ZOB Sector 29 / Wayne Super High
12:05 P.M. / 1605Z

                “Denny, get me some help, now,” Paul Berg turned to his supervisor.
                Things had been running smoothly in the high altitude sector for the last thirty five minutes.  Suddenly, the flight progress strip printer started to print strips almost non-stop.  Just as fast as the assistant controller could stuff one into a strip holder, two more would print out.  Paul Berg glanced at the strips as they were being posted in the traffic bay.  Normally, Paul would read each one quickly, and sequence the strip in the active traffic bay.  Each strip was an individual flight plan of an aircraft that wanted to traverse the sector.  Now, with more than thirty strips posted in the last few minutes, there were too many for Paul to read, analyze, and still concentrate on the radar.

ZOB Traffic Management Unit (TMU)
12:05 P.M. / 1605Z

                The telephone from the Air Traffic Systems Command Center in Washington was ringing.  Traffic Management Coordinator Kim Smith picked up the phone.
                “Cleveland Center,” Kim answered.
                “Cleveland, this is Hughes at the Command Center.  I just got off the line with Indy and Chicago centers.  Apparently, they are starting to get numerous moderate or greater turbulence reports around Fort Wayne, Indiana south to Knoxville, Tennessee.  I’m calling you to give you a heads up on the situation.  The inbound rush to New York and Washington airports is in the western part of their airspace.  They wanted to start re-routing the aircraft north into your area, but, I told them not to until we found out further information.  Your Wayne, Bluffton and Lorain super high sectors get busy enough as it is without the re-routes.”
                “OK, thanks for the call,” Kim replied.  “I’m going to call the areas now and let them know.  Kim terminated the call and then picked up another phone to call Area 2.

ZOB Wayne Super High – 12:08 P.M. / 1608Z

                Dan plugged in on the “D” side and made the necessary changes to the communications screen so that the coordination calls would be re-routed to his position.  Looking at the numerous flight progress strips that were before him, Dan didn’t waste any time.
                “Looks like TMU is going to screw this one up again,” he said.
                “They know about the aircraft that are being re-routed already,” Paul replied.  “I didn’t get the chance to read the strips.  See if we are going to have a problem with aircraft crossing at Carleton.  Keep an eye on that for me, will you?” Paul asked.
                “Don’t tell me how to do my job,” Dan replied.

ZOB Wayne Super High – 12:10 P.M. / 1610Z

                Paul Berg didn’t give the comment a second thought.  In the twenty years that he had worked at ZOB, Paul had seen controllers like Dan come and go.  Remembering that he was somewhat arrogant too, in his younger days as a new controller, Paul gave Dan a quick, hard look.
                You have to be somewhat arrogant, to be good at a job like this, Paul thought to himself.  Arrogant and confident.
                Arrogant and confident enough to handle the ever increasing numbers of aircraft that fly each day.  But after a period of time, the arrogance wears off.  Usually, it’s the busy air traffic.  The days of working a small sector full of aircraft and thunderstorms.  The time when two aircraft pass by each other at the same altitude with barely enough separation, and you never saw it happen.  Those are the days that chip away at the cocky attitude.  Those are the days that humble you and make you realize that you are human.
                Paul let the feelings run through him.
                Turning his attention to the radar and the changing traffic picture, Paul quickly thought out several scenarios as to what could happen with the extra aircraft headed toward the sector.  As he pre-planned for those aircraft, Paul also had to remain focused on the current situation.
                “Transways two twenty four, turn right twenty degrees, radar vector around traffic…”
                “Transways two twenty four, roger,” came the reply.  “Where’s the traffic?”
                Paul needed to call another aircraft first.
                “Universal three, heavy, contact Cleveland Center on…..”
                After hearing the reply, Paul returned to the Transways pilot’s question.
                “Transways two twenty four, traffic is a Boeing seven fifty seven at your two o’clock and eight miles, crossing right to left.”
                Paul then continued on with several more aircraft, radioing important instructions.
                “Universal one sixteen, descend and maintain flight level three five zero….”
                Lear one four charlie, fly heading zero eight zero, vector for sequence….”
                Universal ninety nine, contact Chicago Center on….” Paul continued on with his job.
                Over the years, the coolness in Paul’s demeanor at the sector remained.  The busier the sector became, the more calm and steady Paul was.  There could not have been two more diverse personalities working as a team at the Wayne Super High Sector.