Child clears airliners for take-off at JFK (FAA not amused)

[icymist]

Child clears airliners for take-off at JFK
Wed Mar 3, 12:49 pm ET
NEW YORK (AFP) – Children love to play with airplanes, but US flight authorities were in uproar Wednesday after a youngster directed real airliners from the control tower at New York's JFK airport.

"Jet Blue 171 contact departure," says a squeaky voice in a February 17 recording aired by WFXT-TV television in Boston.

The pilot of the airliner responds and tells the child: "Awesome job."

"That's what you get guys when the kids are out of school," laughs an adult at the control tower, presumably supervising the child.

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[johnnie]

1. I guess I can understand the FAA covering their ass

But there were no problems. Write the guy up and get back to business.

[Orrex]

2. In defense of the kid, the flight *was* heading to Sesame Street

[hlthe2b]

3. I think if I were on the receving end of that child's voice...

(with the lives of scores of passengers in my hands) I would NOT be amused. Good on the FAA for suspending this guy. What judgement :eyes:

[johnnie]

4. The two pilots mentioned seemed fine with it

Not everything is a matter of life and death.

[hlthe2b]

8. Perhaps they knew the air traffic controller... that would make a difference

Their job, however, is the difference between life and death at times--- and those times are not always predictable. Let the kids watch under supervision, but let the professionals do the job. FAA regs are there for a reason.

[DemoTex]

17. It is on 22L at KJFK (a matter of life and death).

Or 36 at KDCA. Or 27 at KBOS during simultaneous operations on intersecting runways.

Imagine the shit-storm if another American Flight 587 accident (11/12/2001: JFK departure in clear weather that crashed in Belle Harbor in Queens) happened while this crap was going on.

As an airline captain with 17,000+ accident-free hours and as an ALPA-trained airline accident investigator, I am appalled by both the cavalier replies from pilots on the tape and a statement that "Not everything is a matter of life and death."

In my opinion, this is right up there with the USS Greeneville submarine, entertaining some GOP contributers, sinking a Japanese fishing vessel on 2/9/2001. The air traffic controllers at JFK were just lucky no aircraft as much as blew a tire. Or, maybe not. They were obviously too stupid to realize the tapes would get 'em. The controller and tower chief, at a minimum, are toast.

[johnnie]

19. But you did notice nothing bad happened?

My point is, nothing happened, write the guy up and move on. I don't think that firing this guy and probably making sure he never works again is a sound solution. That squeaky voice kid doesn't need to have his life thrown into the shitter over some stupid thing his dad did.

I'm glad I don't need to work with people that are so friggin' uptight all the time. Life is too short to worry about this kind of shit when there are real travesties to concern ourselves with. Some kid saying exactly what his father would say (because he told him what to say) isn't the most horrific thing in the world.

[DemoTex]

22. You obviously have never kicked tin at an airline crash site.

I have. I'll put my credentials up against your flimsy opinions on this subject 24/7. It is so much deeper than you are grasping.

You, sir, might be wrong on this one - IN MY EXPERT OPINION. I say this hoping that you will not take it as a flame (nor the mods). It is simply a statement of fact.

[johnnie]

24. Once again...

...there was no crash.

[DemoTex]

25. Nite nite child

Sleep well

[johnnie]

28. I sleep well every night

Thanks. :hi:

[JanMichael]

26. Dude. You are making innane statements to a retired pilot

stupid is no way to go through life, child.

[johnnie]

29. Yeah, I'm stupid

You're awesome.

[Midlodemocrat]

23. +1 Common sense seems to be in short supply, johnnie.

[nimvg]

32. Just Finished...

...my Private Written exam about three hours ago, looking for a good place to finish my cross countries and take a checkride with a minimum of bullshit. One instructor says since I have sixty hours (long story), it's okay to go to Sheblee's because there's not a whole lot remaining for them to cover. What do you think?

[LuckyLib]

5. This is beyond stupid. Keep your kids at home. Do your job.

[Shell Beau]

6. Sometimes the kids have to go to work with the parents.

That doesn't mean they have to do their jobs though.

[hlthe2b]

9. Would you say that to a police officer or fireman?

[Shell Beau]

10. I am not saying it for any particular job. Sometimes

things come up. Obviously if it is a dangerous job, you wouldn't take the children with you. But if it isn't a dangerous job, and there is no other option, I don't see it as a problem as long as it is allowed. I didn't say let the children do the job, but parents' get in binds sometimes. Daycares close, etc.

[hlthe2b]

11. There are certain professions where it is a given children can not

come to work.. As one who has always worked in these fields, I was always made to understand that one had to have a first, second, third, and ultimate back up plan for the kids if it were impossible to take the day off (and usually it was). If air traffic control falls under this category (and I certainly would expect that it would) then I find it very hard to understand their bringing the child with them. Yes, shit happens, but that is why you have a plan A, B, C, and D.

[REP]

16. Air traffic control qualifies as a dangerous job, since lives depend on it

This was an incredibly stupid decision by the controller. Take the day off - and the penalties involved - if you can't find childcare; don't risk lives. The firing was the right call.

[Shell Beau]

21. I am not upset by the fact that his kid was with him. It was a very

poor decision to let the child do what he did though.

[REP]

27. Distractions, like small children, do not belong in an air traffic control tower

Other children, after all, are on those planes those controllers are directing.

[Bluebear]

7. UPDATE: JFK air traffic controller let not one, but TWO kids direct planes: officials

The Kennedy Airport air traffic controller who brought his son to work and let him direct several planes let a second child do the same thing the next day, officials said Wednesday.

An initial investigation by the Federal Aviation Authority revealed that the unidentified controller's second child gave directions to two separate planes on Feb. 17.

The revelations emerged a day after the controller and his supervisor were suspended over the Feb. 16 incident.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/03/03/2010-03-03_jfk_air_traffic_controller_let_not_one_but_two_kids_direct_planes_officials.html#ixzz0hA04OEDJ

[amborin]

14. scary! as it is, there are near-misses at JFK ; the traffic controllers are over-worked and

stressed; having kids in the tower is just not smart; lives are at stake

[thelordofhell]

18. near-misses?

So they hit?

[amborin]

20. try looking up the term

[Individualist]

30. Read and learn...

By definition, a near-miss is two aircraft in flight that come within 500 feet of each other. Aircraft are to stay at least 1,000 feet apart vertically and three miles horizontally, according to the FAA.
http://www.aero-news.net/EmailArticle.cfm?ContentBlockID=5deffb00-30d3-42c8-8f02-da2d1434aece

[heli]

12. Control towers should be kidfree zones. The flying public has enough crap to worry about.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. Bad judgment doesn't begin to describe how screwed up this was.

What I find the most disturbing is that there are people who would defend this as no big deal. I'm flabbergasted by that. This is a job which should be shielded from any and all distrations. Everyone involved should be reprimanded at the very least, and the supervisor who allowed it should be demoted

Imagine if something bad had resulted from this... We'd be here blaming Reagan instead of laughing it off.

[Raine]

15. Beyond stupid and you couldn't hardly even

make out what the kid was saying.

[PacerLJ35]

31. This isn't as big a deal as some are making it out to be

The other controllers (there are more than one) working the tower cab were all on headset with mics, and the tower chief could override the other mics if need be. The child was prompted about what to say, they weren't just "winging it" and making stuff up. I've let my kids talk on the radios before while flying, and even let them manipulate the controls to a degree. Kids get into it and it gets them interested in a career by doing stuff like that.

I read somewhere that somebody on this board stated it could cause another AA 587...except that mishap wasn't even remotely related to ATC issues.