PTinbound
Kool Aid CEO
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2002
- Posts
- 264
Some of you may have seen this before, but I just ran across this from another board. We need all the help we can get to lighten things up around here these days...
About two weeks ago during a late afternoon flight from Tucson into El Paso, I encountered something very funny on the air traffic control frequency. Many hub controllers (LAX, PHX, DFW) are pretty tight with official airplane talk lingo. Once in a while they get chatty on 3rd shift or with the freight guys/gals
at night. Otherwise everything is by the numbers.
Not so down for the controllers in off hub areas, such as El Paso. I had a friend in the right seat who is just learning to fly -- taping the radio transmissions thru the headset.
For clarity:
ABQ - Alburquerque Center (Controls air traffic at intermediate and higher altitudes over large area).
ELP-A El Paso Approach Control (Controls feeder traffic landing at El Paso International and other area airports).
ELP-T: El Paso Control Tower.
November 5234 Victor - My call sign (Cessna Centurion)
November 234 Papa Mike - A Piper Aztec twin engine aircraft having apparent troubles - originally intended to overfly El Paso.
For posterity - the story:
ABQ: Centurion 5234Victor, contact El Paso Approach 124.15.
34V: 124.15, Good day.
ABQ: So, long.
34V: El Paso Approach, Centurion 5234 V descending thru 9,500 ft. with Information India (Landing information).
ELP-A: 5234 Victor, roger, radar contact. Descend to 6,000. Be advised we have a Piper Aztec, 234 Papa Mike on the frequency having some difficulties (commonly issued call when two aircraft have similar call signs to avoid confusioin).
5234V: Roger the Aztec info, 34V.
N 234 PM: (In a VERY heavy Spanish accent - barely intelligible). Affirmative, we are shutting down the engine due to no oil pressure.
ELP-A: Understanding shutting down one engine. Are you declaring an emergency, sir?
234 PM: Ah, yes, affirmative.
ELP-A: Say fuel on board and number of souls?
234 PM: (Long pause): Say again.
ELP-A: Aztec 34 Papa Mike, say your fuel on board, number of souls on board, and intentions.
234 PM: 2 hours fuel and we want to land at El Paso.
ELP-A: And how many souls on board the airplane, Papa Mike?
(Long pause - no answer)
ELP-A: Sir, how many people are on the airplane?
234 PM: Ah, there are two (untelligible)...
ELP-A: Two people on your airplane, Papa Mike?
234 PM: Affirmative (long pause)...and we have no drugs.
ELP-A: (Controller audibly laughing into the mic)...Ah, roger sir, you have two people and no drugs, thank you.
Cactus 425 (An inbound America West flight): Cactus 425 is also landing El Paso with no drugs today.
ELP-A: (Laughing even harder): Roger 425, you can contact the tower now, 118.3.
Southwest 902: Southwest is also landing El Paso, and we're clean too.
ELP-A: (Almost uncontrollable at this point): Aw right, you guys, cut it out. Southwest 902, call the tower, 18.3.
SW 902: 18.3, see ya.
(A minute or two later when we changed over to tower frequency).
5234V: Tower, Centurion 5234 Victor is number two behind Southwest.
ELP-T: Roger, 34V, follow the 737, cleared to land Runway 22, and don't use the D word.
34 Victor: (Laughing), 34 Victor, roger -- restriction noted!
Another day in life along the border. The twin Piper, by the way, landed without incident.
About two weeks ago during a late afternoon flight from Tucson into El Paso, I encountered something very funny on the air traffic control frequency. Many hub controllers (LAX, PHX, DFW) are pretty tight with official airplane talk lingo. Once in a while they get chatty on 3rd shift or with the freight guys/gals
at night. Otherwise everything is by the numbers.
Not so down for the controllers in off hub areas, such as El Paso. I had a friend in the right seat who is just learning to fly -- taping the radio transmissions thru the headset.
For clarity:
ABQ - Alburquerque Center (Controls air traffic at intermediate and higher altitudes over large area).
ELP-A El Paso Approach Control (Controls feeder traffic landing at El Paso International and other area airports).
ELP-T: El Paso Control Tower.
November 5234 Victor - My call sign (Cessna Centurion)
November 234 Papa Mike - A Piper Aztec twin engine aircraft having apparent troubles - originally intended to overfly El Paso.
For posterity - the story:
ABQ: Centurion 5234Victor, contact El Paso Approach 124.15.
34V: 124.15, Good day.
ABQ: So, long.
34V: El Paso Approach, Centurion 5234 V descending thru 9,500 ft. with Information India (Landing information).
ELP-A: 5234 Victor, roger, radar contact. Descend to 6,000. Be advised we have a Piper Aztec, 234 Papa Mike on the frequency having some difficulties (commonly issued call when two aircraft have similar call signs to avoid confusioin).
5234V: Roger the Aztec info, 34V.
N 234 PM: (In a VERY heavy Spanish accent - barely intelligible). Affirmative, we are shutting down the engine due to no oil pressure.
ELP-A: Understanding shutting down one engine. Are you declaring an emergency, sir?
234 PM: Ah, yes, affirmative.
ELP-A: Say fuel on board and number of souls?
234 PM: (Long pause): Say again.
ELP-A: Aztec 34 Papa Mike, say your fuel on board, number of souls on board, and intentions.
234 PM: 2 hours fuel and we want to land at El Paso.
ELP-A: And how many souls on board the airplane, Papa Mike?
(Long pause - no answer)
ELP-A: Sir, how many people are on the airplane?
234 PM: Ah, there are two (untelligible)...
ELP-A: Two people on your airplane, Papa Mike?
234 PM: Affirmative (long pause)...and we have no drugs.
ELP-A: (Controller audibly laughing into the mic)...Ah, roger sir, you have two people and no drugs, thank you.
Cactus 425 (An inbound America West flight): Cactus 425 is also landing El Paso with no drugs today.
ELP-A: (Laughing even harder): Roger 425, you can contact the tower now, 118.3.
Southwest 902: Southwest is also landing El Paso, and we're clean too.
ELP-A: (Almost uncontrollable at this point): Aw right, you guys, cut it out. Southwest 902, call the tower, 18.3.
SW 902: 18.3, see ya.
(A minute or two later when we changed over to tower frequency).
5234V: Tower, Centurion 5234 Victor is number two behind Southwest.
ELP-T: Roger, 34V, follow the 737, cleared to land Runway 22, and don't use the D word.
34 Victor: (Laughing), 34 Victor, roger -- restriction noted!
Another day in life along the border. The twin Piper, by the way, landed without incident.
