Back to all transcripts

Iron Maiden ED FORCE ONE tour

Iron Maiden's "Ed Force One" piloted by Bruce Dickinson arrives in Fort Lauderdale using callsign 666.

2016-02-22 Miami Approach and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Summary

This recording captures the arrival of Iron Maiden's Boeing 747-400, "Ed Force One," at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport during their 2016 tour. The controllers recognize the band's iconic callsign "666" and engage in professional yet enthusiastic banter with the pilot, lead singer Bruce Dickinson. The transcript highlights the unique intersection of rock history and commercial aviation.

Analysis

The exchange is notable because it features one of the most famous aircraft in music history, "Ed Force One," a Boeing 747-400 leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic (ABD). The flight is piloted by Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of Iron Maiden, who is a fully qualified commercial pilot. The choice of callsign, "ABD 666," is a deliberate and iconic nod to the band's famous song "The Number of the Beast," which the controllers immediately recognize and embrace.

Key moments in the recording include the controller's initial realization ("Is that Iron Maiden?") and the subsequent shift in callsign from the formal "Alpha Bravo Delta" to the more respectful and enthusiastic "Iron Maiden 666 Heavy." This demonstrates the human side of Air Traffic Control, where controllers acknowledge the celebrity status of the flight while maintaining safety and procedural standards. The pilots maintain a high level of professionalism throughout the approach and landing phase.

From an aviation perspective, the communication follows standard procedures for an ILS (Instrument Landing System) approach to runway 10 Left at FLL. The "Heavy" suffix is used for aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 300,000 pounds or more, which includes the Boeing 747. The technical instructions regarding speed restrictions (170 knots or better) and vectoring are typical for sequencing large jets into a busy international airport like Fort Lauderdale.

The recording concludes with a candid moment between two controllers after the aircraft has landed. They express their amazement at the situation, with one controller mentioning the rumor that a band member is actually at the controls. This specific 747 (registration TF-AAK) became a symbol of the "Book of Souls" World Tour, carrying the entire band, crew, and 12 tons of equipment across continents, making this recording a significant piece of aviation and music crossover history.

View Ratings Overall: 8/10
Overall 8 Spicy 2 Rare 9 Competence 10 Fame 9 Educational 5 Entertainment 8 Historical 4 Emotional 6
Tap any message below to get an AI-powered explanation of what's happening

