Its sad the media honestly things this is a story worth running. Can no one think out side the box to wonder if maybe the Dad actually does know what he's doing?

I was at work today with a guy who told me about this story. I told him it sounds like a fun time for the kid and shrugged it off. He couldn't believe me. He was convinced that flaming balls of fire would be falling from the sky.

I would gladly email someone if it would support this controller.

 

I'd say 20-30 years ago it wouldn't have gotten me fired.

 

+1 I am also JFK based, and I generally like the controllers there. We need all the good guys we can get (and keep)

 

I have to say I feel pretty bad for the kid as well. Imagine what kind of guilt he's got to be feeling after all this is blowing up.

 

Well that's great, but it doesn't answer the question. There are lots of things that happened 20-30 years ago that are different today. 20-30 years ago people were smoking on planes, would you allow your pax to smoke if they wanted to? 20-30 years ago you were taught that if there was a hijacker on board, you should bring them up to the cockpit to discuss things. Is that how you would handle it today?

Now back to the question, your F/O wants to bring his kid up to the jumpseat in the middle of the flight. Do you let him do it and what opinion do you have of his judgment?

BTW, I am absolutely not advocating that this controller be "fired"....and before everyone starts the letter writing campaign, he hasn't been fired. Simply relieved of his duties while they investigate.

 

well said...

 

Is the question even whether this controller did something against regulations (which it seems he did IF only controllers are allowed in the tower and IF only controllers are allowed to talk to aircraft) or whether something as simple as showing your child your workplace and letting him/her talk on the radio should be elevated to such a HUGE no-no?

In my recent past, controllers were asking for pilots to come up to the tower and approach control for orientation. I've been to both - are the controllers breaking the rules by letting me in the tower? I've even had someone else besides a controller clear me for take-off! In the old job we had what was called Family Day and family and friends got to say "Roger Ball" to their family member or friend coming into to land during an FCLP period (on a separate tower freq), but does this break t he rules too?

How about applying just a tad of common sense to the situation?
This is a sad situation and along the same lines of why you can rarely even get up close to an aircraft at an airshow, more rare to actually get to see inside the cockpit, more rare to have the canopy open, and INCREDIBLY rare to actually sit in the cockpit. Of course this last statement is based on your own service's rules and regs and all the way down to your own squadron's SOP - but those good ole' days are pretty much gone too.

USMCFLYR

 

I agree with everyone else.... what a great moment for that kid....

Gotta love this day and age.... something makes it to youtube and EVERYBODY is suddenly an expert.

 

I tell him "I wish we could, but there are to me GD namby pampy weakazz witnesses on board. Sucks but blame the nanny state. I'll get him in the sim though."

 

I agree that this was blown way out of proportion by the media, but would it have been that hard for the guy to just show the kid around the cab without mic'ing him up. It's cool enough for a little kid to see the view from the tower. Why risk your job?

With Liveatc.net, everyone listening on freq, and the tapes rolling downstairs, it would have been a smarter play to just let him listen in; especially these days. Hindsight is 20-20... but I hope he gets back to work either way.