On the Air: August 2022

IFR Staff

Friday, July 08, 2022 at 04:31 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Air traffic controllers are depicted making humorous or sarcastic remarks about aircraft performance, particularly the perceived slow climb rates of smaller planes like the Cirrus.
Pilots and controllers sometimes engage in witty banter and wordplay over the radio, leading to lighthearted and memorable exchanges.
One anecdote features a pilot's wife accidentally broadcasting an unfiltered, indignant comment about a sexist controller over the airwaves due to a PTT switch mix-up.

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I was picking up my IFR clearance early one morning at Gillespie field in San Diego. While copying down my clearance when the tower had just opened, I thought I heard, “Cirrus N1234, Cleared KIWA via MBZ2 departure as filed … 4000, expect 11,000 two minutes after departure … “

After I read that back, Gillespie clearance said, “Cirrus N1234, that was 4000, expect 11,000 10 minutes after departure. Even a Cirrus should be able to do that.”