|
Has anybody heard how the lady is doing?
|
Originally Posted by Chris2303
(Post 10309262)
Has anybody heard how the lady is doing?
From another web forum. Can’t vouch if it’s real or not. https://forums.propilotworld.com/att...2&d=1542043943 https://www.nbcboston.com/news/natio...500270171.html Officials Probe Why Las Vegas Airport Controller Went SilentAt one point, the controller sounds sleepy and apologizes over the radio, saying she is "choking a little bit," according to air traffic recordings available on the internetBy Ken RitterPublished Nov 12, 2018 at 7:55 AM Updated 6 hours agoNEWSLETTERSReceive the latest national-international updates in your inboxFederal and airport authorities said Friday they are investigating why an air traffic controller became incapacitated and went silent while working a night shift alone in the tower at busy McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas."No safety events occurred during this incident," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement about what officials said amounted to a 40-minute span during which the female controller slurred words and then apparently lost consciousness shortly before midnight Wednesday. "An air traffic controller at the Las Vegas tower became incapacitated while on duty," the agency said. It did not identify the controller or the cause of her incapacitation. Airport director Rosemary Vassiliadis issued a statement saying that initial findings echoed the FAA assessment. Five inbound aircraft remained airborne during the incident, and aircraft on the ground held positions or communicated between themselves to maintain safety while moving, the FAA said. The controller involved in the Las Vegas incident is no longer employed by the FAA, the agency told NBC News Sunday. Air traffic recordings available on the internet show commercial airline pilots having trouble understanding the controller during radio communications about approaches to land, clearances to take off and directions for taxiing. Some begin talking between themselves about something being amiss. At one point, the controller sounds sleepy and apologizes over the radio, saying she is "choking a little bit." Minutes later, she misstates an aircraft's call numbers. Finally, her microphone opens to the sound of coughing and grunting. She does not respond to a pilot's inquiry before the sound of a male voice is heard in the room asking if the woman is all right. Officials said a male controller who had been on break was summoned to return to the tower. Paramedics responded. The FAA said the woman was at first put on administrative leave, and the agency ordered two controllers to be in the tower during busy hours. "The FAA is deeply concerned by the incident, is thoroughly investigating what occurred, and is taking immediate steps to modify its overnight shift staffing policies," the agency statement said. McCarran is among the 10 busiest airports in the U.S. in passenger volume. The unidentified controller worked for a little more than an hour before trouble began and communicated with pilots of 29 aircraft before she was replaced, the FAA said. National Air Traffic Controllers Association chief Paul Rinaldi issued a statement praising the work of thousands of union members around the country and promising cooperation in the FAA investigation "so that all of the facts are known." Copyright Associated Press / NBC10 Boston |
Originally Posted by FlyTCI
(Post 10309267)
The controller involved in the Las Vegas incident is no longer employed by the FAA, the agency told NBC News Sunday.
|
You do not have the facts.
If, as seems likely, she had a stroke this could leave her with permanent disabilities for which she would be entitled to early retirement on medical grounds. "Has retired" and "is no longer employed" would both be true and factual although the second is rather tactless.. We have no knowledge of her current condition and prognosis but I would expect everyone involved to do everything possible in her best interest. |
There are also other scenarios, but as we have no other information everything is pure speculation. Ideal for PPrune :D
|
Originally Posted by The Ancient Geek
(Post 10309315)
You do not have the facts.
If, as seems likely, she had a stroke this could leave her with permanent disabilities for which she would be entitled to early retirement on medical grounds. "Has retired" and "is no longer employed" would both be true and factual although the second is rather tactless. |
Or maybe something has got garbled in the press reports - what a surprise.
BTW, an ATCO requires a Class 3 medical so if it was a stroke the answer is no, never, for life. There are several items on a medical history which preclude the issue of an aviation medical. |
Originally Posted by The Ancient Geek
(Post 10309459)
BTW, an ATCO requires a Class 3 medical so if it was a stroke the answer is no, never, for life.
