OMG! ATC Helps Land Plane With Text Messages

Never mind the teen pilot who was rescued by using SMS text messaging, this story has got to be epitome of the complete integration of cell phones into our way of life. Five people who were on board a Piper twin-engine aircraft in Ireland know exactly what I'm talking about when they lost complete electrical power last November on their way from Kerry to Jersey. With no way to communicate using radios, the pilot used his cell phone to make contact with air traffic control at the nearby Cork airport. When the pilot lost audio cell phone contact, the quick thinking controller switched to SMS to tell him he had a primary radar signal on the aircraft and that he was cleared to land at Cork International Airport. He continued to use text messages sent to the pilot to aid him in his approach and ultimate safe landing at the airport. I'm pretty sure this means TEOTWAWKI.

[Irish Times via Gizmodo]

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