Yusoff 1 Report post Posted March 3, 2010 From CNN: FAA: Child in air traffic tower talking to pilots 'not acceptable' Washington (CNN) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after an air traffic controller at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport brought his young child to work and allowed the child to communicate with planes, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN. "Pending the outcome of our investigation, the employees involved in this incident are not controlling air traffic," the FAA said in a statement. "This behavior is not acceptable and does not demonstrate the kind of professionalism expected from all FAA employees." However, Dave Pascoe, owner of liveatc.net, a Web site where the recording of the air traffic communications is posted, told CNN he believes the incident is "ridiculous" and has been "blown out of proportion." In the recording, a child can be heard saying "Jet Blue 171, cleared for takeoff." A man is then heard telling the plane, "Here's what you get, guys, when the kids are out of school." The pilot chuckles and says, "Wish I could bring my kid to work." The same pilot later tells the child he did an "awesome job." During the recording, which is dated February 17, the child also speaks to an apparent Air Mexico flight. The source confirmed the incident to CNN. A second controller who was supposed to be in charge at the time "should be making sure that things like this don't happen," the source said. The controller who brought the child to work later reported that he had done so, the source said. The controllers involved have been assigned to other duties pending the outcome of the investigation. But Pascoe said, "Nobody in the aviation community felt like this was anything more than a noble thing, that a father would take his kid to work. "And when you listen to any of the recordings, the situation in the tower is very controlled. There is no hint ... that anyone was too busy or anyone was interrupting the planes. The kid cleared two airplanes. It was very controlled and I don't think safety was compromised, nor should anyone be disciplined for this," said Pascoe, who is also a pilot. The recording was from a network of receivers, he said, but couldn't reveal the source. The site, he said, exists for pilot education and sometimes other curious parties listen in. There was "absolutely no security threat" posed by the incident, he said. "I have every belief that they'd make sure there were additional eyes there," Pascoe said. "Only the best of the best work at JFK tower and they are the best at what they do." "It was one incident where a kid was up in the control tower," he said. "If you know anything about aviation, you know that the air traffic control towers are highly supervised. JFK is highly supervised. It's not just one controller controlling the runway. Supervisors are there and multiple people are there making sure by looking through binoculars and at radar ... a father was taking a child to work and let the kid clear planes for take off and now the world thinks it's an unsafe place." The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing controllers, said in a statement, "We do not condone this type of behavior in any way. "It is not indicative of the highest professional standards that controllers set for themselves and exceed each and every day in the advancement of aviation safety," association spokesman Doug Church said in the statement. But "this is a ridiculous story," Pascoe said. "... It was blown out of proportion. Considering how skittish the public is, maybe it shouldn't be done, but I think there should be a procedure to allow visitors in the control tower." Follow the link and you can hear the the pilots are OK with it. I'd go with one of the comments, "Maybe a poor call in judgement, but it's definitely getting overblown. A stern warning is all that's needed. It's not like the child was yelling out random commands." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Teoh Z Yao 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 I never imagined someone would allow his/her child to do the controlling for him/her... @@ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yusoff 1 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 but then again, read the last 3 paragraphs... :unkwn: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandeep G 1 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 Maybe it wasn't professional, but at the end of the day.. a bit of humility should be added with whatever judgement the FAA makes. The kid did do a great job! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenneth T 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 Safety issue should be the main issue here... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KK Lee 5 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 ATC in waiting Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC Tam 2 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 (edited) Considering how skittish the public is, maybe it shouldn't be done, but I think there should be a procedure to allow visitors in the control tower Sokong, sokong !! (agree !) Edited March 4, 2010 by BC Tam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saiful Bahari 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 did under age children are allowed into the ATC room in the first place? too lenient I think..btw the child did do a good job Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
badrul 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 wanna hear the kid's voice?? this is what I found Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Walduck 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 "Mmm", someone will be made an example of over this I fear ! Mind you the pilots seemed to have enjoyed the child being on the radio,and agreed he/she done a good job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radzi 2 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 I think the act of giving the clearance should always remain with ATC. Saying out the clearance is something else, and will not interfere with safety. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
badrul 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 I agree with you sir...the child did a good job..made me smile hearin it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 Well we can all say "good job" only because there were no mishaps. Does any one remember the Aeroflot captain who allowed his son to take over the controls of his plane? This incident is something all safety conscious people should look at gravely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aaron Goh 1 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 (edited) I never imagined someone would allow his/her child to do the controlling for him/her... @@ DOnt think the child was in control at anytime. The Daddy ATC just asked the child to probably repeat what he said. Daddy was still the ATCO incharge.Very funny indeed and whats the harm with a little bit of humour anyway.. However, we do live in a paranoid world nowadays. Well we can all say "good job" only because there were no mishaps. Does any one remember the Aeroflot captain who allowed his son to take over the controls of his plane? This incident is something all safety conscious people should look at gravely. These are 2 separate cases. Aeroflot Daddy was not in control. Relax man, have a little sense of humour Edited March 4, 2010 by Aaron Goh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Teoh Z Yao 0 Report post Posted March 4, 2010 Yes, yes, I understand what is going on... :-D Child only spoke, not controlled... But I thought one needs ot have a certification to do such a thing? I do mean speech; that is why we have oral tests... :-P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C.Foo 3 Report post Posted March 5, 2010 It should be said the child does a better job than the adult Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted March 5, 2010 Story from Page 5 of today's print issue of Newsday in New York - http://www.newsday.com And they used my JFK control tower pic of 2008 - http://travel.nuraina.com/polarflight-jfkhkg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denny Yen 0 Report post Posted March 7, 2010 Recording of ATC... http://liveatc-archive.s3.amazonaws.com/new-kjfk-controller.mp3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yusoff 1 Report post Posted March 9, 2010 (edited) Superb Naim!!!.. What they gave you in return? Ka-ching? Edited March 9, 2010 by Yusoff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites