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Airway Pioneer Member |
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In June 1943, I entered the Navy Flight Training Program. I completed 18 months of Cadet Training and then 6 months at Corpus Christi, TX. On December 2, 1945, I reported to the Cheyenne, Wyoming Tower as an assistant Tower Controller. Roy Yeltman was the acting Chief. The controllers were: Jeanne Osborn, Marian M. McKenna, Philip L. Russell, Otile A. Polak and myself. On April 1, 1946, I reported to the Kansas City ARTCC, along with Virgil Blas‚, to start our careers as Assistant Air Route Traffic Controllers. (The old Fifth Region believed in promotional sequence - Tower to Center- Center to Tower). Here, I first met Charlie Dowling. He was the controller and I was the assistant. He was a great teacher. In February 1947, Virgil Blas‚ and I both reported to Sioux City, Iowa Tower to become tower approach controllers. Jay Albertson was the tower chief. In June 1949, I arrived at the St. Louis, Missouri ARTCC as a full-fledged Air Route Traffic Controller. Bob Kenlein was the Chief. In January 1956, I reported to the FAA Training Facility at Oklahoma City, OK as a training instructor. Jack Grewell was the Chief, and Perry Bolyard was his number one assistant. In May 1957, I went to the Technical Development Center, Indianapolis, IN to work for Charlie Dowling and Fred McKnight. This was the FAA's Research and Development Facility. In May 1959, I transferred to Washington, D.C. to work in the FAA Research and Development Operational Branch. Jack Grewell was the Branch Chief. In May 1970, I moved into the National Air Space Offices (NASPO) as Chief of the System Test Group. This involved field ARTC Controllers being detailed to Washington for approximately three to five years; through the implementation of the National Airspace System at all twenty ARTCCs. In April 1975, I was appointed Chief, Operations and Application Section. In partnership with Canada and the European Space Agency, we were to develop a satellite system for ATC over the North Atlantic Ocean. We had established an FAA Office in Holland and were developing a test facility at NAFEC. President Carter felt the United States was paying more than it's share, and cancelled the entire program. Our section then turned to cockpit displays and pilot/controller data link communications. In June 1979, I retired to the golf course. In 1982, I started a golf-ball retrieval business. In 1990, I added two of my golf partners. We run equipment through the ponds. We turn in an average of 5000 like-new golf balls each season. For this, we have unlimited golf, with carts. Life is good. | |
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Society of Airway Pioneers | |