Original ATC Communication

Plain English Translation

PILOT
ABD 666 maintaining 11,800.
PILOT
Flight ABD 666, holding steady at 11,800 feet.
ATC
ABD 666?
ATC
ABD 666, is that you?
PILOT
Alpha Bravo Delta 666.
PILOT
That’s right, Alpha Bravo Delta 666.
ATC
Is that Iron Maiden?
ATC
Is that actually the Iron Maiden plane?
PILOT
Affirm.
PILOT
It sure is.
ATC
That's cool. Iron Maiden 666 Heavy, Miami Approach. What's your preferred runway at Lauderdale?
ATC
That is so cool. Iron Maiden 666, you big heavy jet, this is Miami arrival control. Which runway do you want at Fort Lauderdale?
PILOT
10 Left.
PILOT
We'd like the left-side runway, number 10.
ATC
Expect the ILS for runway 10 Left, Iron Maiden 666 Heavy. Iron Maiden 666 Heavy, reduce speed to 210, then descend and maintain 4,000.
ATC
Plan on using the automated radio guidance for runway 10 Left, Iron Maiden 666. Slow down to 210 knots, then drop down and stay at 4,000 feet.
PILOT
Speed 210 and then descend to 4,000, Iron Maiden 666.
PILOT
Slowing to 210 and heading down to 4,000, Iron Maiden 666.
ATC
Iron Maiden 666 Heavy, descend and maintain 2,000.
ATC
Iron Maiden 666, go ahead and drop down to 2,000 feet and stay there.
PILOT
Descend to 2,000, Iron Maiden 666.
PILOT
Down to 2,000 feet for Iron Maiden 666.
ATC
Iron Maiden 666 Heavy, turn left heading 180, maintain 2,000.
ATC
Iron Maiden 666, turn left to a due south heading of 180 degrees, and keep it at 2,000 feet.
PILOT
180 on the heading, maintain 2,000, Iron Maiden 666. Any speed restrictions for Iron Maiden 666?
PILOT
Turning south to 180 and staying at 2,000, Iron Maiden 666. Any specific speed limits for us?
ATC
Say again?
ATC
Say again?
PILOT
Any speed restrictions for Iron Maiden 666?
PILOT
Are there any specific speed limits you want Iron Maiden 666 to stick to?
ATC
170 knots or better, Iron Maiden 666. And you're five miles from NOVE. Turn left heading 120, maintain 2,000 until established, cleared for the ILS runway 10 Left.
ATC
Keep your speed at 170 knots or higher, Iron Maiden 666. You’re five miles from the NOVE waypoint. Turn left to a heading of 120 degrees, stay at 2,000 feet until you’re lined up with the radio beam, and you’re cleared for the precision landing system on runway 10 Left.
PILOT
Left turn heading 120, cleared for ILS 10 Left, Iron Maiden 666.
PILOT
Turning left to heading 120, cleared for the precision approach to 10 Left, Iron Maiden 666.
ATC
119.3. Good day.
ATC
Switch over to the tower on 119.3. Have a good day.
PILOT
119.3, Iron Maiden 666. Bye-bye. ABD 666 on the localizer, 10 Left.
PILOT
Switching to 119.3, Iron Maiden 666. Bye-bye. Fort Lauderdale Tower, this is ABD 666, we're centered on the guidance beam for runway 10 Left.
ATC
ABD 666, Fort Lauderdale Tower. Runway 10 Left, cleared to land. Wind 060 at 14.
ATC
ABD 666, Fort Lauderdale Tower. You're cleared to land on runway 10 Left. The wind is coming from the northeast at 14 knots.
PILOT
Cleared to land 10 Left, Iron Maiden 666.
PILOT
Cleared to land on 10 Left, Iron Maiden 666.
ATC
Iron Maiden.
ATC
Iron Maiden. (The controller says the name with a hint of recognition and respect.)
PILOT
Iron Maiden, cool.
PILOT
Iron Maiden, pretty cool, right?
ATC
Turn right when able, join Bravo, contact Ground on 121.4.
ATC
Turn right when you’re able, get onto taxiway Bravo, and then talk to the ground controllers on 121.4.
PILOT
Okay, turn right and join Bravo, 121.4.
PILOT
Okay, turning right and getting onto Bravo, switching to 121.4.
ATC
ABD 666, taxi Bravo, turn left on taxiway Lima.
ATC
ABD 666, taxi down Bravo and then take a left onto taxiway Lima.
PILOT
Bravo, then left on Lima, ABD 666.
PILOT
Bravo then left on Lima, ABD 666.
CONTROLLER 01
Did you hear that?
CONTROLLER 01
Did you hear that callsign?
CONTROLLER 02
Wow.
CONTROLLER 02
Wow, that's incredible.
CONTROLLER 01
I've never heard of that.
CONTROLLER 01
I’ve never heard anything like that before.
CONTROLLER 02
Me neither. Must be nice, huh?
CONTROLLER 02
Me neither. Must be a pretty nice way to live, don't you think?
CONTROLLER 01
I was thinking—I thought I heard one of the band members is flying it, too.
CONTROLLER 01
I was just thinking—I’m pretty sure I heard that one of the guys in the band is actually the one flying the plane, too.
CONTROLLER 02
I’ll go out and take a look.
CONTROLLER 02
I’m going to step outside and see if I can get a look at it.
Back to all transcripts

What's happening here?

0:00
0:00