Short Final

Overheard on a recent trip from Cross City to DeLand (Fla.), with flight following provided by Orlando Approach: Orlando Approach:“Cardinal 12345, destination is 12 o’clock 10 miles. Advise you have destination in sight.” Cardinal 345:“Approach, 345 has destination in sight.” Orlando Approach:“Cardinal 345, Squawk VFR, frequency change approved, no traffic observed between you and your […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” The following exchange took place en route to the opening day at Sun ‘n Fun one April: Me:“Jacksonville Center, Bonanza Four Seven Two Zero Yankee. 11,000.” Center:“Bonanza Four Seven Two Zero Yankee, roger. Jacksonville altimeter 30.12.” Me:“Are you working a lot of traffic to Lakeland this afternoon?” Center:“I’ll […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” En route from San Antonio, Texas to Kerb Wille, I let my 19-year-old private pilot daughter run the radios: daughter:“Center, Piper Five Six Six Seven Romeo.” Center:“Piper Six Seven Romeo, go ahead.” daughter:“Request flight following.” Center:“Piper Six Seven Romeo, state vour location, altitude, and destination.” [long pause] daughter:“Uh, […]

Heard a few years ago whilst flying a 747 from LAX to LHR: Salt Lake Center:“Airline 123, you bound for Vegas?” Airline 123:“Yup.” Salt Lake Center:“You a [DC-]10?” Airline 123:“Yup.” Salt Lake Center:“Well, I guess your passengers need a 10 to take home their winnings?” Airline 123:“Nope! Our passengers can take home their winnings in […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Many years ago, in Calgary: Snooty voice:“Ah, tower, Air Canada Two Oh Four. This will be a fully automatic landing if you’d care to observe.” [later …] Imitative voice:“Ah, tower, this is Canadian Six Seventy Five [rival]. This will be a fully manual landing, if you’d care to […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Returning to Princeton, New Jersey in a Seminole, I was proudly clipping along at 140 knots and can only assume that my deep voice and professional-sounding tone led to us appearing to be more than we were: Me:“New York approach, Seminole Two Two Eight, 5000.” Approach:“Seminole Two Two […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Heard at Lawrence, Massachusetts: Tower:“Arrow Eight Two Xray, slowest possible speed. Traffic ahead is an ultralight on a half-mile final.” Ultralight:“Tower, we’ll climb out so he can land.” Tower:“Roger, climb and maintain 1700, runway heading. Arrow Eight Two Xray, cleared to land, caution, mowing in progress, right side […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Returning to Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York on New Year’s Day, I heard the following exchange on the air between the tower controller and the pilot of a Piper Arrow: Arrow:“Republic tower, Arrow One Two Three Four Five, eight miles north, inbound with India.” Tower:“Arrow Three Four […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Overheard in the vicinity of Buchanan Tower in Concord, California: Cessna 123:“Buchanan Tower, this is Cessna One Two Three, seven south of Buchanan, 2000 feet, request transit, northbound.” Buchanan Tower:“Cessna One Two Three, transition approved. Report clear.” [30-second pause] Cessna 123:“Tower, this is Cessna One Two Three. Where […]

Romance in the air is alive and well. While on a CAP flight I heard the following over departure control: Control:Bonanza 123, squawk 4567. A short while later … Control:Bonanza 123, do you have a passenger named [woman’s first name] aboard? Bonanza 123:Affirmative. Control:Can you put her on? We are holding an important message for […]