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

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Key Takeaways:

Aviation communication often involves humorous exchanges and a degree of informality, particularly in general aviation settings.
Minor pilot errors, miscommunications, and unusual situations are frequently met with understanding, flexibility, and lighthearted banter by both aircrew and ground staff.
The anecdotes highlight common "teachable moments" and the human element in flight operations, showcasing a good-natured approach to resolving issues.

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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.