Some years ago during evening rush our ATC was so slow at FRA airport, less than 10 flights were given start-up clearance each hour. Flights were put in sequence according to their ready-to-start call. First come, first served was the rule. We were # 22 for start, expecting more than 2 hours delay. Listening out on the frequency we heard this conversation between a wise guy pilot and a controller:
Pilot: "Frankfurt, ZEBRA 126 request start-up"
ATC: "O.K. ZEBRA 126 your start-up time is 19:35"
Pilot: "Thank you very much Frankfurt, but that's in one hour!"
ATC: "ZEBRA 126 what is your position?"
Pilot after a short pause: "Hmmm ... Approaching Outer Marker 26L!"
ATC: "O.K. ZEBRA 126 in this case it's 19:35 TOMORROW!"
