Posted: 6/1/2009 6:49:37 PM EDT
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The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as 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 (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. |
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German pilot is approaching Dulles Airport and radios the tower for permission to land –– in German.
Tower responds: "Pilot, please repeat your transmission in English." Pilot comes back, in English: "I'm a German flying a Lufthansa plane full of more Germans to an international airport - why should I have to use English?" Tower responds: "Because we won the war." _MaH |
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Quoted:
German pilot is approaching Dulles Airport and radios the tower for permission to land –– in German. Tower responds: "Pilot, please repeat your transmission in English." Pilot comes back, in English: "I'm a German flying a Lufthansa plane full of more Germans to an international airport - why should I have to use English?" Tower responds: "Because we won the war." _MaH Oh man thats a good one too |
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Different version said to have actually occurred years ago at "a big US airport" (naturally heard by the friend of someone who knew a guy that...etc.):
Lufthansa Flt 222: "Tower, this is Lufthansa 222; reqvesting diversion to apron" Tower: "Lufthansa 222 roger –– turn left xxx to apron. What seems to be the problem, sir?" LH222: "Tower, vee are making the final manifest und vee cannot account for vun uff the passengers." [long silence] Unknown American pilot: "Uh... Lufthana 222 –– did you check the ashtrays?" |