FAA and FBO Linemen in Cahoots!

[Jeff_S]

I flew an Angel Flight mission yesterday, taking a patient from Lake City FL up to Augusta GA.  There is a world-class burn center there, and they treat other serious skin ailments as well.  This patient happened to be a Covid survivor, but having been immobile on a ventilator for too long she developed bed sores that needed treatment.  As with all Angel Flights, I did this on IFR as a "compassion flight."  Before the days of ADS-B, this simply meant filing as "CMFXXX" were XXX are the last three elements of your N-number.  So I used to be "Compassion 34 Sierra" on the radio, which is somewhat easy to remember.

Now that compassion flights are covered under the auspices of the Air Care Alliance, we are all assigned a new arbitrary call sign to use.  Mine is CMF1244. And with ADS-B, I have to remember to go into the transponder and change the identifier from my normal N-number to this.  With a G1000 it's not difficult, but still a necessary step.

Which leads me to the lineman at KDNL.  He directed us to parking, and helped my passenger extricate herself from the passenger seat, not the easiest of chores getting out of a Mooney when your backside is in flaming pain and your knees are weak from too much bedrest.  He was smiling and helpful, but as I descended from the wing he turned to me and said "hey, I got a call from the FAA and they have a message for you."

Oh shit, I thought to myself. What did I forget? I'm sure I changed my identifier. I don't remember missing a radio call. I didn't bust any airspace.  What's he talking about?

"They said you need to give me this airplane!" he said with a laugh and a smile.  Ah man, an FBO lineman talking smack!  We had a good laugh, but he sure knew the words to use to incite fear into a pilot.  On the plus side, this was an understated comment on how much he liked my airplane.  Once again, Mooneys rock.

[cbarry]

Somethings are funny and sometimes the same things are not!  It’s all in the delivery.  You flew a great mission with a great aircraft which tends to be cause for us, as pilots, to be on top of our game.   A little extra tension somewhat created and then quickly broken by a light-hearted lineman sounds like it was the icing on the cake.  Thanks for sharing!

[Cptcloud]

My first airplane was an M20A, long ago. My partner could not bring it back from a trip, so I airlined out to get it. I showed up late at night and told the line guy I was there to get my Mooney. With no hesitation he said that old wood wing Mooney, I said that one. He said that thing caught on fire today and burnt up. I was disappointed when he said he was joking.

[carusoam]

Today’s Awesome MSer award is gladly handed over to Jeff! 

Great work! Thanks for posting the details…

Great reminder… I would have to look up how to change my ADSB out ID…

Best regards,

-a-

[Jim Peace]

5 hours ago, carusoam said:

would have to look up how to change my ADSB out ID…

I would have no idea how to do that on a 345.....