Please Note: The following story is a true one, The events in the story actually happened. However, I must
deviate from my usual procedure of using real names and places in my stories. The names of the
characters in my story are not the real names of the persons involved. Nor is the location of the City and
the identification of the Air Traffic Control Tower. I do this to avoid any possible embarrassment to those
good friends of mine who may not want their names to be revealed.
Larry Delmar
The newly implemented Tower in Blackwater, was a thing of beauty. It stood 65 feet
high, overlooking the lush fields of the neighboring farms and ranches. It was the highest
structure around and from its vast glass enclosed structure atop the control tower, one
could see for miles and miles until one could see no further. It was as if the sky
suddenly met the ground, and would not permit anyone to view its splendor beyond that.
From the south side of the glass structures where the Air Traffic Controllers ployed their
individual functions, you could see the vast expanse of the airport. You could see the
airport runways, the taxiways, and at night. you could observe the magnificent beauty of
the airport. The lights glowing encasing both sides of the runways, and the taxies. All
with splendid different colors, and purposely lain there to help the pilots in their landings
and takeoffs. If one turned around, and faced the opposite side of the tower, he could at
times see the farmers in the fields below harvesting their crops.
The Blackwater tower had only been in existence for about one month. Before that ,
pilots had no guidance in their landings and takeoffs. It was luck at best, and not too
safe a procedure. It was strictly see and be seen. Now with the implementation of the
tower, safety was greatly enhanced. Pilots although still responsible for looking out for
air traffic in their area, had the expertise of well trained Air Traffic Controllers to guide
their aircraft to and from the airport. To provide the pilot, both novice and experienced a
sense of security, for this is why the tower existed. Its controllers had many duties, but
their prime purpose was to ensure a safe environment, for both the pilots and also the
neighbors of the airport.
There were 8 controllers employed at Blackwater, All federal employees of the Federal
Aviation Administration, a body of the U.S. government responsible for air safety. There
were many functions provided by the controllers to ensure this safety and each was
specially trained in these functions. All could perform any function ,from the control of
aircraft in the air; the control of aircraft on the ground; weather reporting and observing,
and to do certain administrative duties.
Kathy Arnold was one of these controllers, 24 years old, a college graduate and a recent
graduate of the Air Traffic School in Oklahoma. She had the honor of being the first
female to successfully complete the extremely difficult curriculum of the school. Upon
graduation she was assigned to the Blackwater facility as a Junior traffic controller. For
this was the entry position for all newly assigned controllers.
It was 9:00pm of the 4:00pm to midnight shift, Kathy was on the local position (the
position that controls all aircraft departing and landing at the airport.) The weather was
very inclement this evening, the ceiling was only 800 feet and the visibility barely l mile.
Such minimum weather conditions required that all pilots flying in this type weather
must posses a Instrument pilot rating, and must have a special clearance to land and
depart the airport. Jim Fritz was on ground control, controlling by radio, all aircraft and
vehicles on the ground.
Suddenly, the radio’s speaker blared,” Blackwater tower this is Mooney 25xray, at
runway 8, ready for takeoff” . “Mooney 25xray this is Blackwater tower, cleared for
takeoff runway eight.” “Roger, 25xray, rolling.” “Blackwater tower this is Aero
Commander1287, with you, holding at the metro VOR, at 4,000 feet request clearance.”
Aero Commander 1287, this is Blackwater tower, roger, You’re cleared to the
Blackwater outer marker, descend to and maintain 2,000, call when arriving at the outer
marker.” “Roger, Commander 1287, leaving 4000 for 2000.”
Kathy’s voice was authoritative, she bellowed out landing and takeoff instructions with
no hesitation what-so-ever. It was as if she already was an experienced controller rather
than a junior. Regardless of her knowledge and expertise, she would have to wait at least
6 months to earn her full controller rating. This evening, however, she lacked some
exposure being on duty during inclement weather. Her main experience was during those
periods of Visual Flight rule conditions, where special flight clearances were not
required, and pilots, unless they requested it, could fly by the see and be seen rule.
But tonight it was different, because Kathy was not checked out (inexperienced) in the
more complicated procedures of Instrument flight rules, A senior controller was assigned
to assist her, whereas Kathy, in effect did control the landing and takeoff of aircraft, she
was constantly monitored by Al, the senior Controller.
“Kathy”, Al said, “what time is Commander 1287 due over the outer marker? We have
two aircraft ready for takeoff and one is destined for Boston, but it cannot be released
until 1287 reports over the outer marker inbound.” “Should be there about now,” Kathy
replied.” Carl, the supervisor of the shift, in overhearing the conversation between Al and
Kathy, called out to Kathy, “Give 1287 a call.”
