"Mike," Chad said to the controller seated next to Paul. "Switch and copy 14, please. Fast." Chad looked over to Mike's screen and saw the same pattern. "Paul, run a level 2 diagnostic. What was the Delta pattern?"
"Same as the others, circle. He's at 45 doing a 90 round."
"Tell him to hold, and verify on board transponder." Chad spoke rapidly and his authority wasn't questioned.
"Mike, see if we can get any visuals on the bogies. They might be a bounce."
Chad took charge and, especially in this weather, was concerned with safety first and schedules last. In less than a minute he had verified that Delta 210 was not on any screen, three other ghost planes meandered through the airspace, and that their equipment was functioning properly.
"Dallas," the calm pilot voice said, "American 1137, requesting update. It's getting a little tight up here."
"Roger, 1137," Gatwick said nervously. "Give me a second here . . ."
"Dallas, what's the problem?"
"Just a check . . ."
Chad immediately told the operator of the ETMS computer to notify the FAA and Department of Transportation that a potential situa- tion was developing. The Enhanced Traffic Management System was designed to create a complete picture of every airplane flying within domestic air space.