JFK ATC in the news...
 

Child directs traffic at major airport

By Ted Daniel from MyFox National From: NewsCore March 03, 2010 12:50PM

AN investigation is under way after a child was heard giving instructions to a pilot from the air-traffic control tower at one of America's busiest airports, reports say.

In a recording that has been confirmed as genuine by the Federal Aviation Administration, the child makes five transmissions - with the pilots in each case all responding enthusiastically to him, MyFox National reports.

One conversation between the tower at JFK Airport in New York and a pilot goes as follows:

JFK TOWER: Jet Blue 171 contact departure.

PILOT: Over to departure jet blue 171, awesome job.


The child appears to be supervised, with a controller explaining the reason for the young voice to the pilot.

JFK TOWER: That's what you get guys when the kids are out of school. (laugh)

The airport is the sixth busiest in the country with thousands of planes taking off and landing every day.

The control tower is a highly secure area and the FAA says only licensed controllers are supposed to communicate with planes.

“I have never ever heard a small kid in the tower giving instructions for an airplane to take off or cross a runway or any kind of instructions,” Jim Baker, a retired chief pilot at Delta airlines, told FOX25.

The FAA said: "Pending the outcome of our investigation, the employees involved in this incident are not controlling air traffic.

"This behavior is not acceptable and does not demonstrate the kind of professionalism expected from all FAA employees."

The union that represents air traffic controllers said: "We do not condone this type of behavior in any way, and it is not indicative of the highest professional standards that controllers set for themselves and exceed each and every day in the advancement of aviation safety."


For the full story, head to MyFox National

Child directs traffic at major airport | Perth Now

I just cannot believe my ears. An aircraft actually took off on the instructions of a child without verifying the clearance was genuime.

Pretty much covers it.

The example quoted was a (presumably expected)frequency change. Hardly safety critical.

And may it have been a "take your child to work day"? In which case the presence of a child may well have been authorised, even in a secure area.

Without more information I would not be so quick to condemn.

must be a very slow news day.... give me a break... maybe we should send the kid to guantanamo...:rolleyes:

Or the reporter.........

Maybe the child's speech was more understandable than the usual US staccato machine-gun-speak of the regular team.

So, it's back to child labour. Saves money even if not very PC.

Send him round, I need my chimney swept & my boots cleaned :ugh:

so easy, a child can do it.

appropriately supervised, in a "calm" period...whats the big deal.


Didnt guys in the old days allow a kid on the flight deck to transmit a radio call or heaven forbid, twist the heading bug.


Everyone is so paranoid these days.

Paranoia is replacing paranoia. It really is ridiculous.

A supervised child in the Tower seens a bit safer than an unsupervised one in the cockpit

...the child probably did a better job than the usual controllers...

The kid was asked to comment on his 13th Birthday treat from his Dad by his teacher:

My Daddy took me to work today
and with all the planes he let play
The big one the little one
the one with the blue tail
and even the one whose engine did fail

I lined them up
i cleared them to go
one even told me
damn fine show

Then the man from the paper wrote his bit
and now my dad is well in the s**t
So im back on the streets and i'm number one
at selling my drugs, i've got a big gun. :ugh::ugh::ugh::=:=

If the person had been the spouse, brother, sister, or friend of the controller, instead of a child, would your opinions change?

"The old days!" :} It was only 10 years ago! (Although I see your profile says you are "3" :} )

I once had the 18 year old daughter of one of the local controllers on a flight. He contacted us, and asked if she could visit the cockpit (he would be in the tower that day). We sat her on the jump seat, and had her make the ground calls for clearance and taxi (she read them from a bit of paper) to her father, who answered. Many chuckles and giggles (and queries from other planes), and we departed. Had a nice short cut and straight in approach on the way back in thanks.

If you can't have the odd day of fun at work, is there any point ? :ugh:

Many times had children visit the flight deck, and "turn the aeroplane" with the heading bug. (Pre Sep 11, obviously.)

All quite obviously under control (pardon the pun) and great for the kid. Good recruiting policy for future ATCOs. Anyone who condemns this, including the FAA, need to get a life. I controlled a/c (during quieter periods) for years as an ATCA - always with a fully qualified ATCO monitoring my every move. No different to a trainee ATCO. Trainee ATCOs have no licence; they train on their coach's licence. Yet another nanny state shock horror story to make headlines. Non event.

Call yourself a Ppruner? :}

Avman....you summarised the views of most of I think....

I guess the thing that would send the press into a flat spin is if the controller was the Hudson Bay ATCO......shall we start the rumour?