[eyeonit]

The German controllers at Frankfurt Airport were a short-
tempered lot. They not only expected you to know your parking
location but how to get there without any assistance from
them. So it was with some amusement that we (PanAm 747)
listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground
and a British Airways 747 (radio call Speedbird 206) after
landing.

Speedbird 206: "Good morning Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear
of the active."

Ground: "Good Morning, taxi to your gate."

The British Airways 747 pulls onto the main taxiway and
stops.

Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"

Speedbird 206: "Stand by, ground, I'm looking up the gate
location now."
Ground (impatiently): "Speedbird 206, have you never flown
to Frankfurt before?"

Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, in 1944. But I didn't stop."