Canadian Cynic

Totally irrelevant, aviation-related humour

(And, on occasion, when I'm pressed for time, I'll toss out some inconsequential humour.)

Apparently, the German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one's gate parking location but how to get there without any assistance from them.

So it was with some amusement that we (PanAm 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747 (radio call name "Speedbird 206") after landing:

Speedbird 206: "Good morning Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of the active runway."

Ground: "Guten morgen! You vill taxi to your gate!"

The British Airways 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and stopped.

Ground: "Speedbird 206, do you not know vare you are going?"

Speedbird 206: "Stand by, ground, I'm looking up the gate location now."

Ground (with impatience): "Speedbird 206, haff you never flown to Frankfurt before?"

Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, in 1944. But I didn't stop."