On The Air: June 2012

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):…

Editorial Staff

Monday, August 04, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The collection of anecdotes highlights the often humorous, informal, and understanding nature of communication between pilots and air traffic controllers, especially in general aviation.
Pilots frequently make relatable mistakes, such as wrong turns, missed instructions, or using incorrect call signs, which are typically met with patient and good-natured responses from controllers.
The interactions demonstrate a relaxed and supportive atmosphere within the aviation community, allowing for lighthearted moments and "teachable moments."
The stories showcase a range of unique communication quirks, from unconventional equipment testing to mistaken frequency usage, adding to the charm of cockpit-to-tower exchanges.

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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. That’s OK. Cross 9-27, left on Alpha Three.”
Skylane 258: “Cross 9-27, left on Alpha Three.”
Skylane 258 (after another pause): “We just had a teachable moment.”
Tower: “Did that involve a pencil and paper?”
Skylane 258: “Affirmative … and a red-faced instructor.”

Woody Minar
Dresser, Wisc.