You’d like to believe the people flying your plane are all business. Focused. Professional. Not... auditioning for a petting zoo.
But here we are. Recently released air traffic audio caught a couple of pilots—one from Delta, one from American—communicating in what can only be described as “domestic animal.”
It starts with a casual “meow.” Which, okay… weird choice. Then comes another “meow,” followed by a full-on “ruff ruff” from the other cockpit like this is some kind of cross-species improv exercise at 30,000 feet.
Meanwhile, the air traffic controller is doing their best impression of the only adult in the room, stepping in with, “You guys need to act like professional pilots.” Which feels like something you shouldn’t have to say to people flying airplanes.
They briefly stop… then sneak in a few more meows, because of course they do. The controller finally shuts it down with the verbal equivalent of a long sigh.
Now the FAA is investigating, reminding everyone that radio chatter should be, you know… about flying the plane. Minor detail.
Honestly though, part of me thinks a pilot confident enough to meow mid-flight is probably pretty calm under pressure. Still… maybe keep it to one "ruff" or "meow" per trip. Five max. Let’s not get carried away.