ATC Humour (Merged)
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Madrid FIR
The civil apron at a rocky Mediterranean airport was only thirty yards away from the border. Every July a large, brightly lit all night fair used to set up on the waste ground immediately north of the border and apron. One evening the last flight in from UK was delayed till nearly midnight, well after normal closing time. On entering the apron and heading straight for the fair the following exchange took place:
Pilot: Sorry for the delay, but many thanks for staying open. I see the fair is in full swing.
Tower (Sarcastically): Yeah. Roll up, roll up. Come and see the bearded lady.
Pilot: Thanks, but we've got our own (giggle). It's Derek,the chief purser.
Pilot: Sorry for the delay, but many thanks for staying open. I see the fair is in full swing.
Tower (Sarcastically): Yeah. Roll up, roll up. Come and see the bearded lady.
Pilot: Thanks, but we've got our own (giggle). It's Derek,the chief purser.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: South Africa
Young lady checks in with her JS41 on FAJS Radar the other day, I give her descent clearance.
She asks,"Would you like us to descend now?"
I say,"No, you can go down whenever you're ready."
She took it rather well I thought.
She asks,"Would you like us to descend now?"
I say,"No, you can go down whenever you're ready."
She took it rather well I thought.
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
From: Land of damp and drizzle
I'm a helicopter pilot (never flown a stuck-wing) and some years back, I was doing some fun flying out of Cape Town Int. while on holiday in South Africa. For those who aren't familiar with FACT, the runway is N-S, with the GA hangers etc. on the West side. I'd been sightseeing out to the East with a heli-load of family, and wished to return to base; the following conversation ensued:
Me: Cape Town tower, helicopter XXX overhead Bottlery, request active crossing to return to base hangar
Twr: helicopter XXX, after the Nationwide 747-200 departs, crossing approved, call clear
Me: uhh...tower, I can see a number of aircraft around the active threshold, which one is the 747-200?
*pause*
Twr: helicopter XXX, after the departing big red jet, crossing approved, call clear
Me: cross behind the big red jet, call clear, helicopter XXX, thanks!
Let it not be said that helicopter pilots are incapable of following simple instructions!
Me: Cape Town tower, helicopter XXX overhead Bottlery, request active crossing to return to base hangar
Twr: helicopter XXX, after the Nationwide 747-200 departs, crossing approved, call clear
Me: uhh...tower, I can see a number of aircraft around the active threshold, which one is the 747-200?
*pause*
Twr: helicopter XXX, after the departing big red jet, crossing approved, call clear
Me: cross behind the big red jet, call clear, helicopter XXX, thanks!
Let it not be said that helicopter pilots are incapable of following simple instructions!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: UK
something that made me chuckle at EGNJ
It was a nice day at EGNJ and I was observing a Cessna 172 when I heard this over the radio
radio transmission went like this
Cessna: G-TS ready for departure
TWR: GTS Hold position Vulcan on finals for runway 21
Cessna: Roger Hold position at holding point Bravo and I think someone is pulling your leg that vulcan looks more like a Nimrod to me.
TWR: Yeah alright, he has a call sign of Vulcan and he is doing instrument training.
I thought this was very funny I hope you do to.
Regards Stude
radio transmission went like this
Cessna: G-TS ready for departure
TWR: GTS Hold position Vulcan on finals for runway 21
Cessna: Roger Hold position at holding point Bravo and I think someone is pulling your leg that vulcan looks more like a Nimrod to me.
TWR: Yeah alright, he has a call sign of Vulcan and he is doing instrument training.
I thought this was very funny I hope you do to.
Regards Stude
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: FL330
A good one I heard recently, a friend of mine was doing his first solo circuit flight...
