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On The Air: November 2020

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article presents several aviation anecdotes, highlighting humorous and memorable exchanges between pilots and air traffic controllers, including brief readbacks, witty remarks, and a sarcastic controller.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic created unique opportunities for general aviation pilots, such as landing a small Piper Saratoga at a nearly empty LAX multiple times, a privilege previously unattainable due to the dramatic drop in commercial traffic.
  • It also shares aviation trivia, pointing out navigation fixes named "CURLI" and "STOGE" near Boston, referencing characters from the "Three Stooges."
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Some years back at Bradley International Airport, there was a local air taxi company that did a lot of their new pilot training on the mid shift. They would go round and round the same ILS pattern for hours apparently swapping seats as the flight went on.

Often, as the controller on duty, I would issue the same clearance over and over: “Trainer 23, turn left heading 270. Maintain 2500 until established. Cleared ILS 24 approach.”

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