Short Final: Watch Your Language

Credit: Wikimedia
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot and his wife experienced their first flight together in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), where the pilot frequently informed air traffic control he was "IMC" when traffic was called out.
  • Upon landing, the pilot's wife confessed she thought "IMC" was "IFC."
  • She jokingly suggested "IFC" was a secret pilot/controller slang for "in the f'ing clouds," despite the pilot clarifying "IMC" meant they were in clouds and unable to see traffic.
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From IFR Magazine reader David Brown:

In 1994, my wife and I flew from Virginia to Daytona, Florida. This was our first flight together in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Several times, the controller called out traffic for us, and on most occasions, I responded with “16 Romeo is IMC.”

When we landed at Daytona Beach, my wife asked me what “IFC” meant. I corrected her that it was “IMC,” which meant we were in the clouds and unable to spot traffic, so we were flying in instrument flight conditions.

After a brief pause, she said, “OK, I knew that, but I thought that maybe ‘IFC’ was some sort of secret pilot/controller lingo that meant we’re ‘in the f’ing clouds.’”

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