It is a Government Operation, After All

Not long after I made FPL (Full Performance Level) I was working the nooner at Toledo Sector. Yeah, that's when Detroit Metro unloads all it's traffic set to take off around twelve, twelve-thirty.

Now some days, we really push the limit and "pump and dump" (climb and descend) the aircraft because we know they'll never get within our separation limits, without really waiting for them to have a clear shot.

Fortunately, this wasn't one of the days I was doing that.

Anyway, I'm still busting my ass climbing and descending guys, taking handoffs, making point-outs, switching aircraft. I'm in the zone, and everything is working out just fine.

Sandusky Sector calls me and tells me to put this one guy on a heading for Fort Wayne HI. I confirm, hang up with SKY, and broadcast to "Northwest one-twenty-two, fly heading one-seven-zero, vectors traffic."

Nothing.

I repeat the clearance.

Nothing.

I call to another aircraft.

Nothing.

I switch to my standby frequencies.

Nothing.

I switch to my last resort frequencies.

Nothing.

I call SKY to let them know the aircraft never received the heading, then turn around to find the supervisor. Meanwhile my D-side is trying to call Indy Center to have them take a handoff they're not taking.

The supervisor comes over.

"Madge, I've lost my frequencies."

She looks at me, "Did you try your backups?"

I look at her. "I don't think you understand, I've lost all my frequencies."

She blinks at me, and I can see understanding wash over her face. My D-side turns to me just then and says "I think we've lost the land lines as well."

I look back at Madge, she cusses, and heads off for the desk.

Now there's nothing I can do with the planes. They'll just have to realize sooner or later that I never switched them and they'll go over to another frequency, eventually getting to the right one.

I can't call any other facilities for any thing.

So I start all my datablocks flashing at the next facility, kick back and watch. And yeah, I pray that nobody hits anybody else.

Turns out that all the frequencies, and just over half the landlines were taken out in our entire facility.

Five hours later they find out why. Down in the basement there's a switch, see, this plain looking switch with a note taped beneath it "Don't flip this switch".

Someone had flipped it.