“Aero Commander 1287, this is Blackwater Tower, what is your position?’ There was no
sound from the speaker. “Commander 1287, Blackwater Tower,” how do you read?
Again there was no sound from the radio speaker. Getting a bit frustrated, Kathy flipped
the switches of the control panel to enable all transmissions made by her be transmitted
on all available frequencies, including the emergency distress frequency. “Commander
1287, this is Blackwater Tower.” The eerie silence from the radio speakers, was
frightening. It was if a premonition of doom was forthcoming.
Since Blackwater Tower did not have a radar facility where the controllers had the
advantage of being able to see the aircraft blips on the radar screen, Blackwater had to
depend strictly on communications between the pilot and the controller, and the reporting
of airplane positions as required.
“Al,” called Carl, “activate the emergency alarm, then call the state Police, and
everyone you can think of that can provide a search in the area of the aircraft’s last
position, I’m going to call Joe, (the Director of the control tower), Kathy, keep calling
1287.” “ All right Carl,” both replied in unison.
As Kathy continued calling Commander 1287, although knowing, that she would not
receive an answer, the airport’s emergency equipment, and fire trucks had been alerted
and were standing by at strategic locations on the airport, just in case that commander
1287 had experienced radio failure and was coming in for a landing with a possible
emergency.
Kathy knew that there would be no reply to her sustained calls to commander1287, but
she continued calling with the hopes that the aircraft had experienced a radio failure, and
was coming in blindly for a landing. “Cleared to land runway 8, wind 075degrees at
12knots, altimeter 3010.” No one in the tower expected a reply. They felt useless in not
being able to do anything but to await word of the outcome . It started to rain, dropping
the visibility to one quarter of a mile. Too dangerous for even the most experienced pilot
to land an aircraft.
State and local police were alerted, and along with volunteers started searching a wide
area in which they could possibly find the downed aircraft. Although their efforts were
hampered by the inclement weather, they continued vigorously in their search, looking
for any signs such as fire, smoke, the odor of fuel or any clue what-so-ever that could
lead them to the supposedly downed aircraft.
Joe, the director of the tower arrived, and was immediately informed of the situation.
Although there was little he could do, except to provide some guidance and to coordinate
with local and state wide authorities, and to inform the Regional Office of the Federal
Aviation Administration of the events that had occurred before he had arrived at the
airport.
It was now 11:00pm. Despite the bad weather, what had started out as a uneventful
evening, had suddenly turned into a sullen, and, oft tearful situation by some of the
tower’s staff. They all feared the worse. The dreaded nightmare of an Air Traffic
Controller was to lose radio contact with a pilot, with no hint or clue as to the fate of the
airplane. However, all controllers, regardless of their feelings, kept a professional
appearance. Radio communications from the tower to the searchers were constantly
monitored. There was no hint of what could have happened to Aero Commander 1287. It
was if an unknown power had dropped down from the sky, snatched the aircraft away to
some unknown destination, to be heard of no more.
The numerous search crews had covered the entire area . There were no other places that
they could search. “Al,” called Joe, “take over local control, Kathy, will you come here,
I’d like to talk to you. Jim, will you broadcast to all aircraft on the ground, that there will
be an unknown delay in departures, and to advise you if they wished to return to the ramp
or hangar? Al, give the center a call, advise them of the situation, and to hold out all
inbound aircraft to Blackwater airport.” “I’ve already done that Joe.” “Thank you,”
replied Joe.
Although, no one could hear the conversation between Kathy and Joe, it was apparent
that Joe was trying to calm and reassure Kathy that in no way was she responsible or had
anything to do with the disappearance of Aero commander 1287, and to not allow this
unfortunate incident to affect her future career as an Air Traffic Controller. That she had
a bright future in Air Traffic Control, and it was unfortunate that this had to happen on
her first evening shift during IFR (instrument flight rules.)
The search continued. The searchers although weary hungry and wet, would not give up
their search and expanded their search site to a wider area. The weather, had not
improved, and there was no possibility that a Air Search Rescue mission could be
launched. It would have to wait. Investigation as to the aircraft’s point of departure only
revealed that the aircraft was carrying a pilot and CO-pilot, and 5 members of the
companies staff. However, the aircraft had refueled just before departure, and
considering its time in the air since the last contact over the Metro VOR, had at least 4
hours of fuel remaining.
There was silence in the tower. No communications blared from the radio speakers. No
aircraft were permitted to take-off and no aircraft were permitted to land, in the
possibility that, although unlikely, that Commander 1287, would suddenly and magically
appear, and this was merely a nightmare.
Continued in Part 2
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Original stories written, published and
copyrighted by Larry Delmar. (c) 1970-1999. If you would like to use something, please
email for permission.
Aero Commander graphic used with permission of Chris Schuermann. Thank you so much, Chris.
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