Yeah I’ll second that. Nice piece, Paul, thanks - with good health and much satisfaction for Mr. Niles in retirement.
I’ve been in and out of that airspace many times in the recent past… Sure wish I can hear his radio voice… Best of wishes in retirement and thanks for the impeccable service…
I heard that voice a lot while flying in and out of Republic Airport on Long Island. Good to put a face with it. Enjoy retirement, Paul, and thanks for the great service.
Brilliant writing, as always!
Seconded! 
Bob
Thanks for a wonderful story, and good luck Mr. Niles. Welcome to the Retirees Club! Safe travels for you Sir.
Thank you sir for your service. I hope I get to meet you in Wichita, KS Sept 2022 at the ABS meeting.
Thanks, to both Pauls.
Flew in/out of JFK for over 20 years till I set the parking brake for the last time. Only went to EWR a couple of times and never to TET, etc. That said, there were several controllers that I remember by voice but not by name. I had a somewhat distinctive radio voice and some of the “regulars” also knew me that way. It was very comforting to hear someone you at least recognized on the other end of the radio. They often did me quiet favors in routings, etc., because I never whined or squawked when they had to change my plans to clear up something I was never privy to. One of the ones I do remember is “Kennedy Steve” on Ground Control over there. Lots of youtube clips of him and how he (and the others) kept his (their) sanity on some of the “bad” nights is well beyond my reckoning. Blessings to the ATC folks, one and all, for what they do!
Thanks Mr. Berge on a fine piece of writing. I am delighted AVweb was able to highlight the esteemed Mr. Niles’s wonderful career.
Thanks for the great story. I flew in and out of EWR for years and alway appreciated the excellent approach controllers who, in turn, appreciated the patient pilots. Newark was always too busy and checking in after a handoff just added to the problem. If you were patient the new controller would call you (Thank you Continental 50, welcome home, decend and maintain xx ). If the weather was bad it was super busy. The New York traffic load only worked smoothly with VFR weather and pilots who could handle a sidestep close in or a circle to land request. Unlike some God like captains who whined about everything because they had a heavy call sign, (heaven forbid that “his airworthiness” would have to deselect auto land) a DC-10 was no harder to side step or circle than a C172.
What a lovely piece of writing! Put a smile on my face for the rest of today at least…
Happy retirement Paul Niles!
Fantastic! Not only super controller, but super pilot also! My controller retirement however only allowed me to feed mogas into a 4 gph Aeronca. Paul may have been permitted to continue past age 56 because of the year in which he hired into FAA. I can’t remember if it was '83 or '86, but hiring before then, you were exempt from the mandatory age 56 thing. I was and I told them if they didn’t treat me good, I was going to continue vectoring until I was drooling all over the scope.
Wonderful story. Best wishes to Paul Niles (Ret.) ATC.
Way back in '71, for whatever reason, a study determined that controllers reach a mental burnout as they aged. So, 56 was chosen by the study for maximum controller working age. This allowed controllers who hired in at the maximum hiring age of 31 to reach at least the minimum retirement benefits by 56 and 25 years of service. I can’t remember when this actually became law. However, a controller may continue working for FAA and involved in ATC, but only in a staff or management type position. Many controllers by 56 have used their time and experience to do that and continue with FAA employment longer.
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If this is the controller I’m thinking of, he has the most distinctive, smooth voice out there. Everyone on frequency loved talking to him. Great story and blue skies Paul!
Thanks for telling of an ace in the ranks of unsung heroes.
Like a zillion people, just doing his job well.
Good grief - two Paul Bs as well. :-o
As an N90 alum, I had the distinct pleasure of both working with (albeit we were in different sectors) and working (providing ATC services) for Paul. Your description of Paul is very accurate! A consummate professional and just the nicest guy you could ever hope to meet! Fair winds and clear skies, Paul! Hope you’re enjoying your retirement half as much as I’m enjoying mine!
Great story Paul. And congrats on the retirement Paul. Familiar ATC voices are comforting to hear and you get the feeling there is more unsaid than said
Beautiful little piece of writing. Thanks Paul.
It was great to read your story, Paul, and learn about that voice. I have been flying through Paul N.'s sector frequently the past few years and got to know the voice and appreciate his expertise. I was flying there the other week and heard many other pilots express their best wishes to Paul on frequency. I didn’t know what the occasion was but now I know it was all about his retirement. With so many people wishing him well, it was surely a sign of their respect and appreciation for his professional service over the years.
But airline pilots’ brains are good till 65?
If the FAA is so perpetually understaffed, why don’t they raise the age?
Or better yet, do away with mandatory retirement ages altogether, and let people who are capable and want to work, work!
A true professional, I always was impressed with his ease in working the volume of traffic at EWR in such a smooth fashion. He is missed! 170 to BUZZED tower 18.3 See 'ya bud!