I worked for Kevin's/Mark's operation (express traffic) out of PNE. We had the corrner office at the far end of Herb's hangar. (didn't work for Herb at the "salt mine" but had a few friends that did.)
At the time we also had a plane at Robbinsville. All aircraft were Grumman AAIA's (blue bird, pepsi can and the orange thing) and an AA5A. The 150's and the yellow canarey were gone by then.
Flew single pilot and had a CB to radio traffic conditions to dispatch who then gave the info to whoever. They also had cars on the ground calling in traffic. Most of my traffic flying was spent in the philly area. Basically you would takeoff from PNE and go south on 95 to the BF bridge then take 676 to 42/55 in Jersey down to about the mall then up 295 and the NJ TP to the Marlaton Circle and Rt. 72 area then 72 to the Taconey bridge back to PA. From there up 95 to the TTN area or down 95 to the expressway. From TTN down the PA TP past PNE to NXX and Wings field to Valley forge. Then maybe turn east on the expressway around the CURVE (big accident area) to center city or continue west from valley forge alont 202 to west chester or maybe down the blue route to the PHL airport. Sometimes 202 from the west chester area to the ILG area. Or valley forge up 422 around Saint Gabes curve almost to Pottstown then back down.
Basically you would fly a section like from the BF bridge west on the expressway to Gulf Mills then radio on the CB in your report then the dispatcher would say "OK now go east on the PA TP to PNE and Call back" or "head west down 202" ect.
The shifts were 2 hours give or take a few tenths and started at 6 am from PNE. A second plane went out at 6:30 and a third at 7 pm. One plane was up from 9:30 for 2 then another at 11:30 or 12 in the noon for 2 hours. In the afternoon at 3:30 and 4 and 4:30 so at the heavy traffic times there 3 planes flying. At the same time you had Herb's guys up too along with the News helos.(I could be alittle off on the times but you get the jist)
As far a flying goes the guy who was there the most picked or squatted the flying he/she wanted. As somebody left the new guy would take whats open or maybe someone that was there already and wanted more flying would take the open slot. At the time I worked there I flew 135 and filled in on my off days. Some days I'd do one shift or some days when nobody else wanted to work I'd fly 4 shifts.
The flying and people were fun. Just show in jeans and t-shirt or whatever, no students to brief or anything just VFR and you flying around looking at stuff. I wish the job paid enough to pay my bills I'd still be there. Kevin ran the show and was/is a great boss. real easy to work with, fixed the planes when broke and didn't press you to fly in bad wx.
The only time we flew with a pax was durring moneday night football. We'd take a local radio guy up who went live from the plane.
If I think of anything else I'll pass it along, hope it helps.