"ABC is lefthand downwind 23L touch and go"
Tower - "ABC, continue approach for 23R, you're number 3 behind a C172 late downwind and a Beech1900 on 3 mile final for the left"
"Cleared to land 23R ABC"
"No, you are not cleared to land, you are cleared to continue for the right, number 3, report sighting of a cessna and a beech about to land on the left"
"copy traffic, cleared for 23L, ABC"
"No!! you're now number 2 behind a cessna also for the right, thats 23R!!!"
"copy number 3"
give up!
"ABC is lefthand downwind 23L touch and go"
Tower - "ABC, continue approach for 23R, you're number 3 behind a C172 late downwind and a Beech1900 on 3 mile final for the left"
"Cleared to land 23R ABC"
"No, you are not cleared to land, you are cleared to continue for the right, number 3, report sighting of a cessna and a beech about to land on the left"
"copy traffic, cleared for 23L, ABC"
"No!! you're now number 2 behind a cessna also for the right, thats 23R!!!"
"copy number 3"
give up!
See and avoid
Joined: Mar 2003
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 757
Likes: 131
From: USA
I want to thank ATC everywhere for being calm, cool, and collected. There's only been twice when my alto voice rose to soprano or falsetto. I was still relaying the appropriate information, but your calm demeanor helped me focus on flying and landing the plane, even if it concerned details such as "What happened to the rear wheel on the taildragger I'm trying to land? Where did it go?" or (okay, minor) I can't see you due to haze, but "Hold your current altitude in VFR. There are two A-10s incoming five hundred feet above you."
Joined: Sep 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 940
Likes: 57
From: Scotland
Scene: Jersey this morning, OVC000 RVR around Cat I minima, 08/08
Flybe Dash 8 lands..
TWR: Jersey XXX Taxi stand 9, report runway vacated...
...welcome to the warmest place in Britain
Flybe Dash 8 lands..
TWR: Jersey XXX Taxi stand 9, report runway vacated...
...welcome to the warmest place in Britain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Yesterday I was trying to get two directs for two flights into the next sector with splitting routings. A faster one (heavy out of LHR)to Asia and a Medium-jet for Munich, operating for LH (Regional sub-branch).
In order to start coordination I had to know the speeds.
Since about two minutes the flight was already enroute and not anymore in a departure phase.
Me: "Report planned crusing mach-no."
Pilot: "Mach .79"
Me: "And was is your present speed?"
Pilot: "...... .80"
LOL
In order to start coordination I had to know the speeds.
Since about two minutes the flight was already enroute and not anymore in a departure phase.
Me: "Report planned crusing mach-no."
Pilot: "Mach .79"
Me: "And was is your present speed?"
Pilot: "...... .80"
LOL
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: UK
This may have been posted here before but anyway!
An instructor flying a C172, let's call it AB-AAZ. On a marginal wx day was asked by ATC:
"AAZ, control, confirm you are in Victor Mike Charlie"
Instructor replied:
"Negative control I'm in Alpha Alpha Zulu"
An instructor flying a C172, let's call it AB-AAZ. On a marginal wx day was asked by ATC:
"AAZ, control, confirm you are in Victor Mike Charlie"
Instructor replied:
"Negative control I'm in Alpha Alpha Zulu"
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 924
Likes: 1
From: Australia
This is taken from another site.
I am not ATC.
I was a controller at Albany Georgia tower back in the '70s, and a Cherokee was on downwind, with the instructor introducing his student to radio procedures. Fortunately for me, their intercom locked on for a bit and I got all the dialog between the student and the instructor. It went like this:
instructor:
"Say 'Albany tower.'"
student pilot:
"Ah — Al-Albany tower?"
instructor:
"'This is Cherokee 76 Whiskey.'"
student:
"This is — is — Ch-Cherokee — ?"
instructor:
"'76 Whiskey.'"
student:
"Seven — 76 Whiskey?"
instructor:
"'We are on left downwind for runway 22, touch and go.'"
student:
"We are on — ?"
instructor:
"... 'Left downwind for 22.'"
student:
"Left down-downwind —"
instructor:
"... 'Downwind for 22, touch and go.'"
student:
"I don't want to learn to fly no more!"
