Emerson R. 'ER' Merhling
Fairfax, VA
QCWA # 5605
First Call: 8CKF Other Call(s): u8CKF and W8CKF
born Willard OH
died 6 July 1993, Fairfax, VA
2.raised in Columbus, OH
graduated from South High School
attended the Engineering School of Ohio State University, was a member of the marching band for four years.
1930, ER took a part-time job with TWA at the local airfield and installed aircraft radios in Ford Tri-motors.
He needed the money to help put himself through school.
In 1933, radio range receivers began to be installed in airline aircraft.
3. Chicago IL: Radio Operator for TWA, Chicago Municipal Field
American, Northwest, TWA, and United had their radio operators located in different offices around the field
connected by an interphone system.
In 1934-35, Emerson and the other radio operators at Chicago discovered they needed a better system of coordinating
the use of range station altitudes and times upon learning they were occasionally allowing two aircraft to use the
same station at the same altitude at about the same time.
Glen Gilbert was the radio operator for American.
1935: President of TWA named Emerson as TWA's representative on an airline-formed committee to design and establish
a system of air traffic control.
4.Newark NJ: Founder of, and Trainee in, the first ATC center, 1934-36
established by Earl Ward and 6 young radio operators, one from each of 6 airlines under a legal entity - a not-for-profit
incorporated in the State of Delaware - named "Air Traffic System, Inc."
Chief: Earl F. Ward, ex-VP for Operations at AAL
American Air Lines: Glen A. Gilbert
Trans World Airlines: Emerson R. Merhling
United Air Lines: Hugh "Mack" McFarlane
Northwest Airlines: Homer F. Cole
E. L. Cord ?
Bureau of Air Commerce, in the U.S. Department of Commerce, took over the operation in 1936.
later came
L. Ponton de Arce, H. D. Copland, William H. Cramer, R. A. Eccles, John L. Huber, AAL R. S. Roose
Clarence J. Stock, R. E. Sturdevant, J. V. Tighe, C. T. Tolpo, Lee E. Warren, AAL, E. A. Westlake
5.Chicago IL: Assistant Chief of the Center under Glen Gilbert
6.Pittsburg PA: Founder and Chief of the Pittsburg Center
7.LaGuardia, NY: Chief of the New York Center
8.Chief, Eastern Region
Boston center
New York center
Washington center
Pittsburg center
9.Berlin Germany:
1945 - 1949: on loan to the staff of Gen Lucius Clay, Chief othe of U.S. Army Occupation Force in Berlin
U.S. member of the Air Coordination Committee charged with restoring civil air traffic services into Berlin.
Director of Airway Operations and Director of the Berlin Air Safety Center, Templehoff Airport.
ER left Berlin during the Berlin Airlift.
10.Washington DC:
Chief, ATC Program staff
Chairman, Airspace Subcommittee, Air Coordinating Committee
Served as chairman for 8 years
11.ER retired from the FAA in 1966
12.1939: Married Mar Noir of Brooklyn NY
children: Bob Merhling,
13.ER was an active amateur radio operator for more than 65 years
first licensed in 1928
last call held was W4NH
Past President of the Vic Clark Chapter of QCWA
14.ER's other activities in later years
Past Director of the Virginia, Washington, and Maryland chapters of the Society of Airway Pioneers
Past President of the Fairfax Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees
Member of the Noonday Optimists Club
Member of the Fort Myer Officers Club
