JohnMitchell

Of course they can. I used to be an ASO. How do you think I got my ratings? Just joking. I have no idea. Wouldn't most S&TA's have a D license already?

They had our super otter all last weekend, the hosers. You bet they got a lot of good jumps, eh?

Several months ago I missed 3 days of work after spraining my foot. I ran over it while parking a coworker's powered wheel chair. Had the crutches, foot boot, everything. FAA klutz of the year right there. It hurt so bad that first night I got up and took some of my old shoulder surgery pain meds, percosets. Because of that I HAD to take 3 days off. Hope you feel better soon, Skymama.

Maybe I'll go hiking in the woods and look for that guy.

AMF . . . some of the hardest working pilots in aviation. Yep, you guys are down there in the muck and ice all the time. Really felt bad for you guys some days. I think as skydivers we ALL know what it's like to be up in the air just trying to get down alive. I took that feeling with me to work everyday, and always tried to be ready to help out any pilot who needed it, no questions asked.

Usually, but we had 40 consecutive days without rain last summer. I think it was a record. It's hot and sunny here now, has been since Friday. Damn, I bought a portable AC unit straight off the pallet this morning at Home Depot. The 2 people ahead of me and the one guy behind me were getting the same damn thing.

Shhh! Don't tell anyone that the summers here are the best. We're all trying to keep it secret.

Happy B-day. Mine was the 27th. What day is yours?

It cost me $300 a month to keep 3/4 of an acre of grass green. Next year I said "F-it, I don't care if it turns brown." Moving into a house with a much smaller lawn.

Damn, that's bad. Somehow their plan B didn't work. May they rest in peace and lessons be learned from their sacrifice. Blue skies. . .

Thanks, Don. I sure will. But I'll miss ATC. Few people get as many chances as I did to do good things for others.

Thanks, Krip, I needed to hear that.

It was an honor and privilege to watch the skies all those years. All of us know what it's like to be in the air, wondering if we're gonna get back down okay. I was glad I could help those who needed it. I could go to work for a contractor, but I'll see. Vskydiver and I have done alright, so we see how it all pans out. Thanks for the warm wishes.

Heck, I'm gonna post a video of me taking YOU on a tandem.

I got all my ratings and I'm sure planning to use them a LOT more. Plus, Valinda and I are remodeling and moving into a house just half an hour from the DZ.

Hell, that's a good idea.

Got my rocker on the front porch, big print Reader's Digest stacked up next to a big glass of Geritol. Thanks for all the well wishes. I've got a lot of good times ahead.

So after over 29 years with the FAA, I've timed out like an old Cypres and am hanging up my headset. Yesterday I sat at the radar scope for the last time, talking to the planes and guiding them around. Today I go in for my admin day, a little paperwork and turning in my badge. What a career, with flight assists and emergencies, a national award or two. I've ridden in the cockpits with dozens of crews, from little Metroliners to C-17's and seen the system from their side. I've sat and worked planes thru blue skies and severe weather, engines out and electrical failures. I've had many moments of hilarity and a few moments of OMG. The people I've worked with have been some of the smartest, quickest people you could ever share a scope with. I will miss them all. Walking in the front door of Seattle Center 29 years ago, newly married to Vskydiver, this day seemed so far away. I can't believe it's up on me now in a flash. I'm proud to say our son Brett is in SLC, Utah, training to be a controller right now. He's going to be awesome at the job, I know it, and do all he can to keep the pilots safe. To all the pilots out there, please remember this one last thing from me. The system belongs to YOU, not us, and we are there to help. Please call on us anytime you need something. Don't wait too long. So long, over and out.

Our son grew up packing at the DZ, started when he was maybe 11. He always did nice work and packed good openings. He got really good, when getting paid at the end of the day, at asking "Do you need change back?" He was the richest 6th grader I ever saw.

Damn! I remember pulling my drogue out of my reserve lines once. Kinda looked like that.

No $hit?

Nice job. You can train yourself to hang onto them. Just practice cutting away, then arching with closed fists.

Good idea.

1.3 wing loading is about as fast as I can possibly run on no-wind days.

Ahhh, my GoPro gets a LOT of reality TV from 12,500 to pull time.