Child Directs Traffic at JFK, 2 Suspended

[brunota2003]

I honestly do not know what to say at this...I am sickened that they consider this action "unprofessional" and have suspended the kid's dad for his actions! Common sense tells you as long as DAD was overseeing what his son said, and it was nothing too difficult, then this is no more than a job shadow type situation. It isn't like he got up and left the tower with his son sitting in front of the mic. I am definitely going to send an e-mail to the FAA over this one, this situation (looking at the evidence) only brought some fun to a few pilots' day by making the kid probably the subject of talk for at least part of the aircraft ride and kept the kid occupied (vs roaming the tower and pulling on cables and such)

An air traffic controller at New York's Kennedy Airport was suspended for allowing his young son to radio instructions to several pilots.

The few quick exchanges between the elementary-school-aged child and jets waiting to take off from JFK, one of the nation's busiest airports, appeared to delight pilots at the time.

"I wish I could bring my kid to work," one said, wistfully.

But the Federal Aviation Administration suspended the controller and a supervisor Wednesday after recordings of the calls were posted on the Internet, then reported on by a Boston television station.

"This lapse in judgment not only violated FAA's own policies, but common sense standards for professional conduct. These kinds of distractions are totally unacceptable," FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. "This kind of behavior does not reflect the true caliber of our work force."

On the recording, which lasts about a minute, the boy appears to repeat instructions fed to him by his father. At no time does the child tell aircraft how to maneuver or where they should go.

LIVESHOT: Kid at JFK Clears for Takeoff?

One conversation between the tower at JFK Airport in New York and a pilot goes as follows:

JFK TOWER: Jet Blue 171 contact departure.

PILOT: Over to departure jet blue 171, awesome job.

The child appears to be supervised, with a controller explaining the reason for the young voice to the pilot.

JFK TOWER: That's what you get guys when the kids are out of school. (laugh)

In a second exchange, the boy instructs the same JetBlue flight to contact departure controllers. The pilot responds: "Over to departure JetBlue 171, awesome job!"

There are a few more similar exchanges. A pilot laughs. The boy can be overheard giggling.

In his last call, the youngster signs off, "Adios, amigo." The pilot responds in kind.

Based on the flight numbers called out during the exchange, the episode appears to have happened in the early evening, when JFK is often bustling with international flights.

JFK airport is the sixth busiest in the country with thousands of planes taking off and landing every day.

The control tower is a highly secure area and the FAA says only licensed controllers are supposed to communicate with planes.

The FAA said it has also barred unofficial visits by friends or relatives to FAA air traffic operational areas while it reviews its policies.

"I have never ever heard a small kid in the tower giving instructions for an airplane to take off or cross a runway or any kind of instructions," Jim Baker, a retired chief pilot at Delta airlines, told MyFoxBoston.

"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."

The union that represents air traffic controllers said: "We do not condone this type of behavior in any way, and 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."

LiveATC founder Dave Pascoe, a pilot and radio enthusiast, said he was sickened at the thought that the controller could be disciplined.

"I absolutely believe that this is being blown out of proportion," he said. "This is just a completely controlled situation. A child was being told exactly what to say."

He added: "I think it's just fantastic that this guy cared enough to take his kid to work. How many parents take their kids to work these days?"

The episode comes less than seven months after a controller at an airport in nearby Teterboro, N.J., was placed on leave for his actions in the moments leading up to a deadly crash between a helicopter and small plane over the Hudson River.

Link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587 ... 0000:b0:z5

[StormingB81]

Well the yalways have bring your kid to work day. The kid was more proffesional THEN HALF OF AMERICA out there. atleast he was doing a job..lol and not just being lazy and carrying on a conversation. my question is WHY the dad was the only one punished. I KNOW a supervisor or someone noticed this happening. But hey you put stuff out like that on the internet you will get burned.

[Derek Ortt]

the FAA has better things to do than investigate this

It was merely a kid relaying a message... NOT DIRECTING THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL! That was still done by the employee

[brunota2003]

The supervisor was suspended as well, and I sent an email to the FAA about it

[vbhoutex]

I agree and disagree with the actions taken. If indeed there are strict rules about others beside the
faa controllers being in the tower, then some sort of disciplinary action should be taken. But, as has been stated the child was obviously supervised and I do not believe that at anytime there was a danger to others. However, if some sort of emergency had occurred that required the strict attention of the controller what would he have done with the child? I see both sides of this situation.

[brunota2003]

I'm sure someone was there that could of taken the child if there was a situation in which required the full control and attention of the controller. They didn't suspend him because the child was in the tower with him, they suspended him for allowing the child to give simple commands (while being supervised and told what to say) to the aircraft.

[Cryomaniac]

I agree and disagree with the actions taken. If indeed there are strict rules about others beside the
faa controllers being in the tower, then some sort of disciplinary action should be taken. But, as has been stated the child was obviously supervised and I do not believe that at anytime there was a danger to others. However, if some sort of emergency had occurred that required the strict attention of the controller what would he have done with the child? I see both sides of this situation.

I agree. It shouldn't be a big deal, but rules have to be followed.

Also, these guys are going to be lucky to avoid charges of Endangering an Aircraft.

[RL3AO]

The guy shouldn't have done it, but this is getting way too much attention. As Derek said, he wasn't directing air traffic. All he was doing is telling a certain plane that its clear for take off after his dad instructed him.

[gtalum]

There's no excuse for this. Everyone involved should be fired immediately, and the kid's father brought up on charges of reckless endangerment. People's lives are on the line here.

Think of all of the "close-call" incidents that we hear about, where disaster is averted by seconds or less. Now imagine such a scenario playing out while this kid is playing ATC. It only takes a second or two for good fun to turn into a catastrophe.

[Derek Ortt]

except, gtalum,

the kid was NOT playing air traffic controller. The dad was

[gtalum]

except, gtalum,

the kid was NOT playing air traffic controller. The dad was

While he was there, the kid was still playing at ATC, and was a potential distraction to the controller. I say can his arse.

When I'm flying, I want full attention of the pilots and the ATC.

[Aslkahuna]

FAA regulations were violated. Regardless of how anyone feels about the matter that's the only thing that counts.

Steve

[Stephanie]

While I get the "cute" factor to this and perhaps the child wasn't directing air traffic, I have to agree that I think that disciplinary action is warranted. I agree that the child was a distraction and that thousands of lives are in the hands of these controllers at any given moment. Maybe what he did was innocent enough, but where do you draw the line? On the job rules are meant to be followed, period.

[oaba09]

The main concern here is the fact that the dad was only suspended after the recording was posted on the net.....I personally don't have a problem with it but if they are really strict w/ their rules, why wait for it to be posted on the internet?

[Stephanie]

The main concern here is the fact that the dad was only suspended after the recording was posted on the net.....I personally don't have a problem with it but if they are really strict w/ their rules, why wait for it to be posted on the internet?

Negative PR has a tendency to make people do the right thing.