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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Jeffrey Humphrey

Mr. Richard J. "Dick" Sova is an aviation pioneer. Mr. Richard Sova enlisted in the U. S. Air Force in 1952. He went through Air Force basic training and was sent to Air Traffic Controller's school in Biloxi, Mississippi. His first assignment as an Air Traffic Controller in the Air Force was at East Harmon Air Force base in Corner Brook Newfoundland, Canada. It is at this location that he met his wife of 58 years, Sheila. Mr. Sova exited the US Air Force in 1956.

He joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1957. He went for initial training in 1957 at the FAA's air traffic training facility in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After successfully completing training he was assigned to Wayne Major Airport (later known as Detroit Metropolitan Airport). When he was initially assigned to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the only air carriers assigned there were Pan American and BOAC airlines. Eventually American Airlines then all the major airlines transferred from nearby Willow Run Airport to Detroit Metro Airport. At that time the Detroit Metro Airport was a VFR only airport. Because of his expertise and diligence, Mr. Sova was promoted to watch supervisor in 1959. In 1960 he was one of two of the first controllers from Detroit Metro to be sent to Willow Run to learn radar. He brought back this expertise to pioneer radar operations at Detroit Metro Airport.

Mr. Sova retired from air traffic control duties after a workplace injury occurred and cut short his successful career. He maintained ties with the tower personnel at Detroit Metro Airport and despite his retirement was thought of as part of the Air Traffic Control family in Detroit.