News: FAA ATC chief resigns over sleeping controllers
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Denver
News: FAA ATC chief resigns over sleeping controllers
Joined: Jan 2008
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: Boston, MA USA
Temporary management
I just read that the acting head of ATC will be the FAA's Chief Counsel (gasp!) Anyone who has read some of the official interpertations of regulations coming out of that office knows there is a significant lack of understanding about aviation operations. (Think about the infamous "known icing" interpertation letter that completely ignored the work "known"). I have not read one interpertation that didn't somehow scream "I don't know anything about aviation but I have I law degree so I must be an expert".
We could be out of the frying pan and into the fire!
We could be out of the frying pan and into the fire!
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: USA
Sleeping controllers are not acceptible under any circumstances and the agency head should take the responsibility.'
This was a short-sighted cost savings decision that proved to be wrong and dangerous.
We need to reform the bad decisions and move forward.
This was a short-sighted cost savings decision that proved to be wrong and dangerous.
We need to reform the bad decisions and move forward.
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: retirementland
It is good to see accountabilty being properly applied as clearly there are systemic issues within FAA. 
I do worry that they continue to have a blame culture and willnow simply rest on their laurels having let some heads roll.
I have seen such an attitude at many US organisations I've audited in the past.
It is about time they broke ATC services away from the regulator like the CAA / NATS slpit in the UK years ago,
I do worry that they continue to have a blame culture and willnow simply rest on their laurels having let some heads roll.
I have seen such an attitude at many US organisations I've audited in the past.
It is about time they broke ATC services away from the regulator like the CAA / NATS slpit in the UK years ago,
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 545
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From: Dunstable, Beds UK
Is It Me 
In the UK it is Illegal to employ a person alone in this situation
Ok he was sleeping but what about falling down stairs or having a heart attack !
Incidentally have worked night shifts show me someone who has NOT slept on night shift
It just seems beyond comprehension that these controllers are alone !
In the UK it is Illegal to employ a person alone in this situation
Ok he was sleeping but what about falling down stairs or having a heart attack !
Incidentally have worked night shifts show me someone who has NOT slept on night shift
It just seems beyond comprehension that these controllers are alone !
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Wayne Manor
It just seems beyond comprehension that these controllers are alone !
I have not read one interpertation that didn't somehow scream "I don't know anything about aviation but I have I law degree so I must be an expert".
great innit !
Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Where the Quaboag River flows, USA
GottheTshirt
Quite agree, it is unacceptable to have one controller night shifts. The solution is simple, make those airports uncontrolled at night--done. And that is the answer when airports have small overnight traffic counts. We thus return to KDCA a couple of weeks ago.
GF
I guarantee that will be the FAA answer to the budget vs controllers argument. Money is not infinite
Quite agree, it is unacceptable to have one controller night shifts. The solution is simple, make those airports uncontrolled at night--done. And that is the answer when airports have small overnight traffic counts. We thus return to KDCA a couple of weeks ago.
GF
I guarantee that will be the FAA answer to the budget vs controllers argument. Money is not infinite
Joined: May 2007
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From: Europe
Speaking of incompetents getting themselves into top jobs....
Source: CAA Website.
She actually boasted that she knows nothing about aviation; pretty obvious, isn't it, looking at her CV. But she "knows people", doesn't she, who can fix up a succession of sinecures for her.
Known in the UK as QUANGO QUEENS, these people move blithely from disaster to disaster with ever-increasing salaries, pointing out that they cannot be held responsible when things inevitably go wrong, since they know nothing about the organisations of which they are "The Chair".
Dame Deirdre Hutton was appointed to the CAA Board as a Non-Executive Board Member in April 2009 and took up the position of Chair of the CAA in August 2009. Dame Deirdre was previously Chair of the Food Standards Agency, Honorary Vice-President of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, Honorary Vice-President of the Trading Standards Institute, and serves as a Non-Executive member of the HM Treasury Board. She has been Vice-Chair of the European Food Safety Authority Management Board, Deputy Chair of the Financial Services Authority, Chair of the National Consumer Council, Chair of the Scottish Consumer Council, and a member of the Better Regulation Task Force.
Source: CAA Website.
She actually boasted that she knows nothing about aviation; pretty obvious, isn't it, looking at her CV. But she "knows people", doesn't she, who can fix up a succession of sinecures for her.
Known in the UK as QUANGO QUEENS, these people move blithely from disaster to disaster with ever-increasing salaries, pointing out that they cannot be held responsible when things inevitably go wrong, since they know nothing about the organisations of which they are "The Chair".
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Seattle
Snoozing ATC Staff - A Solution
Two Controllers on the night shift? It seems like there is a better way . . .
Why not install equipment in the tower cab (to be active on the night shift) that would sound a loud klaxon if the controller fails to key his mike within thirty seconds of receiving a call?
Any other suggestions?
Why not install equipment in the tower cab (to be active on the night shift) that would sound a loud klaxon if the controller fails to key his mike within thirty seconds of receiving a call?
Any other suggestions?
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: fort sheridan, il
first off, the real answer is to do away with the scheduling ''double up'' which leads to the snoozing.
second, the joke answer is:
tell ATC that if a pilot doesn't get an answer, and lands, the pilot gets the ATC controller's pay for a week. if the plane has a copilot, he gets it too. soon the controllers will be wideawake.
second, the joke answer is:
tell ATC that if a pilot doesn't get an answer, and lands, the pilot gets the ATC controller's pay for a week. if the plane has a copilot, he gets it too. soon the controllers will be wideawake.
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Where the company needs me not where I want to be!
Errmmmm
How about a CTAF?
if there is not enough work to keep them awake then why are they needed?
"Lear25 on 10mile final runway 12 Backwater Airstrip, any traffic advise"
" (Silence) "
"Lear 25 landing runway 12 taking taxiway A to the apron"
End of transmission.
How about a CTAF?
if there is not enough work to keep them awake then why are they needed?
"Lear25 on 10mile final runway 12 Backwater Airstrip, any traffic advise"
" (Silence) "
"Lear 25 landing runway 12 taking taxiway A to the apron"
End of transmission.
More bang for your buck
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: land of the clanger
It used to be in the Maritime world that on the MF and HF calling and distress frequencies you could press a button on the transmitter that would, prior to making a distress call, activate an alarm in ships wireless cabins and also on the bridge so that if the radio operator was off shift he could be woken up to deal with the distress call. I'm sure it could easily be implemented for ATC purposes, sort of reverse selcall.
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Florida
Seeing as how this is headed to Jet Blast.
Require the controller to actually do something in the quiet periods like program way points into a computer until he actually gets it right and have these same points then called into an indian call center and double checked for accuracy.
Require the controller to actually do something in the quiet periods like program way points into a computer until he actually gets it right and have these same points then called into an indian call center and double checked for accuracy.