I regularly make a 25-minute flight in my 1946 Piper Cub from our local home airport in Pella, Iowa, to a grass strip in an even smaller town, Sully, Iowa, where I walk the five blocks to the local Coffee Cup Café for lunch and almost always a slice of their most excellent pie. On one particular day, as I lifted off and headed for Sully, I announced, “Pella traffic, Cub 1234 departing three-four … northbound after departure for Papa-India-Echo.”
A couple of seconds later, I heard some laughter on the frequency and a comment by a friendly but unknown pilot who asked if I was going to take any fuel stops between Pella and St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport in my Cub. (St. Pete-Clearwater identifier is KPIE). The unknown flier has likely heard me make my call to Sully quite often. And, it hasn’t hurt my reputation for being “that guy travelling to Sully for lunch and Papa-India-Echo,” and you should know that I am a regular visitor.
—Dave Barnes, Pella, Iowa
A departure from the King County International Airport “Boeing Field,” KBFI, will lead you on a pilgrimage to the 1990s and Seattle’s hometown grunge band, Nirvana. Departing 32L on the CBAIN1 you’ll proceed direct to GNEXX, then turn left at KURRT towards CBAIN, named for the lead guitarist and vocalist Kurt Cobain. When the airfield is departing 14R you’ll fly the NRVNA1 SID direct to NRVNA. Unfortunately, most pilots don’t reach Nirvana since Seattle Approach usually vectors you on course.
—Joelle Erickson, Seattle, Washington
My friend and I were flying his SR22 into Denver’s Centennial Airport. I was handling the radio. We were inbound from the southwest, having just crossed the Rockies. The weather was “severe clear,” so we were VFR at 13,500 feet when Center handed us off to Denver Approach. I checked in, then followed up with a request:
Me: “In case we need it, can I expect a Bravo clearance?”
Approach: “No.”
A few seconds went by, then…
Approach: “That was unprofessional. Unable. My bad, I’m pretty old.”
Me: “I’m older.”
Approach: “Do you want to make a bet?”
Me: “At what age do they make you guys retire?”
Approach: “56.”
Me: “Then I win the bet.”
Approach: “Ooh! You won?”
Me: “70.”
Approach: “Oh man, you got me. Alright, I owe you one. Cleared into the Bravo.”
—Mike Radomsky, Las Vegas, Nevada
Long ago I instructed at the University of Michigan Flyers, a student-run flying club on the Ann Arbor, Michigan, Airport. As with other airports constructed during the post-Lindbergh building boom in the late 1920s or so, it was built on the cheapest land available at the time, which was a swamp.
That regularly meant ground fog in the morning. We instructors were used to requesting Special VFR to depart to the west practice area where the weather would be VFR and the fog would burn off before we returned. Hey, we had to eat.
One morning I taxied out behind another club 150 containing my good friend (Dan), the CFI aboard and a brand new student, so Dan was on the radio. Dan called Ground from N765MF advising where they were and that they wished to depart westbound.
The ground controller who responded had a voice that could cause any gentlemanly genes in any male within hearing to immediately dissolve in favor of more base instincts. The controller said, in that unforgettable voice of hers, “Cessna Five Mike Fox, Ann Arbor weather is now clear with 2.5 miles visibility in fog. State your intentions.”
Dan responded, “Cessna Five Mike Fox …Dishonorable.”
There was a brief hush on the frequency. She then replied, “Cessna Five Mike Fox, hold your present position indefinitely.”
Dan quickly replied, “Cessna Five Mike Fox is requesting Special VFR to the west practice area.” Moments later Dan had a Special VFR clearance and a taxi clearance and operations returned to normal.
—Rick Durden, Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Our supply has been better—thank you—but we’re still only one issue from dry. 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 [email protected]. Be sure to include your full name and location.
