a bit of humor from RISKS

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

Date: Fri, 08 Oct 93 14:39:08 +28716
From: "Dr. Tom Blinn (DTN 381-0646, ZKO3 3X05)" <tpb () zk3 dec com>
Subject: Risks of disrupting air traffic control ("Mile High Club")


I'm sure there are multiple risks here -- not the least of which is that
the reported incident disrupted ATC communications for about 50 minutes.
[Dr. Thomas P. Blinn, UNIX Software Group, Digital Equipment Corporation
Mailstop ZKO3-3/W20, 110 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, New Hampshire 03062]


     ------- Forwarded Message


Subject: :-) BRITISH COUPLE BROADCAST THEIR FROLIC IN THE SKIES


From:   MOVIES::RMARSHALL "Richard Marshall 824-3383 EDO-13  08-Oct-1993 1611"
Subj:   This looks true as air traffic in and out was disrupted that night...


(Our Technical Director was returning to Edinburgh from London that night
and was delayed...)


RTw  10/06 2320  BRITISH COUPLE BROADCAST THEIR FROLIC IN THE SKIES


LONDON, Oct 7 (Reuter) - A British couple who made love in a light aircraft
forgot to turn off their transmitter and broadcast their moments of passion to
air traffic controllers and radio enthusiasts on Wednesday.


The couple, flying in a private Cessna 150 plane near the Scottish city of
Edinburgh, began by debating whether they should have sex 5,000 feet (1,500
metres) above ground and join the "Mile High Club."  Their conversation grew
more and more passionate and then ceased.


"We've been trying to raise you for the past 50 minutes," an angry controller
was quoted by the domestic Press Association (PA) as telling the errant couple
when they came in to land.  "We've been listening to your conversation. Very
interesting. Please come and see me when you land."


Fifteen aircraft, including shuttles, holiday jets and cargo planes, had to
use an emergency channel while the two cavorted.


PA said the pilot reported to the authorities at Edinburgh Airport, where he
was carpeted for blocking radio communication.  "Apart from one aspect of his
airmanship -- his failure to check in on a regular basis -- there were no
breaches of aviation rules," PA quoted the airport's air traffic control
manager Paul Louden as saying.


   [No breeches, either.  Gives a new meaning to "Beam me up, Scotty!"  PGN]


------------------------------