US

Pilots Hear Flick Soundtrack: FAA Suspends Air Traffic Controller for Watching Movie

WASHINGTON (AP) — An air traffic controller has been suspended for watching a movie when he was supposed to be monitoring aircraft, deepening the Federal Aviation Administration’s embarrassment following at least five cases of controllers sleeping on the job.

In the latest incident, the controller was watching a movie on a DVD player early Sunday morning while on duty at a regional radar center in Oberlin, Ohio, near Cleveland that handles high-altitude air traffic, the FAA said in a statement Monday.

 The controller’s microphone was inadvertently activated, transmitting the audio of the movie — the 2007 crime thriller “Cleaner,” starring Samuel L. Jackson — for more than three minutes to all the planes in the airspace that the controller was supposed to be monitoring, the agency said.

The controller’s microphone became stuck in the transmit position, preventing him from hearing incoming radio calls or issuing instructions to planes during the incident, the agency said.

Pilots Hear Flick Soundtrack: FAA Suspends Air Traffic Controller for Watching MovieThe controller was alerted to the mishap when he was contacted by a military pilot.

Besides the controller, the FAA also has suspended a manager at the Oberlin center.

In all now, the FAA has suspended eight controllers and supervisors since late March.

In five of the cases the controllers allegedly fell asleep. In another case, the FAA is investigating why two controllers in Lubbock, Texas, were unresponsive to radio calls.

Nearly all the incidents occurred during overnight shifts when traffic is light and people naturally have trouble staying awake.

The incidents have shaken FAA officials, made air traffic controllers the butt of late night comedians and raised public jitters about the safety of air travel.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said early Monday, before the agency had disclosed the incident near Cleveland, that he was “infuriated” that air traffic controllers have been caught snoozing on the job.

“None of us in this business can … tolerate any of this,” Babbitt said. “It absolutely has to stop.”

Babbitt was at a regional radar center near Atlanta with Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union that represents controllers. The pair met with about 50 controllers and other FAA employees as they kicked off a nationwide tour of air traffic facilities aimed at sending a message as much to the public as to controllers that unprofessional behavior won’t be tolerated.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood underscored the same message in a series of television interviews over the past several days. Even President Barack Obama joined the chorus, telling ABC News last week: “We’ve got it under control.”

But every time administration officials say they’ve moved decisively to contain the problem, another controller steps over the line.

The day before the Cleveland incident a controller fell asleep while working an overnight shift at busy regional radar facility in Miami that handles high-altitude traffic for Florida, parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean.

The incidents have raised concerns about work schedules that don’t allow controllers realistic opportunities for sleep.

The FAA forbids controllers from sleeping on the job, even during the 20-minute to 30-minute breaks they receive every few hours. Babbitt stood by that position Monday.

Instead, the agency said it will require controllers to have an extra hour off between shifts — a minimum of nine hours instead of eight — to get more sleep.

Babbitt said at the meeting that the scandal caused by sleeping controllers has harmed the agency’s credibility. He said passengers should never have to worry about whether a flight crew is rested, a plane is properly maintained or that air traffic controllers are on the job.

“That should never be a thought for anybody getting in an airplane in this country,” he said. “And it hasn’t been a thought. But unfortunately, we have raised that concern.”

___

Henry reported from Peachtree City, Ga.

Editor’s note: Earlier, we reported on Air Traffic Chief Hank Krakowski announcing his resignation amid a rash of sleeping controllers (see here and here, for examples) .

Comments (27)

  • lsf1953
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:59pm

    I’m a retired air traffic controller and I can assure you, these FAA bums will not get fired at all. They are part of the FAA union (National Air Traffic Control Association) that protects their rights and, of course, their jobs. It will take an act of Congress to fire them. Or the president can fire all of them for safety issues…oops, he can’t fire his union buddies.

    Report Post »  
  • Fina Biscotti
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 1:32pm

    These STUPID, IRRESPONSIBLE Air Traffic Controllers should be immediately FIRED – not suspended with pay.

    Oh, that’s right – UNION members!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Entropy
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 1:18pm

    Only in the US govt can an employee show blantant diregard for his duties, and not lose his job. Govt workers are disgusting.

    Report Post »  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:21pm

    Privatize this out of control, over-regulating FAA agency. Without a profit motive, being a arm of government, there is little if any incentive to be efficient or well managed. Add into that mix the “union” factor, that encourages misconduct and loose controls, THERE YOU HAVE IT!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • DevotedDad
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 10:49am

    So, these overpiad union workers have been doing nappy time and endangering the lives of innocent people and the media portrays them as victims in need of some extra nappy time…

    They get rewarded with an hour “break” (probably paid), as a result of negative behavior.(sleeping on the job).

    Now they are caught watching movies….

    Should we add another 2 hour break to watch movies?

    Report Post » DevotedDad  
  • Navyveteran
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 10:07am

    Too bad Ronald Reagan didn’t finish the job with the air traffic controll unions. However, I find this very suspicious that 6 incidents with the midnight staff within a few months. 5 sleeping and one watching a movie. Doesn’t anyone else smell something rotten here? I don’t remember anything like this happening on this magnitude in my lifetime. Something is fishy here and I don’t know what it is,but I guarantee it is bad.

