New "controller" at KJFK Tower...

It seems many of the naysayers are forgetting, or don't even know about this one simple word:

"Disregard."

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard that word used immediately after a trainee gave a clearance, I'd...well, I'd probably be able to go eat lunch at Chipotle, if nothing else. Heck, that sounds good, I might just go do that...
 
I just saw the "news story" on Yahoo, and had to swing by and add my voice to the dissension. I think it's over-reactionary of the FAA and all agencies involved to remove the controller and the supervisor. It was all done under supervision and with what seems to be to utmost oversight, and like some previous posters stated - the poor kid has a better grasp of the English language and pronouciation than some professional controllers I've had to deal with.

The industry is becoming on the level with all the other hypocritical government agencies out there. Cover flight training in so much red tape and flaming hoops to jump through it'll be near impossible to train or even operate a small GA aircraft. Make the air waves so "professional", regulated and covered with over-sight that everyone is more stressed out over making an incorrect radio phrasology call than actually doing their job. God forbid anyone try to lighten up everyones day a bit with a little humor and variety.

I say that, but someone out there must have felt the need to piss in the collective Cheerios by reporting it, or asking for the tapes to be pulled... unless it was discovered by some other circumstance.

I plan to add to the pile of letters I hope the FAA is about to recieve over this. While it might seem small and distant of an issue to some, think of it this way - when they've taken that guys job, and his supervisors, and fired everyone else who adds a little spice and fun to our day, or doesn't do everything "by the book", who's going to stop them from coming after (us).
 
OOOOOPs, I sneezed in the cockpit (yeah I said cockpit), and my eyes closed for 1 second. Oh my God that must have been a safety violation right, so now I guess here it comes (drumroll please) more: oversight.

New regulation 57-01-23a:
no pilot or air traffic controler may, during the course of his/her duties:
Eat, drink, sip, swallow, fart, burp, sneeze, sniffle, wriggle, scratch nose, scratch, head, scratch any other body part, shift, giggle, chuckle, laugh, wince, cringe, swallow, wink, blink, think, lean, turn, adjust, or otherwise breathe.
 
Where is the common sense in letting a child into a tower and direct traffic? Especially at such busy one to boot. Why should children be allow to talk on the radio while grown adults aren't allowed to even step foot inside the tower unless they're strongly involved with aviation? My ex-RA who is in CTI here can't even visit the class D tower here in town.

These are the kinds of things that create easily preventable accidents which make the government invoke laws on the rest of us. I don't consider my POV to be ignorant, but rather looking past how "cute" this is and seeing just how whack this guy is for bringing his kids into an environment where even the slightest hiccup or distraction can cause the deaths of hundreds.

My opinion is just as valid as all the other non-controllers trying to say that it was "cute".
 
Kestrel452 said:
What does he know about directing traffic? One false move and hundreds of people are toast, we all know this.
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What is more disturbing to me about the whole incident is the mistaken "belief" the child was CONTROLLING anything!

OK, so if you REALLY believe THAT, then you're also inclined to believe the television segments when you SEE Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles are actually driving! :sarcasm:
 
MFT1Air said:
What is more disturbing to me about the whole incident is the mistaken "belief" the child was CONTROLLING anything!

OK, so if you REALLY believe THAT, then you're also inclined to believe the television segments when you SEE Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles are actually driving! :sarcasm:
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What's the difference? He was acting as an air traffic controller to commercial traffic.
 
Kestrel452 said:
Where is the common sense in letting a child into a tower and direct traffic? Especially at such busy one to boot. Why should children be allow to talk on the radio while grown adults aren't allowed to even step foot inside the tower unless they're strongly involved with aviation? My ex-RA who is in CTI here can't even visit the class D tower here in town.

These are the kinds of things that create easily preventable accidents which make the government invoke laws on the rest of us. I don't consider my POV to be ignorant, but rather looking past how "cute" this is and seeing just how whack this guy is for bringing his kids into an environment where even the slightest hiccup or distraction can cause the deaths of hundreds.

My opinion is just as valid as all the other non-controllers trying to say that it was "cute".
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Again you are speaking out the side of your mouth with your complete lack of experience on this subject. I can name off a few grown adults whose only experience with aviation is this website. I would not call that highly involved. We have had members of this website tour multiple towers: LAS, ORD, MSP, just to name a few.

THIS KID WAS NOT DIRECTING TRAFFIC.........

shovel.jpg
 
Kestrel452 said:
My opinion is just as valid as all the other non-controllers trying to say that it was "cute".
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No, it actually isn't. Your premise is supported by what? My hypothetical situation still remains the same. If a newscaster where in the tower reporting the news, and the tower controller allowed the newscaster to speak, was the situation anymore or any less safe than a child speaking into a microphone to an airplane? Who was actuallyl directing/controlling traffic?

