“Cessna 53223 cleared to Runway 18 via Charlie taxiway, Pasquale 3 departure, squawk bingo.”
That’s a typical controller clearance for my friend Charlie Peck.
Squawk Bingo
Key Takeaways:
- Charlie Peck, a retired pilot, developed a friendly, long-standing rapport with Portland air traffic controllers due to his routine daily flights to Pasquale's Restaurant in Auburn-Lewiston.
- An inside joke began when controllers assigned Charlie a squawk code matching his tail number, leading him to exclaim "Bingo!"
- His frequent trips inspired controllers to create a custom clearance, "Pasquale 3 departure" (meaning Auburn-Lewiston at 2,000 feet) paired with "squawk Bingo."
- This personalized clearance became a beloved custom, shared among controllers and even overheard and explained to commercial pilots, highlighting the unique camaraderie.
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