Bon voyage to Ron
After more than 21 years as an A area controller at Seattle ARTCC, Ron Warness is leaving the A area to become a staff-support specialist at Seattle TRACON.
Thanks to Ron for all of his contributions to our area over the years. His last shift is on Friday (tomorrow). If you’re around, make sure you tell him goodbye. He’s scheduled to work a 1330B overtime shift (one last OT for the road).
YKM landers
A few of you kindly brought to my attention the fact that YKM landers have not been descending in a timely manor since Spokane TRACON took over the Yakima sector. I reached out to their rep and requested that they descend the airplanes to 100 when we ship them over. She was very receptive to this request and said she will pass it along to their controllers.
Conversely, she asked me to convey to you all that they’re still working on figuring out their new airspace, and she requested patience from us while that is happening. They got less than 10 hours on each sector before becoming certified on them, so they’re definitely still getting their feet wet.
New A area personnel
Welcome to Zach Rush, a transferring CPC from Chinook, who becomes the third Zach in the area (phonetically speaking). He was previously a trainee in the B area.
And welcome to Derek Harris and Anthony Greer, who are both academy graduates.
Please go upstairs when you’re able and introduce yourself to them.
Article 5 solicitations
With these additions, we will need an Article 5 volunteer — or volunteers — to train them in their respective labs. Zach Rush’s lab will be June 6-20, with the new D-side lab to follow June 21-Aug. 18.
Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering to instruct for one or both of these time blocks.
IST cadre volunteers
Our semiannual IST training is upcoming, and the training department is requesting cadre volunteers. The cadre class will be March 14-15 or March 16-17 (you would get to choose which two-day block you’d like). The actual IST training will take place between April 23 and May 6.
Given how destitute our staffing is, I am very reluctant to offer up anyone from our area to teach IST (especially if no one is interested). However, if you are interested in teaching the class, please let me know and we will try to see whether our staffing would allow you off the schedule for the required time.
In solidarity,
Dan Rasmussen
801-860-3821