There are several items on a medical history which preclude the issue of an aviation medical. https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...prot/neurocog/ A Special Issuance may or may not be required as mentioned in the FAA page above: Will additional testing be required in the future? If eligible for unrestricted medical certification, no additional testing would be required. However, pilots found eligible for Special Issuance will be required to undergo periodic re-evaluations. The letter authorizing special issuance will outline required testing, which may be limited to specific tests or expanded to include a comprehensive test battery. https://pilot-protection-services.ao...stroke-and-tia https://pilot-protection-services.ao...-with-a-stroke |
Actually, ATCs in the US need a class 2 from an AME contracted to perform ATC exams... (it's the same as an airmans class 2, except it has some EKG requirements) |
Here's the actual response from the FAA, not the "interpretation" by the various news agencies: "On Wednesday evening, an air traffic controller at the Las Vegas tower became incapacitated while on duty. The FAA is deeply concerned by the incident, is thoroughly investigating what occurred, and is taking immediate steps to modify its overnight shift staffing policies. No safety events occurred during this incident. The controller is currently restricted from working air traffic." Notice the word "current." Not "no longer employed" or "fired." That's from the FAA.gov website under news and updates. She may have had a non-medical issue such as drugs or alcohol, but as far as I can see from official sources, she is currently on administrative leave only. |
Other local news sources reporting that the controller is no longer with the FAA:
An air traffic controller who became incapacitated while on duty at the McCarran International Airport tower last week is no longer employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. A representative of the agency didn’t say Monday whether the controller resigned or was fired nor whether its investigation of the incident has been concluded, citing privacy concerns. Since the release of this statement the air traffic controller is no longer with the FAA. No other details have been released. The incapacitated air traffic controller in Wednesday’s incident at McCarran International Airport is no longer employed with the Federal Aviation Administration, according to a source. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhjF...ature=youtu.be Seems like more than medical leave for a neurological incident. :confused: |
Originally Posted by Ian W
(Post 10309068)
There is a lot of pressure to reduce staffing in these 24 hour units and anyone who has worked in them knows the boredom of the 1am to 4am hours and it is tempting to let people officially or unofficially 'nap' somewhere..
Just the same happened at the Air Canada SFO incident. It was midnight, but there were 4 widebodies queued at the hold point which had been unable to get away for up to 20 minutes due to constant inbounds. And yet that was just one controller covering two positions as well. |
"Seems like more than medical leave for a neurological incident." I guess you don't realise how news agencies work. One story is created which is then sold to thousands of news outlets usually via a media distribution agency. The outlets then create their own headlines and bylines. But the source is still the same one, and in this case, inaccurate. Just because it's repeated 100 times doesn't make it correct. I've given you as direct an origin as I can, i.e. the FAA who actually put out the original statement, and you're still quoting news media as if they MUST be more accurate since there are more of them? Go to THE source. Not "a source". |
Originally Posted by The Ancient Geek
(Post 10309459)
Or maybe something has got garbled in the press reports - what a surprise.
BTW, an ATCO requires a Class 3 medical so if it was a stroke the answer is no, never, for life. There are several items on a medical history which preclude the issue of an aviation medical. |
Originally Posted by Spotted Reptile
(Post 10309542)
I guess you don't realise how news agencies work. One story is created which is then sold to thousands of news outlets usually via a media distribution agency. The outlets then create their own headlines and bylines. But the source is still the same one, and in this case, inaccurate. Just because it's repeated 100 times doesn't make it correct. I've given you as direct an origin as I can, i.e. the FAA who actually put out the original statement, and you're still quoting news media as if they MUST be more accurate since there are more of them? Go to THE source. Not "a source".
Originally Posted by Airbubba
(Post 10309510)
Since the release of this statement the air traffic controller is no longer with the FAA.
I don't look for the FAA to put out any further updates since this is now a personnel matter and privacy laws will be cited. But, then again, maybe they will be forced to give a public explanation as they did in the recent Air Canada SFO near disaster. You can see how the original media release stresses that 'no safety events occurred during this incident'. Will the NTSB take a look at this serious incident at a major air carrier airport? Or, will privacy laws and union pressure keep us from finding out what really happened? |
Originally Posted by Spotted Reptile
(Post 10309542)
"Seems like more than medical leave for a neurological incident." I guess you don't realise how news agencies work. One story is created which is then sold to thousands of news outlets usually via a media distribution agency. The outlets then create their own headlines and bylines. But the source is still the same one, and in this case, inaccurate. Just because it's repeated 100 times doesn't make it correct. I've given you as direct an origin as I can, i.e. the FAA who actually put out the original statement, and you're still quoting news media as if they MUST be more accurate since there are more of them? Go to THE source. Not "a source". |
Originally Posted by A Squared
(Post 10309609)
Well, I'll give you one thing, you're persistent. So, how do you explain the security alert? That name checks out with other sources online that the individual listed is (or was) in fact an Air Traffic Controller at Las Vegas. You don;t sent around a security alert with instructions to call 911 and mention possible access to firearms for someone who just took medical retirement. I suppose it's *possible* that at the same time the woman in the tower had a stroke, there was *also* an incident involving another female controller at Las Vegas whcih resulted in the security bulletin, but that's starting to be a pretty large coincidence, isn't it?
|
Originally Posted by Spotted Reptile
(Post 10309626)
At the time of the FAA statement she was "currently not working air traffic."
Originally Posted by Spotted Reptile
(Post 10309626)
so the news agencies made up their own stories with the "fired' angle.
|
Rumor on ATC forum sites is that this was an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) issue and a warning bulletin was issued to FAA facilities to make sure that she did not attempt to come back onto the property and go postal.
|
Originally Posted by Airbubba
(Post 10309686)
Rumor on ATC forum sites is that this was an EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
|
| All times are GMT. The time now is 10:12. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.