...Says the air traffic controler who fell asleep on the job at Ronald Regan Airport in DC and let 2 planes land on their own... [bang]
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/03/24/dc.air.traffic.suspension/index.html?hpt=Sbin (http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/03/24/dc.air.traffic.suspension/index.html?hpt=Sbin)
You think they'll change the airport code from DCA to DIY? [laugh]
Welcome to the new 3rd World America
life is cheap, indifference is an institution
Quote from: Monster Dave on March 24, 2011, 06:09:04 PM
... Ronald Regan Airport in DC
NATIONAL airport, please!
There's plenty of room on the National Mall, the late-night arrivals should just land there.
Seriously though, I'm appalled, the runway is on a river, in the middle of a high density area, not to mention the nation's capital.
[bang]
Quote from: AJ on March 24, 2011, 11:24:17 PM
NATIONAL airport, please!
There's plenty of room on the National Mall, the late-night arrivals should just land there.
Seriously though, I'm appalled, the runway is on a river, in the middle of a high density area, not to mention the nation's capital.
[bang]
and pilots land planes all day and night long w/o the help of a tower. it is a basic skill.
what happened is bad, but the traffic at that time of night isn't. if the pilot didn't think it was safe to land there w/o contact with the tower, he wouldn't of done it.
It doesn't matter how little traffic there is at that time.
He is paid to be there, doing his job, awake and alert.
Fire him.
I know that it must be a far more stressful job than we all realize, but it baffles me why someone didn't think it would be smart to have 2 controllers on at the same time.
It's always about the $$ until there's a nearly fatal accident, then someone says "oh...we should add a second controller"
...duh... [bang]
Quote from: Bick on March 25, 2011, 07:38:43 AM
It doesn't matter how little traffic there is at that time.
He is paid to be there, doing his job, awake and alert.
Fire him.
I agree, he should be fired.
But don't let them fool you into thinking that a disaster was narrowly averted.
Quote from: wbeck257 on March 25, 2011, 07:48:46 AM
But don't let them fool you into thinking that a disaster was narrowly averted.
2 passenger planes had to land 'in the dark' ....um yeah...
Quote from: Monster Dave on March 25, 2011, 07:53:17 AM
2 passenger planes had to land 'in the dark' ....um yeah...
someone please insert the video from Airplane where Johnnny unplugs the runway lights!
Quote from: Monster Dave on March 25, 2011, 07:53:17 AM
2 passenger planes had to land 'in the dark' ....um yeah...
They had contact with a regional controller...
Quote from: wbeck257 on March 25, 2011, 05:04:14 AM
and pilots land planes all day and night long w/o the help of a tower. it is a basic skill.
I think a reprimand and probabtion would be fine for the controller (who was a supervisor nonetheless), and maybe take him off of that shift (or add a second person). Who knows why he was tired...maybe he has a 2 month old at home and hasn't been getting the usual amount of sleep. It was a mistake...a serious one...but it all turned out OK.
Quote from: zooom on March 25, 2011, 09:35:56 AM
someone please insert the video from Airplane where Johnnny unplugs the runway lights!
Airplane Jonny (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFHjdYoNb_Y#normal)
Quote from: Triple J on March 25, 2011, 09:56:11 AM
I think a reprimand and probabtion would be fine for the controller (who was a supervisor nonetheless), and maybe take him off of that shift (or add a second person). Who knows why he was tired...maybe he has a 2 month old at home and hasn't been getting the usual amount of sleep. It was a mistake...a serious one...but it all turned out OK.
I disagree. I don't think it matters if it all "turned out ok." He's paid to do a job. Regardless of the end result, he didn't do the job. The job is a very important one that can have dire consequences. If there's a reason he couldn't do the job (i.e. too tired because of a baby at home), he should have found someone to cover for him.
I guess it's the military mentality in me. Know what happens if I fall asleep on watch? If I'm lucky, I just get demoted and restricted to the ship. If bad things do happen, I can be "fired" (kicked out) and that would have serious repercussions for the rest of my life.
So, I say demote him, suspend him w/o pay for a couple months, and let him try to work his way back.