Short Final

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” With my CFII Jim in the right seat, we were on vectors to Allentown Airport for practice instrument approaches. En route, we heard the approach controller making the following call to another pilot in the area. Approach:Cessna One Three Four, two o’clock, same altitude, have you spotted it? […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” During a recent departure from Essex County Airport in Caldwell, New Jersey, the tower controller must have been frazzled with intensive student training in the pattern: Tower:Bonanza Seven Zero Mike Romeo, contact New York departure and have a good flight. Bonanza:To departure. Bonanza Zero Mike Romeo. Have a […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Returning home from the West Coast a few years ago, we landed in Flint, Mich. The Midwest had had weeks of rain and overcast skies that summer, and I got this on departure: “Bonanza Five Four Seven Zero Victor, when you get on top, would you look out […]

When I was learning to fly in 1967 in Merced, Calif., we had no control tower. We were taught that after engine start-up, we should pretend to call the tower for taxi clearance. Another pilot trainee started his engine, then immediately started to taxi. The instructor stopped him and advised that he had forgotten to […]

I do believe I tried to pass on this little edict many years ago without success, and since I never saw a response, I will try one more time, just for my old Yankee mate, Ken Sunderland: An Aussie grazier flew his antique Auster aircraft to Mascot Airport, Sydney, some time back to enact some […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” The American League Championship series between Cleveland and Boston began on a Friday night. Early the next morning, after an IFR handoff to Boston Center, the pilot of a Boston-bound aircraft posed the all-important question: Piper 123:Sox win last night? Boston Center:Yeah! Piper 123:That’s too bad. [thoughtful pause] […]

August 30, 2007 Piper Arrow pilot was on a 1/4-mile final, making a late-night emergency landing at MSP due to a faulty nosegear indicator, with fire trucks and emergency vehicles lining both sides of the runway. Overheard:Wow, not even [U.S. President] Bush gets this kind of treatment when he lands! (The nose wheel held up […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” We were just being handed off after leaving Ft. Lauderdale (FXE) to N. Eleuthra (MYEH). Me:Miami Center, Chieftan 867CJ leaving 2,000 for 7,500. Miami (approach):Chieftan 7CJ, you can fly direct if you stop calling me “center.” Me:Roger that … approach.

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Flying our Bonanza from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Morristown, New Jersey at 6,000 feet with a big thunderstorm to the west, we were handed off to New York approach: Me:Approach, Bonanza Eight Zero Lima level 6,000, heading 270. Approach:Bonanza Eight Zero Lima, descend and maintain 5,000. Me:Okay to […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” While flying through Joshua Approach airspace in Southern California: Joshua Approach:“Bonanza Five Victor X-Ray, be advised you have traffic at your 12 o’clock 10 miles, an F-15.” Bonanza 5VX:“Roger, we’ll be looking, no contact.” Approach:“Bonanza Five Victor X-Ray, traffic should be no factor but should be fun to […]