For me, it was different. I would not have considered it anymore or any less safe.
 
JEP said:
Again you are speaking out the side of your mouth with your complete lack of experience on this subject. I can name off a few grown adults whose only experience with aviation is this website. I would not call that highly involved. We have had members of this website tour multiple towers: LAS, ORD, MSP, just to name a few.

THIS KID WAS NOT DIRECTING TRAFFIC.........

shovel.jpg
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So what you're basically saying is that anyone trying to express an opinion as an OP is just a moron even though most of the opinionated folks on the other side are not actual air traffic controllers either? Great.

It does not matter if he was controlling, giving instructions or whatever to air traffic or ground traffic IMO. He was still acting as a controller. Again, it's just my opinion and is just as valid as anyone else's. Even as a GA pilot i understand how necessary it is for ATC to be on the ball at every second.
 
Kestrel452 said:
What's the difference? He was acting as an air traffic controller to commercial traffic.
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WRONG...he was acting as a speaker, just like the one in your headset..the Dad was controlling. Dad gave the clearance in the microphone (the kids ear) and out through the speaker (the kid)
 
Kestrel452 said:
Where is the common sense in letting a child into a tower and direct traffic? Especially at such busy one to boot. Why should children be allow to talk on the radio while grown adults aren't allowed to even step foot inside the tower unless they're strongly involved with aviation? My ex-RA who is in CTI here can't even visit the class D tower here in town.

These are the kinds of things that create easily preventable accidents which make the government invoke laws on the rest of us. I don't consider my POV to be ignorant, but rather looking past how "cute" this is and seeing just how whack this guy is for bringing his kids into an environment where even the slightest hiccup or distraction can cause the deaths of hundreds.

My opinion is just as valid as all the other non-controllers trying to say that it was "cute".
Click to expand...

When you did your first intro flight, I'm sure at some point you were on the contols but the instructor was flying the plane.;) Do you understand what I'm getting at here?
 
Kestrel452 said:
So what you're basically saying is that anyone trying to express an opinion as an OP is just a moron even though most of the opinionated folks on the other side are not actual air traffic controllers either? Great.

It does not matter if he was controlling, giving instructions or whatever to air traffic or ground traffic IMO. He was still acting as a controller. Again, it's just my opinion and is just as valid as anyone else's. Even as a GA pilot i understand how necessary it is for ATC to be on the ball at every second.
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I never used those words. Please find them if I did. What you are forgetting is difference between the definition of opinion and fact.

There is nothing wrong with an opinion, but it is just that....An opinion.
Experience will go a lot farther.
 
So I just saw this on the local news. Very sad to see it getting this kind of attention. Whatching it now..."Child at the Controls" OMG the sky is falling. Hey they just showed the "Awesome Job" reply from the JB pilot.

SBI said:
So tell me please where does the buck stop? What kind of occupation you would consider "crossing the line" by letting your kid 'participate'? Would you want your surgeon's kid in the OR while you are on the table?
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I work in healthcare and have seen surgeons who have brought their kid and a friend of said kid into a surgery case. This was a staff physician and it seemed as though he was a weekend father. He was on call and got called in. Do you leave your kid at home or do you come in and do your hour long case and bolt with your kid and his friend? No harm done.

ATC RET 2003 said:
faaadm.png
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What is this jackholes email addy? Where's the petition? The controller and his supervisor should not lose their jobs over this.


MFT1Air said:
How many "other" examples do you wish to use? Lord, please. . .

OK, a surgeon performing a "life or death" operation would not be an appropriate place to have a child, although in some surgical procedures, I would question why they're playing soft music in the background. . .

Lord, help those naive folks that are so prevalent in the world.
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Soft Music? Ha! Different people have different preferances. Surgeons are no different. Some prefer soft music and then there are those who like hard rock, death metal, or hip hop. If I get to the room first I usually try to put on the Dub station on AOLRADIO. Seriously, if it eases pressure and keeps one focused then what is the danger? Next thing we'll see on the operative notes will be a section with choice of music genre.

Give me an effin break. Aren't there more important things to focus on in life? And for the individual who thinks the tower should be more focused than the wailing wall...take a tour of your local tower. Most of the time these guys are top notch and very focused regardless of any distractions. Just dont go when Todd is on at LGB. That is one angry ginger!
 
<----filled with inner rage.

A CBS reporter said that this was a hot topic on blogs and forums.
I guess he didn't read this one, because he made it sound like people were split 50/50 on this issue.

Reporting FAIL.
 
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