On the Air: December 2022

IFR Staff

Saturday, November 05, 2022 at 02:10 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Air traffic controllers (ATC) can have humorous misunderstandings, such as confusing a float plane with an emergency water landing.
Radio exchanges often include lighthearted banter, from controllers settling bets with pilots to pilots and ATC teasing each other about handwriting.
Pilots share moments of ego deflation, like realizing an ATC "good job" was for basic procedural compliance rather than exceptional skill.
ATC can be surprisingly helpful, with one controller even warning a pilot about high landing fees and rerouting them to a more affordable airport.

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I was talking to New York Approach when I heard the following:

GrayRider 5 (NY State Police): “Albany Approach, GrayRider 5. Change of mission. That plane in the water, well it’s confirmed as a float plane, so it’s now direct to Deer Park for GrayRider 5.”