Lowflynjack
En-Route
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2014
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Display name:
Jack Fleetwood
Yesterday a friend of mine flew from out local airport down to the coast and back. He flew VFR and did not use flight following or talk to anyone during the flight.
Our airport manager got a call from Houston about an emergency and they not only said the N-number, but also knew the owner's name, which happened to be the pilot's brother. His transponder was on 1200, and probably has been for years. After looking at Flight Aware, all we can think is that he has a tail beacon and it cuts out occasionally, and it did on this flight.
Do they watch us that closely even when we're not talking to them? That seems to be the only way this could have happened.
Our airport manager got a call from Houston about an emergency and they not only said the N-number, but also knew the owner's name, which happened to be the pilot's brother. His transponder was on 1200, and probably has been for years. After looking at Flight Aware, all we can think is that he has a tail beacon and it cuts out occasionally, and it did on this flight.
Do they watch us that closely even when we're not talking to them? That seems to be the only way this could have happened.