Since we're on the subject...

[wiscrna]

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 (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign "Speedbird 206":

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

Ground: "Guten Morgen, 206. You vill taxi to your gate."

The big British Airways 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 a moment, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now."

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

Speedbird 206 (coolly): Yes, I have, actually, in 1944. In another type of Boeing, but just to drop something off. At night. And I didn't stop."

 

[horologie_unitas]

interesting.

funny story. i have one question.

" we have heared this conversation ? "

who is we ? honestly. have you ?

cause i have heared this story in 300 different versions.

 

[Dr.Verylong]

As a "local" to Frankfurt I tend to hear more stories from foreign pilots goofing than the tower. And if he was there in 1944 he'd be the age of 80 - if he was a fourteen-year-old boy on that day. The way BA flights are operated, I am inclined to believe this story and the snotty attitude towards anything German fits.

 

[Epimetheus]

I´ve heard it to, but it was supposed to have happened in the -70´s and the pilots reply should have been "Yes I have, but it was 30 years ago, it was dark and I never landed..."