I think one name was to be the GORDI1
That would be for Jim Gordon. I have too many stories to tell about Gordo that are not printable in this forum
. I can share one that still requires some sanitization.
Several controllers departed PHL after a day shift to attend a performance by the "New Jersey Ballet." Now being a PA boy, if I'm not going to Atlantic City or one of the other shore destinations, all of New Jersey looks the same to me. This place was off the Black Horse Pike, I think it was called. Anyway, after leaving several dollar bills at this establishment, we were headed home. Everyone but Gordo and me lived in NJ. Gordo said that I could follow him and he would point out the turn to get to the Whitman bridge and civilization. He was crossing over a little further to the north. We drove for several miles and I started to get an uneasy feeling. I pulled up along side Jim at a traffic light and beeped my horn. He looked over and his jaw dropped and he slapped himself in the forehead. Needless to say, I got home a little late that night. Fortunately Gordo kept better track of his airplanes than his wingman.
Jim was not on my crew, but I did train with him occasionally. Going back to what I said in the previous post, you should take something away from each instructor. It seemed like every time I trained with Jim I did terribly. He taught me how to take a step back from the scope start with the bottom strip in your bay and work your way out of your mess.
Jim was training me on North Departure and an aircraft came off for MXE, but the alphanumeric tag never acquired while he was still on the 255ยบ heading on the SID. I was very busy and didn't notice it and climbed the aircraft to 8,000 (that was our ceiling back then which should give you an idea of how long ago this was.) Gordo did notice...he let it go. I worked my way out of a few jams and was feeling pretty good about myself when Gordo asked me to count my strips and then count my tags. That was back when the arrivals came in over DQO and turned east instead of like they do today over TERRI. It would have been a big problem if there were arrivals descending to 6,000, but there weren't any. I learned a lesson, which as you can tell, has stayed with me to this day. All of my trainees have heard this story.
I think I became a better instructor because of this incident. I realized the value of letting the developmental controller go a little further down the proverbial pipe. I wouldn't badger them as much as some of the other guys did. I allowed them to work their way out of the dumper and then presented options when things started to really get bad.
Nice....old guys have the coolest stories.
That's right JD. Old school, baby. Times were a lot different back then.
w0x0f