Welcome - Ricks Career With ATC

This was my office for almost 25 years. A big, ugly, dark room with no windows. There were four long rows of radar scopes mounted in consoles with peripheral equipment. These scopes were divided into four areas of specialty -- "A" through "D". My career was split between "C" and "D".

Each specialty was divided into geographical areas called sectors. Each controller was assigned to one specialty, and usually worked seven different sectors.

I’m always asked what it takes to become a good Air Traffic Controller. Well., the most important attribute is spatial visualization. Second, abstract reasoning. I can’t send you to a local college to learn these skills -- you either have these traits or you don’t. Luckily, I did since I didn't have much in the way of a formal education.

I loved the job. I loved the hardware and software and everything necessary to make the system function. I loved the Big Iron main frames. I was intimately familiar with the entire system and spent six months at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, for additional hardware and software system training. See "Big Iron".

I spent almost a quarter century in front of the glass and couldn’t believe that I was being paid to solve real time problems all day. Most days it was fun, others, no so much. If the FAA had cut my salary by one half, I would have still done the job.

Did you ever wonder how Air Traffic Control was accomplished before radar? See the “Black Art” page for a good explanation.

Do you think you coulld cut it as an Air Traffic Controller? Try the TRACON II ATC simulator.

Most of my ATC friends who visit this site have pushed metal for decades, literally issued millions of clearances and are intimately familiar with the profession. I know a few who visit would like to know what ATC is like and the nature of work of a center controller.

I transitioned from an installation team to a training team and moved  from one facility to another every six months. We taught Airways Facilities (maintenance) personnel how to operate and maintain the system. I knew the function of every button and switch on that scope better than most controllers.

I started “plugging in” with guys during slow periods. I  wanted to learn what happened in front of the scope and was fascinated  by the job. I had absolutely no background in aviation or Air Traffic Control but decided I wanted to push metal. My friends at Raytheon  thought I’d lost my mind and gave me no chance of getting hired.

Well! I did!

I reported to ZLC in 1975 as an Air Traffic Control Trainee and the rest is history. I finally got to see what happens in front of the glass.

When the computer crashed, operations degraded to a clusterf**k.  Chaos when switching to the backup system

I was presented with an engraved shrimp boat (with my operating initials) years after we permanently transitioned to digital displays. The "boat" was attached to a certificate and given to the few guys still remaining that actually used them. It didn't seem important  at the time, but I still have that shrimp boat and its meaning has changed significantly.