Short Final

Overflying KLAL en route to KBOW, we overheard a conversation between KLAL tower and a flight of two military pilots flying training approaches. As they declared “going missed,” the tower issued missed approach clearances and then asked, “So you are Navy?” One pilot responded (with obvious pride), “He is Navy, but I am United States […]

My neighbor spent most of his career as an airline pilot, but he also did one stint during a furlough in the early 1980s as a controller at Van Nuys. He swears the following is true. One day, my friend, who we’ll call Bob (since that’s his name), was reading a clearance to an an […]

Navy basic training: A normally outstanding student was having a bad day. Keying the intercom by mistake, he said, “Sorry, sir, I am all #$@*^! up.” An immediate reply came back: “Station using profanity, please identify yourself!” The instructor instantaneously answered, “He may be #$@*^! up, but not that #$@*^! up!” Charles Thomvia e-mail

While listening to the approach frequency to LAX (Runway 25L), I heard an airliner report a party balloon at 600 feet during his approach on the ILS. The tower proceeded to report the balloon to the aircraft following. While doing so (and clearing another airliner to land), this communication took place: Airliner:“Los Angeles Tower, Airliner […]

Due to firefighting activity, our small airport became a heli-base, and we had a temporary FAA tower. I briefed a recently soloed student who had never been out of the area or to a towered airport on procedures. Of course, one point was quickly forgotten and/or possibly overlooked. Cessna 123:“Scott Valley Tower, 123 requesting back […]

On some air bases, the military uses one side of the field and civilian aircraft use the other side, with the tower in the middle serving both. One day, at one of these fields, a call from an aircraft called in asking, “Hey, Tower, what time is it?” The tower answered, “Who is calling?” The […]

This happened some years ago when I was wrenching as an A&P tech at the old TallMantz aviation hangar at John Wayne Orange County Airport in Southern California. The airport is a very busy airport with a tight mix of air carrier and recreational aircraft, causing occasional high stress moments for all. Radio traffic can […]

Many years ago, as a USAF C-141A/B flight engineer, I was a crew member on a routine supply mission from McGuire Air Force Base (New Jersey) to Thule, Greenland. Oh-dark-thirty take-off. The AC (aircraft commander), Capt. Julie Sangiorgio — great pilot. We had just been handed off to Moncton Center, from Boston Center, I believe. […]

Between Houston and Austin on December 18, 2012, I overheard the following breif conversation between Houston Center and another aircraft: Aircraft:“Houston Center, can you give me a current altimeter setting?” Center:“At your altitude, it is 29.92.” Aircraft:“Uhhhh — yeah.” [A brief pause.] Aircraft:“Guess I will see that one in the back of IFR magazine next […]

A double-dose of holiday merriment to celebrate the season. As a retired NWA/Rep/NCA pilot, I spent a lot of time in and out of ORD. One time, leaving the gate for departure, we heard ground control say to us: “Via the outer and over the bridge, to 32 rt you go.” Very melodic for the […]