Short Final: Hector Sector

A few years ago, and before our jets were capable of long‑range navigation, I routinely flew one of our flights from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. Late in the evening it was not uncommon to ask the Kansas City center for vectors to the Hector VOR (a common feeder fix into the Los Angeles basin). So the conversation would go something like this:

“Kansa City Center, Airliner 234 requesting vectors to Hector, if you’re able.”

“Airliner 234, Kansas City Center, standby a minute while I coordinate that with the Hector Sector Vector Director.”

An example of an alliteration tongue twister indeed.

John Wittenborn
Olathe, Kansas