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He Finally Got the Message
I was at cruise up in the Northeast when I heard this exchange on the radio. This was a while ago when most airliners were using VOR navigation.
Washington Center said: “Airline 256 turn right 10º and intercept the airway.”
The stiff reply – “We’re on the airway Center.”
About 15 seconds goes by before the response.
Washington Center said: “Airline 256 turn right 20º to intercept the centerline of J225 flight plan route.
The rather nasty reply: “Center, we have the VORs tuned, we have the HSIs adjusted to the proper course and the CDIs are centered. We’re on your stupid airway."
There was dead silence on the frequency.
Finally Center responds: “Airline 256 – Let me put this to you in a way that you might finally understand. Up in the Northeast, things are kind of crowded. You have 4 NM of protected airspace on either side of the center line of your airway. You blew through that about 15 minutes ago. If you will look out to your 11:00 position, you might see a 727 about 20 miles away and headed right for you with about 1000 knots of closure rate. Now unless you want to make the front page tomorrow or at the very least have a certified letter from the FAA waiting for you when you go home, I would suggest that you make an immediate 40º right turn to intercept the airway."
The reply: “We’re in the turn Center.”
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Piedmont Airlines - B-727 Captain - Early 90's
| 3/18/2004
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