    Report Post »  
  • ATC Charlie
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 9:41am

    This is exactly what happens when you hop in bed with the National Controllers Association (NATCA). Obama forced the agency to go back to the negotiating table and give them a big fat raise because of the support the union gave him in the last election. He nominated and hired a former union president, Randy Babbit to be the FAA Administrator who has let the union do what ever they want. Why is every one surprised when this kind of stuff happens and the union is running the show??? Just watch, every one of these controllers will be put back on the job and the suspensions will be lifted and they will get back pay. You won’t hear about it, but it will happen.

    Report Post »  
  • mcFirst
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 9:35am

    ah – gov workers trying so hard to be accountable.

    Just think what’s happening around jobs where we are not looking too close.

    Report Post » mcFirst  
  • Taxpayer550
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 7:44am

    This type of behavior goes on all the time with union employees, public and private sector. Unions are diametrically opposed to any kind of structure or success. And when they have democrats overseeing their activities, it results in a country club atmosphere. New Jersey taxpayers had to put up with this type of behavior when Corzine was the Governor.

    Report Post » Taxpayer550  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 7:18am

    Gov and unions working together to take down another industry, just like the auto industry

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 7:13am

    FAA=Federal aeronomics accident.

    Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 7:03am

    Maybe he was watching Airport, or it’s tongue in cheek take off (no pun intended) Airplane, as a training film.

    Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 5:52am

    The movie was cleaner. President Reagan took action against the air controllers union. Maybe, President Obama should follow his Lead. Fat chance of that happening! Two reasons, he’s beholden to all unions, and he hasn’t a clue about what leadership is about.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • nacilbuper
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 5:48am

    At least they were awake.

    Report Post » nacilbuper  
  • Paulhgreenbay
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:52am

    My money is on some Pulp Fiction:

    Say “what” again. Say “what” again. I dare you.

    Report Post » Paulhgreenbay  
    • Paulhgreenbay
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:57am

      Omg: I posted without reading the story. When i first posted I was thinking I could just imagine a pilot hearing Samuel Jackson screaming in the background. I almost spit my soda onto my monitor went I bothered to read article.

      Samuel L. Jackson FTW!!!!

      Report Post » Paulhgreenbay  
  • Living In NYC
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 4:16am

    Wow, wasn’t the Federal Government in-charge of safety and proceedures at the BP Oil Spill too. Just another angency run by the Federal Government where it takes three people to do one job…. …while the other two employees collect paychecks to sleep and play.

    Did some one say the Postal Service, Department of Education, FAA, DOJ, EPA and OSHA..where do I sign up with my blanket, pillow DVD player / tv and get a paycheck too!

    Report Post » Living In NYC  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 5:01am

      Probably “sign up” not a requirement. Just show up at rallies with obnoxious/disgusting behavior, signs and a bull horn and you are hired. They will find a permanant position for you later, after the tour is over, in a soon-to-be named union – oh, thugs comes to mind.

      Report Post »  
  • Eric_The_Red_State
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:45am

    Why all of a sudden is it hard to get good workers?

    S is for the Sleep you catch up on

    O is for Obama who brings it to you

    C is for the care the government gives you.

    I is for indoctrination in our schools

    A is for the apathy it brings

    L is for the lazy people who don’t need to worry – cause they belong to a Union

    I is for the interferrance into our liberty

    M is for the media that is one sided

    And that spells – Aw…..Who gives a darn anymore.

    Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
    • Eric_The_Red_State
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:51am

      All that —- and I forget an “S”

      S is for the SECOND JOB I have to take to pay my bills.

      Thanks a lot Socialist leeches.

      Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
  • raiderglenn
    Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:41am

    at least he wasnt watching Airplane…

    Report Post » raiderglenn  
    • atleastsavetexas
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:44am

      LOL @ raiderglenn

      maybe after seeing 4 other people fired for sleeping/being distracted on the job, air traffic controllers would smarten up and realize that we’re on to them!

      Report Post »  
    • Enuff Zenuff
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 5:20am

      Just think!
      The Trillion dollars we borrowed to fund Obama’s “Stimulus” package could have been used to design and build state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control Systems for every airport on the planet, and had money left over to rebuild our infrastructure… but instead he poured it all down a sewer-hole for re-electing DemocRats. Shame! Shame! Shame! What a terrible waste of my grandchildrens’ lives since they will have to pay it off

      Report Post » Enuff Zenuff  
    • redneck
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 7:20am

      Movie before bed time.

      Report Post » redneck  
    • Robert-CA
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 10:53am

      RAIDERGLENN
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 3:41am
      at least he wasnt watching Airplane…
      ___________________________
      My favorite comedy movie :)

      Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • pajamash
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:27pm

      And for tonights movie….Snakes On A Plane.

      Report Post »  
    • The Noodle Fish
      Posted on April 19, 2011 at 9:39pm

      Dude, maybe I’d understand if he was watching an interesting and riveting movie, but… the Cleaner? Really? -_-

      Report Post » The Noodle Fish  

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