I am not ATC.
I was a controller at Albany Georgia tower back in the '70s, and a Cherokee was on downwind, with the instructor introducing his student to radio procedures. Fortunately for me, their intercom locked on for a bit and I got all the dialog between the student and the instructor. It went like this:
instructor:
"Say 'Albany tower.'"
student pilot:
"Ah — Al-Albany tower?"
instructor:
"'This is Cherokee 76 Whiskey.'"
student:
"This is — is — Ch-Cherokee — ?"
instructor:
"'76 Whiskey.'"
student:
"Seven — 76 Whiskey?"
instructor:
"'We are on left downwind for runway 22, touch and go.'"
student:
"We are on — ?"
instructor:
"... 'Left downwind for 22.'"
student:
"Left down-downwind —"
instructor:
"... 'Downwind for 22, touch and go.'"
student:
"I don't want to learn to fly no more!"
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
From: Rugby
Overheard at a fly-in for old flyers (Operation Propeller) a couple of years ago.
"G-XX request clearance for take off"
TWR- "Hold where you until You are cleared. There is a wheelchair close to to the edge of the active"
"G-XX Roger that Tower, number one after departing wheelchair?"
TWR - "Sorry about that XX, The wheelchair is non radio, so I can't get him to expidite!"
"G-XX request clearance for take off"
TWR- "Hold where you until You are cleared. There is a wheelchair close to to the edge of the active"
"G-XX Roger that Tower, number one after departing wheelchair?"
TWR - "Sorry about that XX, The wheelchair is non radio, so I can't get him to expidite!"
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 7
From: EU
Blocked transmissions are often mildly amusing.
Today, London airspace
ATC: "RYR123, at GIBSO turn right"
Looks of puzzlement followed by laughter in the cockpit.
RYR: "Please say again, RYR123"
ATC: "RYR123, at GIBSO turn right 10 degrees"
Today, London airspace
ATC: "RYR123, at GIBSO turn right"
Looks of puzzlement followed by laughter in the cockpit.
RYR: "Please say again, RYR123"
ATC: "RYR123, at GIBSO turn right 10 degrees"
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: UK
I'm doing my PPL training at the moment and was on a nav ex last week. Talking to Lakenheath was interesting, and also heard the following little exchange:
"G-XX have you made your drop yet?"
"Say again G-XX"
"Ah it don't matter anyway. Service terminated. Change to en-route frequency".
"G-XX have you made your drop yet?"
"Say again G-XX"
"Ah it don't matter anyway. Service terminated. Change to en-route frequency".
Last edited by Sensible Flyer; 28th June 2011 at 19:09.
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
From: Hellfire Corner
ATC: AAZZ are you still on frequency?
Pause. Other transmissions.
ATC: AAZZ are you still on frequency?
Pause.
ATC: AAZZ are you still on frequency?
Pause.
AAZZ: was that for me?
ATC: AAZZ suggest you contact 111.11
AAZZ: Sorry, we could hear you talking to other people but not to us.
Slight pause.
ATC: Roger. Contact 111.11 goodbye.
Unidentified a/c: What was that about?
ATC: Search me!
Pause. Other transmissions.
ATC: AAZZ are you still on frequency?
Pause.
ATC: AAZZ are you still on frequency?
Pause.
AAZZ: was that for me?
ATC: AAZZ suggest you contact 111.11
AAZZ: Sorry, we could hear you talking to other people but not to us.
Slight pause.
ATC: Roger. Contact 111.11 goodbye.
Unidentified a/c: What was that about?
ATC: Search me!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: St Gallen
Flying to Samedan in winter as an Y flight plan. Italian controler see, that we are reaching last waypoint in our flight plan:
ATC: OK-FTR you are reaching destination. What are your intentions?
We: We would like to ski whole weekend.
ATC: OK-FTR you are reaching destination. What are your intentions?
We: We would like to ski whole weekend.