putting a "the" in the callsign
Join Date: Jun 2001
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I'm going to start doing it just to annoy all you constipated pedants out there!
If you're not "the" flight in question what exactly are you?
While I'm at it I'll start saying "with you" and "coming down"at every opportunity
ps Redstripe, I hope your RT is more concise than your spelling.
If you're not "the" flight in question what exactly are you?
While I'm at it I'll start saying "with you" and "coming down"at every opportunity
ps Redstripe, I hope your RT is more concise than your spelling.
Join Date: Jul 2000
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There is only I more thing more annoying than using 'The' in the callsign...Its the thread.
Let me explain. There was I flying and nothing like this used to bother me. Then I read this thread, and a few days later 'The Monarch' calls on to London, then Gatwick app, director, tower and finally ground (following us). Now it never used to bother me but 'The monarch' now had me screaming!
Perhaps I should 'Chirp' PPRuNe as having a negative effect on flight safety...
ps...Why on earth did he only use 'The' on first call, subsquent calls only used 'Monarch'?
Let me explain. There was I flying and nothing like this used to bother me. Then I read this thread, and a few days later 'The Monarch' calls on to London, then Gatwick app, director, tower and finally ground (following us). Now it never used to bother me but 'The monarch' now had me screaming!
Perhaps I should 'Chirp' PPRuNe as having a negative effect on flight safety...
ps...Why on earth did he only use 'The' on first call, subsquent calls only used 'Monarch'?
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Notso-
I recommend the book 'Eats, Shoots & Leaves', by Lynne Truss. Billed as 'The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation', it's actually a very entertaining read.
I work with guys who's first language is not English, so you can expect some serious grammatical mangling. The two that irritate me are:
"2350 coming down" having been allocated a squawk, and the worst,
"(The!)Callsign XYZ 20nm East abeam this time".
What are these people? Time Travellers?
I recommend the book 'Eats, Shoots & Leaves', by Lynne Truss. Billed as 'The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation', it's actually a very entertaining read.
I work with guys who's first language is not English, so you can expect some serious grammatical mangling. The two that irritate me are:
"2350 coming down" having been allocated a squawk, and the worst,
"(The!)Callsign XYZ 20nm East abeam this time".
What are these people? Time Travellers?
Join Date: Jul 2002
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From flying down here in the caribbean and hearing "the" used all the time I always figured it was some rasta R\T thing.
But I do fly in the Nertherlands Antilles, so that brings up the question of the dutch again. Maybe KLM picked it up down here and then proceeded to infect the rest of Europe?
Timts
But I do fly in the Nertherlands Antilles, so that brings up the question of the dutch again. Maybe KLM picked it up down here and then proceeded to infect the rest of Europe?
Timts
Join Date: Mar 2001
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It annoys me though when a certain aviation monthly KEEPS ON referring to airports in the following manner:
London's Heathrow Airport and
London's Stansted Airport...
It is both shorter and less annoying to write:
London Heathrow, Stansted.
Those that are sad enough to read it (like me) will know what I mean!
London's Heathrow Airport and
London's Stansted Airport...
It is both shorter and less annoying to write:
London Heathrow, Stansted.
Those that are sad enough to read it (like me) will know what I mean!
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Anyone else out there old enough to remember Alain Delon, "Ello Parees, zis is ze Concorde". To which he receives the reply..."You are cleared to land!".
Incidentally, this was on first contact with Paris!
Oh if only life was so simple!
Incidentally, this was on first contact with Paris!
Oh if only life was so simple!
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I fly with a dutch captain, and he says it.
BTW, some people seem to get very hot and bothered over other users grammatical accuracy on threads. Get a life, we're not applying for jobs, just messing around on a computer, probably half pissed at midnight before going to bed.
I'm off for some milk and cookies!
BTW, some people seem to get very hot and bothered over other users grammatical accuracy on threads. Get a life, we're not applying for jobs, just messing around on a computer, probably half pissed at midnight before going to bed.
I'm off for some milk and cookies!
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I work with guys who's first language is not English,
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Jockflyer,
Merely highlighting the incongruity(?) of whinging about harmless verbal grammatical foibles by the use of foibled text!
When did Hadrian's Wall become the Irony Curtain?
Let's start a thread on how irritating the phrase "get a life" is.
Merely highlighting the incongruity(?) of whinging about harmless verbal grammatical foibles by the use of foibled text!
When did Hadrian's Wall become the Irony Curtain?
Let's start a thread on how irritating the phrase "get a life" is.
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To answer the original question, I think it all started in the US.
I remember in the 60's it was always "The" Clipper XXX. Then a UK long haul airline seemed to take it up in a big way when they got the 707.
I remember in the 60's it was always "The" Clipper XXX. Then a UK long haul airline seemed to take it up in a big way when they got the 707.
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It's good to know there can be no serious problems in aviation if such an irrelevant and unimportant nonentity of a minor facet of RT phraseology practice generates such a serious discussion!
Just another number
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In nearly 36 years of using the 'Speedbird' callsign I have never been guilty of this. However in the past couple of weeks, after reading this thread, I have started to do it, quite unintentionally. It must be the subconscious power of PPRuNe.
The Airclues
The Airclues
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I have never heard any other airline other than BA use "THE SPEEDBIRD" - we always piss ourselves laughing (which is very unfortunate for the next person who has to fly in our seats). [It always seems to be some pompus person who says it!]
Needless to say as others have mentioned, we too become "THE XXXX" , and a a miracle ensues - THE SPEEDBIRD, suddenly changes callsign, and becomes just SPEEDBIRD!
Always fantastic for a laugh. Keep it up!
Needless to say as others have mentioned, we too become "THE XXXX" , and a a miracle ensues - THE SPEEDBIRD, suddenly changes callsign, and becomes just SPEEDBIRD!
Always fantastic for a laugh. Keep it up!
Just another number
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blueloo
If airlines other than BA were to use "THE SPEEDBIRD" then it could be very confusing for ATC. 
Airclues
I have never heard any other airline other than BA use "THE SPEEDBIRD"
Airclues