This is the last article I get to write as an air traffic controller. I retire from the FAA on December 1. No longer a controller. No longer a Federal employee. No longer a safety rep for NATCA. While I'll admit to a certain sense of melancholy, it is far outweighed by my sense of relief and excitement. Relief that I managed to escape this profession relatively unscathed and excitement for what the future may hold.If I'm honest (and I try to be), I have to admit to being a pessimist. I usually expect something to go wrong (and it usually does). But looking back on my career, I find my pessimistic-self pleasantly disappointed. I've been very, very lucky. Not much has gone wrong for me personally and a lot of things have gone right. Instead of dancing all around this issue, let me get right down to it and simply say this: Thank you.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/features/say-again-69-so-long