Short Final

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” A pilot tried to fly non-stop from Utica, New York to Columbus, Ohio in a Warrior with 50-knot headwinds. This was from a May 16, 2002 preliminary NTSB report: N12345:“I’m, ah, out of fuel.” Tower:“Roger, sir. Which airport do you want to try for?” N12345:“I set up a […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” A few years back, when I only had my VFR ticket with only a few night flights under my belt, I was departing Austin, Texas for Lufkin on a perfectly clear, still night. When getting clearance, I asked the controller for flight following. She told me to talk […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Overheard at Augusta (Georgia) Regional Airport: Bonanza:“Bonanza Three Seven November, ready to taxi.” Ground:“Taxi to runway 17. Contact tower, 118.7.” Bonanza:“Uh, taxi to runway 17, and contact tower on, uh – 123.4?” Ground:“Contact tower on 118.7.” Bonanza:“Contact tower on, uh, 7 17.8?” Ground:“No, but you’re getting close.” Frank […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Heard on descent, about 100 miles north of Sacramento, California: Cessna 12345:“Oakland Center, Cessna Four Five Six. Am I still getting flight following? I was looking at my chart and might have missed a call.” Oakland Center:“Cessna Four Five Six, you’re still on my radar and receiving flight […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Perhaps someone should explain to this pilot the subtleties of requesting a pop-up clearance: Skyhawk:“Rochester departure, Skyhawk One Two Three. Request a pop-up clearance to Buffalo. We’re IMC.” Ronald Burkvia e-mail

The following actually happened on April 24, 2009. (N12345 is a Piper Archer with headphones.) Tower:“All aircraft, ATIS information Victor is present.” N12345:“WB Approach, 12345 is inbound with Victor, full stop.” N12345 Passenger:“There are four people on board, and no one is named Victor. Where is Victor on this plane, or did you forget him?”

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” I heard this blooper on Albuquerque Center frequency: Airliner:“Albuquerque, Big Bird One Two Three level at 280 and would like to continue climb.” Center:“I show 280 as your requested altitude.” Airliner (without hesitation) :“Me too. I’ll have to ask my captain about that.” (The subject was dropped.) Art […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” My airplane partner and I were on a short night hop from Lawrence, Massachusetts to Nashua, New Hampshire and had just switched to Nashua tower when we heard the following: Mooney:“We need to return and land.” Tower:“What’s the nature of your problem?” Mooney:“Every time my student touches the […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” One day, while going into Detroit, Michigan, I had this exchange with a controller. They had an intersection MIZAR for many vears and added RAZIM. Me:“I know where MIZAR came from. What’s the origin of RAZIM?” Controller:“That’s MIZAR spelled backwards.” Me:“If I were lexdysic, I’d have known that.” […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Skimming the tops at 6,000 feet, we heard this on New York approach: Jet Set 123:“Approach, if you give us 6,000, it’ll put us right on top.” New York Approach:“Jet Set One Twenty-Three, if I give you 6,000 it’ll put you in the windshield of a Cessna.” Steven […]