Short Final

Overheard on April 28th, 2009 near PBI: Palm Beach Center:“United 12345, climb and maintain 3,000.” Spirit 12345:“Spirit 12345. Climb and maintain 3,000.” [pause] “And thanks for the compliment!” Adam Greenvia e-mail

Overheard on the radio: Piper 1234W:“Chattanooga tower, Piper 1234W with you at 2,000.” Chattanooga Tower:“Piper 1234W – cleared to land, runway 20.” Piper 1234W:“Roger. Cleared to land, runway 20.” [after a pause] Chattanooga Tower:“Piper 1234W, you just flew past runway 20.” Piper 1234W:“Yep, too much giddyup and not enough whoa. I’ll do a 180 and […]

Pilot:“Hey, Tower – what’s Ft. Myers approach?” Tower:“It’s a radar facility north of us to assist pilots through the area.” Pilot:“Uh, no – I mean, what’s the frequency?” Tower:“Oh, that!” Paul Scottvia e-mail

This was heard the about a week ago when I was out getting night current and was returning to Mid Continent for landing. There was a regional jet that was landing ahead of me in my Mooney. Tower:“Regional jet, taxi to the gate.” Regional Jet:“Roger. To the gate.” [a long pause] Tower:“RJ, you going to […]

Years ago, my co-pilot and I were flying a Beech 90 at FL220 and encountered moderate icing. ATC granted our request for FL240, where we found lighter ice, but we decided to try FL200 in an attempt to exit the icing. The icing was again moderate at FL200. FL180 was not available due to the […]

Approaching my home airport with easterly winds, runway 7 is usually available: Me:“Tower, Cirrus 504PG, 10 miles west. Request 7.” Tower:“Cirrus 504PG, report midfield, downwind, 7.” Me:“Uhh – Cirrus 504PG is 10 miles west, inbound for 7.” Tower (realizing the mistake) :“Let me turn my monitor around. O.K., Cirrus 504PG, report three-mile final for 7.” […]

The recent story about the squawk code that included an “8” reminded me of a recent VFR clearance I got from my home base ground controller. I called for flight following with SoCal while on Ground, and the following conversation took place: GND:“Cessna 1234: After takeoff, turn right to 120; climb and maintain 3,000; squawk […]

I was on my way to a fly-in at KMPV last Saturday, VFR on flight following with Boston Center. It was quite busy. Over 60 planes from all over New England were converging (some IFR, some VFR) when I heard one pilot check on by asking whether that was the correct frequency and, “Do you […]

This one may not have come over the radio, but it’s a priceless cockpit exchange: I was flying with a friend and his 7-year-old nephew a few weeks ago. After take-off, I was talking to departure control and was given numerous vectors and altitudes in the busy DFW airspace. After a few minutes, the youngster […]

While flying an ADS-B test around NYC, I overheard this exchange: ATC:“Airline 123, would you like the visual for 10?” Airliner 123:“Let me ask the Big Guy.” [pause] Airliner 123:“That will be fine.” ATC:“Visual 10 for the Big Guy!” B. J. Riestervia e-mail