On the Air: March 2015

My brother is an air traffic controller here in our city. My father and I occasionally get the chance to be on frequency with him when his schedules and our flights overlap. Radio transmission quality makes it hard to know for sure if we are talking to him or not.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots frequently experience humorous and memorable interactions with air traffic controllers, ranging from family banter and playful readback requirements to witty remarks about aircraft performance.
Aviation includes unexpected quirky details, such as GPS approach fixes named after classic science fiction movie characters.
The communication dynamic between pilots and ATC can lead to tense moments, such as managing unresponsive traffic, but often concludes with professionalism and a touch of humor.

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One early morning, I was getting my IFR clearance. While I was pretty sure it was my brother, I dutifully read back my clearance. I knew it was my brother when the reply came back: “1063W readback incorrect. Every transmission must start with ‘Oh Most Honorable Controller’.”