IP: NO COMMENT!!

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

From: John Markoff <markoff () nyt com>

> Subject: Fwd: flying to Germany
>
> The German air traffic controllers at Frankfurt Airport were a
> short-tempered lot. 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 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 morgen, 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, I'm looking up the gate location now."
>
> Ground (with typical impatience):
> "Speedbird 206, have you NEVER flown to Frankfurt before?"
> Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, in 1944. But I didn't stop".