Comments on: Air Traffic Controller Suspended for Allowing His Kid To Relay Messages To Pilots

By: rhys607

rhys607 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:33:10 +0000

When I was a child my Dad took me to work in the summer months. He was a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force. He taught me how to safety wire the nozzles in the afterburner. I did this task countless times and can proudly say that no military jets were harmed in the making of those memories. My Dad’s superior officers thought it was cool. He was right there supervising my work and double checking everything. The same applies to the FAA incident I am sure. The ATC was not having a lunch break and letting his child run his sector. He was there looking over the childs shoulder and monitoring everything he said. I think the FAA brass need to chill out.

By: Greg Allen

Greg Allen — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:42:25 +0000

Awake,

Even though your story is horrible (and pretty anomalous, I suspect), I’m just not worried about children causing airplane crashes.

What worries me more? Overworked and underpaid pilots. Outsourced and under-funded airplane maintenance. Antiquated flight control technology in over crowded skies.

But kids crashing planes? No.

By: Wizzard

Wizzard — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:19:10 +0000

#6 Correct
#47 agree
#53 LOL
The underlying point is..The kid should not have been in the tower in the first place. Yeah I know ” he is the atc son, Daughter etc” “Nothing went wrong” “He was supervised” Open your eyes. He/she was not qualified, did not belong on the radios, talking with Pilots.
The qualifications are:
Education and training. There are three main pathways to become an air traffic controller with the FAA. The first is air traffic controllers with prior experience through either the FAA or the Department of Defense as a civilian or veteran. Second are applicants from the general public. These applicants must have 3 years of progressively responsible full-time work experience, have completed a full 4 years of college, or a combination of both. In combining education and experience, 1 year of undergraduate study—30 semester or 45 quarter hours—is equivalent to 9 months of work experience. The third way is for an applicant to have successfully completed an aviation-related program of study through the FAA’s Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. In 2008, there were 31 schools in the AT-CTI program”
“Other qualifications. Air traffic controllers must be articulate to give pilots directions quickly and clearly. Intelligence and a good memory also are important because controllers constantly receive information that they must immediately grasp, interpret, and remember. Decisiveness also is required because controllers often have to make quick decisions. The ability to concentrate is crucial because controllers must make these decisions in the midst of noise and other distractions.” I am certain the kid did not meet this criteria..(http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos108.htm)

By: Animby

Animby — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:16:55 +0000

Thank you, 3rd. I was afraid I was losing my prepubescent charms…

By: Thirdstonefromsun

Thirdstonefromsun — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:35:14 +0000

#52 That would make the interns 5 years older than you

By: Animby

Animby — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:12:27 +0000

# 47 Airforce Pilot said, “I should let the Doctors nine year old preform the surgery because he is watched?”

That would be irresponsible. All the interns I supervise are at least 15!

By: Nephelometers

Nephelometers — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:01:32 +0000

I agree with headshaker… not a good idea after all… Anyways, thanks for this post..

By: RSweeney

RSweeney — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:51:52 +0000

so much for taking your kids to work day

By: Whaap

Whaap — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:15:42 +0000

Suspension is FAR too light. The asshole should be prosecuted for criminal negligence at the very least.

By: Richmidd

Richmidd — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:42:55 +0000

Having been in ATC once upon a time I don’t feel any aircraft were in danger. It is obvious to any controller that these children were instructed as to what to say. The phraseology used was correct
and only a controller would know this.

The danger MAY come from distraction of other controllers. Discipline may be in order for this
reason.

The media again prefers sensationalism to facts

By: Airforce Pilot

Airforce Pilot — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:17:01 +0000

#6 exactly right
#9 So. when I go into surgery for a Hip replacement, I should let the Doctors nine year old preform the surgery because he is watched? The Kid is clearly a distraction. Had something gone awry, then they would be singing “Why was the kid doing this”? This is unacceptable behavior.

By: audion

audion — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:52:07 +0000

This had better be No Agenda’s “Distraction of the Week”.

By: wirelessg

wirelessg — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:43:43 +0000

#10 Why is this a political issue? This has been against official policy since FAA wrote the rules.

Of course, Cheney brought George to work with him everyday and look what happened.

By: Vonchiz

Vonchiz — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:31:02 +0000

Puh-lease. Anyone who thinks that this is a terrifying and life-threatening incident please remove the telephone pole from up your posterior.

By: Nik (no C)

Nik (no C) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:24:29 +0000

#42 – “I thought the control tower of a major international airport was a super serious military like environment.” Control towers are secure areas, but until this point, fairly easy to get a tour of an FAA tower. There are no secrets up there. More limited in room to accommodate a tour.

And to everyone who says how STRESSFUL ATC is, it is only stressful if you have no idea what you are doing. Most controllers have a blast in what they do.

There is a healthy relationship that pilots and controllers have. Pilots think ATC is trying to kill them and ATC thinks pilots are stupid. It is an attitude that keeps the system honest. In the last 16 years, I have saved some pilots asses, and they have saved mine.

Quit knee-jerking the situation and making decisions angry. This isn’t a big deal.