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On the Air

On The Air: April 2019

Recently during the government shutdown, Atlanta Center had a hard time communicating with a Citation who seemed to be out of range. They asked me to call up the Citation and tell him that he needed to go to another frequency. We reached the Citation and relayed the message. We reported this back to the Center controller who was grateful for the help. I replied, Happy to help. Well send you a bill.

Editorial Staff
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Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Pilots and air traffic controllers often engage in humorous and witty exchanges, ranging from jokes about government shutdowns to the awkwardness of unique aircraft callsigns like "M-SEXY."
  • Radio communications can highlight situations where pilots assert their authority as Pilot In Command (PIC) when safety dictates a deviation from ATC instructions, sometimes leading to minor repercussions.
  • The article illustrates amusing moments stemming from regional differences in ATC procedures, such as complex East Coast clearances, and pilots using self-deprecating humor to manage the situation.
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Recently during the government shutdown, Atlanta Center had a hard time communicating with a Citation who seemed to be out of range. They asked me to call up the Citation and tell him that he needed to go to another frequency. We reached the Citation and relayed the message. We reported this back to the Center controller who was grateful for the help. I replied, “Happy to help. We’ll send you a bill.”

Without missing a beat, the controller came back and said, “Can’t send us a bill. Government is shut down.”

Editorial Staff

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