2 Planes Land While ATC Naps @ DCA
03-24-2011 | 05:03 AM
#21
Weekend and Holiday Pilot
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From: Sippin' at the Troubadour
03-24-2011 | 05:05 AM
#22
Line Holder
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From: VEOP Retired! 7ER A was last position
I wouldn't have landed. I would have gone around and held for a reasonable time, then gone to IAD or BWI. There has to be some procedure for this scenario where someone "on call" can respond quickly to check on the status of an ATC facility. Although VERY unlikely, this could have ended badly. And you know who would have been blamed...
03-24-2011 | 05:25 AM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
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From: Recliner 105A
Hoser
Last edited by Hoser; 03-24-2011 at 05:42 AM.
03-24-2011 | 05:43 AM
#24
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Pilot sounded like a bit of a prick in the audio with the controller.
He said: 'The tower is apparently not manned, we've made a few phone calls.
'I'm going to take a guess and say that the controller got locked out, I've heard of this happening before.'
The AA pilot then responds: 'First time I've heard of it.'
Virginia tower: 'Yeah fortunately its not very often , it happened about a year ago.'
AA Pilot: 'Interesting.'
Virginia tower: 'It is.'
Virginia Tower: 'American 1012, tower is back in business.'
AA Pilot: 'That was a close call.'
Read more: US air traffic review launched after 2 planes land 'blind' at Reagan National Airport | Mail Online
He said: 'The tower is apparently not manned, we've made a few phone calls.
'I'm going to take a guess and say that the controller got locked out, I've heard of this happening before.'
The AA pilot then responds: 'First time I've heard of it.'
Virginia tower: 'Yeah fortunately its not very often , it happened about a year ago.'
AA Pilot: 'Interesting.'
Virginia tower: 'It is.'
Virginia Tower: 'American 1012, tower is back in business.'
AA Pilot: 'That was a close call.'
Read more: US air traffic review launched after 2 planes land 'blind' at Reagan National Airport | Mail Online
03-24-2011 | 06:40 AM
#25
Keep Calm Chive ON
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From: Boeing's Plastic Jet Button Pusher - 787
Not too sure about FAA but when I was a USAF controller we were limited to 8 hours, and 10 when required. USAF also required minimum of two controllers on duty. This was a problem in LEX when the one controller on duty was busy multitasking and not watching his traffic taxing to the wrong runway. Hard to believe at DCA only one controller on duty is permitted.
Hoser
Hoser
Regardless, it will be interesting to see the facts/details as the days unfold.
03-24-2011 | 07:39 AM
#26
Prime Minister/Moderator
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
I wouldn't have landed. I would have gone around and held for a reasonable time, then gone to IAD or BWI. There has to be some procedure for this scenario where someone "on call" can respond quickly to check on the status of an ATC facility. Although VERY unlikely, this could have ended badly. And you know who would have been blamed...
Maybe Potomac gave them permission to land or declared the field uncontrolled...if something like that was on tape probably good-to-go.
03-24-2011 | 07:48 AM
#28
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FAA guy was interviewed on CNN and got a little turned arouned by the interviewer gal.
She asked if it was safe to have no one in the tower and he said perfectly to which she replied: then why did La Hood just demand two controllers at this vital airport.
She asked what about workers/maintenance people on the runway and the FAA guy said the pilots could easily see them at night with their strobes and lights on the plane. She then asked if it would have been safe to land in bad weather and he said yes, that planes land at uncontrolled fields in bad weather all the time. She then asked about bad weather in this situation if there were maintenance people on the runway, how would the pilots see them. He ummmed and awwwedddd. Kinda funny.
She asked if it was safe to have no one in the tower and he said perfectly to which she replied: then why did La Hood just demand two controllers at this vital airport.
She asked what about workers/maintenance people on the runway and the FAA guy said the pilots could easily see them at night with their strobes and lights on the plane. She then asked if it would have been safe to land in bad weather and he said yes, that planes land at uncontrolled fields in bad weather all the time. She then asked about bad weather in this situation if there were maintenance people on the runway, how would the pilots see them. He ummmed and awwwedddd. Kinda funny.
03-24-2011 | 12:42 PM
#29
At your mom's house
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From: cpt 737
wouldn't it be uncontrolled when the tower was out of operation according to the AFD ( certain times at night) but if the AFD said that the tower was supposed to be open and no one was answering then it is still controlled and you need a clearence? Hard choice and a good interview question. would you land on a runway a night in a full moon with no runway lights because the controller forgot to turn them on before he left? sure you can see the runway just fine but no lights means you can't land.
03-24-2011 | 12:54 PM
#30
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From: Self employed
Another facility can't give any "control instructions" in somebody else's airspace. So, no, Potomac couldn't give permission to land. Just like they can't/don't at uncontrolled airports.
If Potomac would have given some "permission", and a Boeing landed on an unlit fuel truck on the runway (that a terrorist could have put there), well, you can imagine the mess.
I'm with you; I would have landed somewhere else.
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