that 6,000 feet — that shoulda been 5,000 feet. Gee, this thing’s got […]

It was the late 1980s, and a Pan Am 727 was holding at Berlin Tegel. Another Pan Am 727 made a less than graceful arrival, clouds of smoke from the tires, clouds of smoke from the reversers, horizontal stab shaking alarmingly, and the whole thing bouncing around until it safely vacated the runway. The Holding […]

Center asked an aircraft flying IFR:“Say altitude.” … and the pilot came back with:“Altitude.” The controller at center did not miss a beat and came right back with:“Say ‘cancel IFR.’” …. to which the pilot of the aircraft said correct altitude and “sorry” — nothing more. Had to be some “got ya” laughs in aircraft […]

I was picking up my Cherokee 160 at the Charlotte County Florida airport after IFR/weight-and-balance certifications. As I was preparing to taxi out, I heard another pilot report there was a turtle that was “taxiing” toward runway 22. Not too long after this report, I heard yet another taxiing pilot ask the question, “What type […]

While on a trip Christmas Eve in Atlanta Approach air space: Me:“Atlanta Approach, radio check.” ATL:“Loud and clear.” Me:“Got quiet out there. Just checking.” ATL:“I like it that way.” Jim Fortunevia e-mail

One day when I was working the south arrival sector at Denver TRACON, traffic was getting backed up, and I had to start issuing speed reductions to the arrivals on initial contact. One United pilot took exception to being slowed so far from the airport and asked:“Approach, just how far out do you show us, […]