Controllers Jokes / Recent Jokes

Allegedly the German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They, it is alleged, 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 (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206. Speedbird 206: "Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway." Ground: "Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven." The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop. Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?" Speedbird 206: "Stand by, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now." Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?" Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark,...... and I didn't land."

Two air traffic controllers collided in the tower at New York's La Guardia airport. The men involved in the incident were both focusing their attention on donuts and coffee they were individually carrying when they crashed into each other, spilling the contents on a radar machine and short-circuiting it. The controllers however, did not follow FAA regulations by reporting the incident and instead relied on binoculars to observe air traffic at the busy airport. As a result, all 10,000 air traffic controllers nationwide are being required to retrain in the proper procedure of holding a donut and coffee mug so as not to disrupt operations. "We feel secure that flying will be safe again after the retraining is completed," an FAA official said in Washington.

The German controllers at Frankfurt Airport were often short-tempered. They not only expected you to know your 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 and a British Airways 747 (radio call Speedbird 206) after landing. Speedbird 206: "Good morning Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of the active." Ground: "Guten morgan, taxi to your gate." The British Airways 747 pulls onto the main taxiway and stops. Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?" Speedbird 206: "Stand by, ground, Im looking up the gate location now." Ground (with typical German impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you never flown to Frankfurt before?" Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, in 1944. But I didnt stop."

Two air traffic controllers collided in the tower at New York's La Guardia airport.

The men involved in the incident were both focusing their attention on donuts and coffee they were individually carrying when they crashed into each other, spilling the contents on a radar machine and short-circuiting it. The controllers however, did not follow FAA regulations by reporting the incident and instead relied on binoculars to observe air traffic at the busy airport.

As a result, all 10, 000 air traffic controllers nationwide are being required to retrain in the proper procedure of holding a donut and coffee mug so as not to disrupt operations. "We feel secure that flying will be safe again after the retraining is completed," an FAA official said in Washington.