This photograph gives new perspective to the adage “A survivable landing is a good landing.”
Who says airport planners don’t have a sense of humor?
Now where are you supposed to be looking on short final?
Imagine the phone call: “Honey, I landed a bit long and ended up in the cemetery!”
—Daniel Spitzer, Piermont, New York
I frequently fly my Saratoga from Glens Falls, New York to Ogdensburg, New York, over the Adirondack Mountains and through several large military operating areas (MOA’s). The same controllers at Boston Center work both civilian aircraft and a lot of military aircraft. Recently approaching Ogdensburg, a non-towered field, the Boston controller told me that I was cleared for the RNAV 27 approach and to maintain 3200 until established. He then told me to switch to “my tactical frequency.” Cool.
I will never want to talk on old “Unicom” again. From now on, I want a “tactical frequency” or nothing at all!
—Thomas G. Clements, Glens Falls, New York
Shortly after the ink had dried on my Private Pilot Certificate, I was flying my Musketeer from Chesapeake, Virginia, to West Palm Beach, Florida, for a wedding.
It had been a long night, due to the combination of me not having my instrument ticket yet, and a cold front passing through. That caused me to depart the home airport about 1:30 AM after the weather passed.
I grabbed some avgas at Charleston, South Carolina, and continued southward, while enjoying an incredible sunrise probably over coastal Georgia.
While later talking to Daytona approach, my morning was cheered up considerably by an exchange between the Dayton Approach controller, and a King Air inbound to Daytona Beach from the south. It went something like this:
King Air: (In his best-super deep, cool pro-pilot voice). “Ahh, good morning Daytona approach. King Air 1234, 15 south, landing Daytona, with information Lima.”
Daytona Approach: “King Air 1234, Daytona approach, good morning. Continue up the beach, for a left base to Runway 25R.”
King Air: “King Air 1234, we’ll follow the beach for 25 right. We’ve got a rookie in the right seat today, so that will give him the tour.”
Daytona Approach: “King Air 1234, make that left turn now to the final, and contact Daytona tower on 120.7.”
King Air: “King Air 1234, switching to tower.”
King Air: (while still on approach, we’ve all done this!) “Good morning Daytona tower, King Air 1234 with you, final 25 right.”
Daytona Approach: “King Air 1234, you’re still on Daytona approach.”
King Air: “Oops, forgot to hit the button, sorry, King Air 1234.”
Daytona Approach: “I thought you said the rookie was in the right seat?”
There was nothing in response from the King Air pilot!
—David Brown, Gold Hill, North Carolina
We’re low. More reruns ahead, unless: Please send us your cleverest or most embarrassing moment on the radio—or your favorite fix names or airport names—with a subject of “OTA,” to Frank@IFR-Magazine.com. Be sure to include your full name and location.
