Phil Coyle

Over here in California, we just role with it. We're already awesome, so we don't need accents to identify ourselves. As I was telling Evan, I win the award for not even trying.

You could probably make that argument, but when you staff several different sectors of Boston Center and don't advertise it as a Pack the Pattern event, I think you'll get different results.

I would stay away from any sort of pilot sign up sheet, as most every event that we've done that has had moderate results at best. I guess you could couple the idea of fully staffing Boston (like REALLY stuffing it with controllers, not just the usual) with the FFTF event. Perhaps you could do this for the first 3 or 4 hours only, as a kick-off to the event. I guess you could try and fully staff Boston both nights, but I think you would have significantly less traffic the second night, and the idea might 'lost its magic.' But honestly, I would like to see a 'Staff Boston to the fullest extent possible' sort of event every few months, not necessarily coupled with some major event. Again, it would be very low key. Just simply have controllers sign up for positions, and then say 'Hey pilots, on this day we're going to staff Boston, so fly wherever you want, whenever you want.'

I really like what Gilles said above. I personally think there is too much thought that goes into planning events and trying to make them just right so that pilots are interested. Some of the busiest nights I've ever seen here have occurred with no planning| the pilots and ATC just show up, and everybody has a good time. Let's stop being so high maintenance for just one event. Staff Boston to the fullest capacity possible (multiple towers, grounds, approaches, departures, and different sectors of center,) and let the pilots go where they want to go. Who cares if they stay inside of ZBW ARTCC or not? If they're headed to Boston, which most pilots will, then every controller will eventually get a piece of the pie. I'm not suggesting that we do what I just stated as for the next FFTF concept, since we won't be able to staff Boston for 48 hours, but I'd like to see something like this as a more 'low key' event.

Usually Aspen / Denver is our Christmas getaway, so it should be coming around in a few months as Brandon said.

Yep. I wasn't trying to diminish your point or anything.

Ah, but history is one of the most important (and more interesting) subjects. Tower and Approach definitely.