Frankfurt International Airport
is notorious for having arrogant controllers who expect their commands to be
carried out swiftly and with precision.
One day there was an exchange that went something like this.
Tower Controller: Speedbird 435 continue to taxiway Charlie and
exit right, hold short of parallel taxiway until cleared.
Speedbird (the call sign for
British Airways) 435: Roger.
As Speedbird 435 exits the
runway at taxiway Charlie he fails to stop short of the parallel taxiway,
turning onto it. The tower immediately
calls him up.
Tower controller: Speedbird 435 you have violated my
instructions, have you never been to this airport before?
Speedbird 435: Sorry Frankfurt, yes I’ve been here before,
in 1944, it was dark, and I was flying a Lancaster at 25,000 feet.
Frankfurt
Tower: a pause, ah… Speedbird continue
to your gate.
______________________
______________________
Flying precision radar
approaches into foreign countries can be a challenge for American aircrews
unfamiliar with the inflection of someone who is speaking English as a second
language. This is an approach I was on
with a C-130 crew from Dyess AFB, TX. I
will try and show the inflection with the added a’s.
Pisa Arrival: Old(a) 45 you are cleareda to descenda to
3,000 feet for hand offa to approach control.
Old 45: Pisa approach, Old 45 level at 3,000 feet for
precision radar to runway 04 right.
Pisa Approach: Olda 45 we have you, you are cleared for
approach you willa begin youra descent in three miles. Maintain heading, maintain altitude, do nota
acknowledge furthra transmissions, Okay?
Old 45, Roger.
Pisa Approach: Olda 45 begina descent nowa, come right o43a
degrees, 7 miles froma touch down
Pisa: Olda 45, continue descent, on glida patha,
heading 043, 6 miles froma touch down
Pisa: Olda 45, slowa ur descent, slightly below
glida patha, heading now 045 degrees, 5 miles from touch down
Pisa: Olda 45, you below glida path now, slowa descent,
heading left 040 degrees, 4 miles from touchdown
Pisa: Olda 45, You well below
glida slope, I tella you to slowa descent, you no listen you busta you ass.
Pisa: Olda 45, You com’n back to glide slow now, heading
040 touchdown in 2 miles.
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