A little over a year ago I started seeing a video trailer about a real story involving two individuals chasing their childhood dream to become F-14 fighter pilots.  It was a documentary that started producing in 2003, and it was going to be available on video in January 2007.  I asked for it for Christmas last year and I couldn’t […]

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Holiday traffic on the roads is ridiculous.  Holiday traffic in the air is eccentric.  Holiday traffic at the airport is ludicrous!
Year after year, the volume of airline travelers and aircraft increase, so with a system that is pushed to its capacity, with one hiccup, delays will start snowballing and cancellations will be inevitable.
For the lucky ones that get to […]

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As you have probably heard, an air traffic controller’s job can be stressful at times.  As the volume of traffic increases and the complexity of certain configurations gets more challenging, stress levels can be subdued, but noticeably present.  Throw an emergency in the mix and plan A, B, and C can quickly turn into plan L, M, […]

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I have seen some decent looking aviation apparel, from ski caps to hats & flight suits to boots, but why aren’t there any cool air traffic control wear-ables?
If there are some out there, I haven’t seen any…and I’m not talking about the cheesy ones with the goofy looking radar images and the generic looking “property of an air traffic…blah blah […]

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I would not be here today if it wasn’t for a certain Airways Facilities (AF) technician…my Dad, Keith Messina.  He worked at Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center in Florida.  This is a picture of him at the FAA Academy- Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
He was so cool with his knee high socks, short shorts, and BluBlocker Sunglasses. 

 AF is […]

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Upgrades are in progress…with the website that is.  I’m currently working on a new and more professional looking web page.  It’s not easy settling for basic programs and basic tools when there is so much more out there. Keep checking back.  Hopefully this won’t take long.  The Internet is filled with a plethora of information and […]

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Staffing in federal air traffic control towers and other facilities has been a growing issue for many years. Last year, we received our first brand new controller since November of 2001. We will have another new FAA hire arriving this week, as well as a fresh face from the FAA Academy arriving in January 2008. […]

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On a clear day, just before sunrise and just after sunset, you’ve got a chance of mistaking a satellite for a light on an airplane. Not many people know that there are many communication satellites circling the atmosphere at low orbit altitudes.
The remarkable thing about these flying chunks of technology is that they provide a […]

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This post does not have a direct connection to air traffic control, but it does contain a list of some motivational excerpts I’ve gathered to help me stay focused and driven.
“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning […]

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The 94th Aero Squadron at Chicago Executive Airport is grounded for life. Over the past 30 years, this 1917 french farmhouse style restaurant, seemed to be a high-flyer when it came to packing in the customers.
The past year however, it appeared that the attraction had fizzled and there were rarely any cars in the parking […]

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