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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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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The best way to become an air traffic controller is to start at a college or university that offers a program that is recognized by the FAA. There are currently 23 FAA accredited schools that offer an air traffic control College Training Initiative (CTI) program, as of November 2007. (see list below) The receipt of […]

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I’m amazed that in the 6 years I’ve been at Chicago Executive Airport, Air Traffic Control Tower, there have only seen a handfull of tower visitors each year. I’m not sure if people think the tower is not accessible, or maybe that we just do not want them there. We actually feel the opposite. I […]

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I was hired by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2001, a week or two after the September 11th attacks. It sure was interesting times, but here are some photos and recollections of my 8-week experience at the academy. The FAA’s air traffic control training program is held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the Mike […]

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Prior to becoming an air traffic controller, I worked on the “line” at Fort Lauderdale International Airport, at a FBO called National Jets. The experience gave me a great introduction into the world of aviation. Since I didn’t have a pilots license, like many of the line-crew that were working on theirs, it was a […]

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