Buffett Comments on Aviation Route Named After Him

Back in December we told you that Jimmy Buffett had an aviation departure procedure out of Palm Beach International Airport named after him. An article in today’s Orlando Sentinel mainly focusing on Donald Trump also mentions Buffett’s departure and has a quote from him:

Buffett, a licensed pilot, said in a statement released by his publicist that he has flown BUFIT.

“The first thing that came to my mind was, ‘What would Orville and Wilbur Wright think about all this,'” he said. “I am honored to be a departure from Palm Beach. I hope it is a path that takes many pilots and passengers on magical voyages.”

Gregory Gish, the air traffic worker charged with naming the spots, was a fan of both Trump’s television show “The Apprentice” and of Buffett’s music, said his former boss, Carl Calcasola. Gish, who retired last year and could not be reached for comment, also named a bit of sky after Trump’s catchphrase, “You’re fired,” which comes out as UFIRD in controller-speak, and another after Buffett keyboardist Michael Utley.

The BUFIT ONE Departure, as it’s called, is used for standardizing routes for aircraft taking off from Palm Beach and departing to the south. Obviously this is a route that Jimmy himself is likely to take often.

The procedure calls for flying to waypoints with the names JIMEY, BUFIT, FINNS, PYRUT, and UTLEY (referring to Michael Utley, Jimmy’s long-time keyboard player). There are also two Trump-related waypoints on the BUFIT ONE: UFIRD and DONLD. Aviation waypoints are five letters long and can only be used once in the United States, hence the funny spellings.

Buffett has kept his airplanes at Palm Beach International for several years. Learn more about Jimmy’s flying and see his airplanes here.

Read the full Sentinel article here.

Update – The TC Palm illustrates the route: