2 Planes Land While ATC Naps @ DCA
03-26-2011 | 12:47 PM
#81
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From: Self employed
Here comes the FAA knee jerk!
"Regional radar facilities are now required to alert controllers working alone at night in an airport tower that a plane is approaching, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. The radar controllers are "to confirm that there is a controller prepared to handle the incoming flight," he said.
Regional controllers have also been reminded that if no controller can be raised at an airport tower, proper procedures require they offer pilots the option of diverting to another airport, Babbitt said.
Controllers at a regional FAA radar facility in Warrenton, Va., about 40 miles from Reagan, didn't offer that option to the pilots who were to unable reach the airport's tower between 12:04 and 12:28 am on Wednesday."
"Regional radar facilities are now required to alert controllers working alone at night in an airport tower that a plane is approaching, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. The radar controllers are "to confirm that there is a controller prepared to handle the incoming flight," he said.
Regional controllers have also been reminded that if no controller can be raised at an airport tower, proper procedures require they offer pilots the option of diverting to another airport, Babbitt said.
Controllers at a regional FAA radar facility in Warrenton, Va., about 40 miles from Reagan, didn't offer that option to the pilots who were to unable reach the airport's tower between 12:04 and 12:28 am on Wednesday."
03-26-2011 | 12:50 PM
#82
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It's possible for anybody to fall asleep, true. And if this guy was a bargaining unit member Air Traffic Controller, he/she would be facing disciplinary action.
Because this is so high profile, I'm guessing this supervisorg will get some, too.
Good guy, or not.
03-26-2011 | 12:53 PM
#83
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They actually have a transceiver in the bathroom in Guam, I think.
I've taken the handheld transceiver to the bathroom when in the tower by myself and need a biological visit, BUT, I called the overlying and asked if anything was inbound. Then, told them that I'd be back in a few minutes.
03-26-2011 | 07:51 PM
#84
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Here comes the FAA knee jerk!
"Regional radar facilities are now required to alert controllers working alone at night in an airport tower that a plane is approaching, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. The radar controllers are "to confirm that there is a controller prepared to handle the incoming flight," he said.
"Regional radar facilities are now required to alert controllers working alone at night in an airport tower that a plane is approaching, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. The radar controllers are "to confirm that there is a controller prepared to handle the incoming flight," he said.
Why not just install headsets with shockers at the Center/TRACON so they can buzz them if they don't get a response.
03-27-2011 | 04:13 AM
#85
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03-27-2011 | 05:17 PM
#86
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It sounds to me like the airplane that went around showed excellent CRM. They communicated with the approach controller to verify no one was answering in the tower. All safety or work equipment should be monitoring the tower freq anyway, except for the made up terrorist truck. (fat chance at Reagan National)
The point everyone is missing here is that this NEVER would have happened if the controller had brought his kid to work that night!
The point everyone is missing here is that this NEVER would have happened if the controller had brought his kid to work that night!
03-27-2011 | 06:18 PM
#87
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WSJ has an article about this. http://http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703576204576227111819017454.html?r u=yahoo&mod=yahoo_hs If only our airlines would hire attorneys instead of pilots to fly, this obviously would be a thing of the past (as no airplane would ever fly)
. I just love it when the penguins start to monday quarterback.
. I just love it when the penguins start to monday quarterback.
03-27-2011 | 07:01 PM
#88
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From: Fero's
From the lawyer,
"it is absolutely not up to the pilots to decide to land as though it was an uncontrolled airport."
From the regs,
(a) The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
And then there is this,
Both planes, carrying a total of more than 160 people, landed safely.
I don't get it...
"it is absolutely not up to the pilots to decide to land as though it was an uncontrolled airport."
From the regs,
(a) The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
And then there is this,
Both planes, carrying a total of more than 160 people, landed safely.
I don't get it...
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