On the Air

I was flying from Burlington, Vt., to Louisville, Ky., and my first stop (for fuel) was Bradford Regional airport, in northwest Pennsylvania. Our route took us right over Syracuse, N.Y.:

Anyone whos looked at a Los Angeles chart knows of the intersection LIMBO off the coast from Torrance. Seems appropriate for the region. Bob LancasterOrlando, Fla.…

Several years ago, it was one of those rare days when low-altitude winds were really howling-strong, steady, but relatively turbulence-free. On a dark winter night, we were beating against this headwind. Near Huntsville, we heard the following:Cessna 123: Huntsville Approach, Cessna 123. What is your radar painting for our ground speed?Huntsville Approach: Cessna 123. We show you making a bit more than 140 knots.Cessna 123: Not bad for a Cessna 150. …

lying in to Waterloo Regional in Ontario, where wild turkeys can gather: Waterloo Tower: Aerostar Charlie Fox Kilo Whisky Mike, cleared to land 14. Caution, there is one bird sitting on the runway at the intersection.C-FKWM: Does he look dangerous? Tower: Actually … Id have to say he looks edible. …

We overheard this conversation with Tower at Anoka Blaine-County, Minn., just after a Skylane had landed:Anoka Tower: Skylane Two Five Eight, turn right on Bravo, right on Charlie One, Cross 9-27 to parking.Skylane 258: Bravo, Charlie One, Cross 9-27.Skylane 258 (after a short pause): Anoka Tower, ahhh, we made a wrong turn.Tower: I see that. Thats OK. Cross 9-27, left on Alpha Three.Skylane 258: Cross 9-27, left on Alpha Three. Skylane 258 (after another pause):…

We were inbound for a practice ILS at Portland, Maine, on a seriously windy day. The controller was a trainee wed heard before, and she must have been having a bit of trouble with the wind-as were we, bouncing along in our minimally equipped 1976 Skyhawk:Portland Approach: Cessna Seven Three Eight Two Seven, fly heading 350.Us: 350, Eight Two Seven.Approach (a couple minutes later): Cessna Eight Two Seven, fly heading 330. Us: 330, Eight Two…

Years ago I was flying my RV-4 in the narrow VFR slot between the old Washington ADIZ and the expanded Camp David TFR when I lost my GPS. Without a VOR receiver, I contacted Washington Center. The Call went as follows:Me: Washington Center, Experimental One Four Foxtrot Tango.Washington Center: Experimental One Four Foxtrot Tango, go ahead.Me: Ive lost all navaids over Frederick and Im concerned that I will violate airspace and cause a little excitement.…

Des Moines, Iowa, is busy enough to be interesting but laid back enough to be fun. I was approaching in my Cherokee Six with a King Air holding short:Tower (to me): Baron Eight Romeo Pop, cleared to land.Me: Well, I wish I was a Baron. Cherokee Eight Romeo Pop is cleared to land.King Air: I wish I was a 747. …

After cancelling IFR but still on my way into Providence, R.I.:Providence Approach: Skylane One Four One Whiskey Bravo, follow the MD80 to Runway 5.Me: Follow MD80 to five, One Four One Whiskey Bravo.Approach (after a couple minutes went by): Skylane One Four One Whiskey Bravo, are you following the MD80?Me: Affirmative, following the MD80. The squirrels are running as fast as they can.MD80: Providence, do you want us to slow down to let him catch…

Last month I was climbing out of Dulles. Upon changing frequencies there was a very loud background noise that turned out to be a radio station carrying the Rush Limbaugh show. After trying my other radio to no avail, I explained the problem to the controller.Mooney 231RE: Its hard to listen to you and Rush Limbaugh at the same time.Potomac Approach: Its hard to listen to Rush Limbaugh, period. Ill have a frequency change for…