Sleeping Air Traffic Controller in Reno Forces Medical Flight to Land Alone
- Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:47pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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RENO, Nev. (AP) — An air traffic controller in Nevada was asleep and out of communication for about 16 minutes while a medical plane was landing, federal officials said Wednesday.
No one was injured when the flight carrying at least three people landed at Reno-Tahoe International Airport during what was at least the third incident this year at one of the nation’s airports involving a lapse by an traffic controller.
The controller in Reno has been suspended while the Federal Aviation Administration investigates his lack of response to repeated contacts from the plane and airport staff around 2 a.m. Wednesday.
“The flying public needs an assurance from the FAA that this situation will be addressed at all airports,” she said. “We must have adequate staffing.”
Last month, two jetliners landed at Washington’s Reagan National Airport without tower assistance after the lone air traffic supervisor fell asleep.
A follow-up investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration uncovered a second incident of an air traffic controller sleeping on the job in February during the midnight shift at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tenn.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has ordered an examination of controller staffing at airports across the nation, and he directed that two controllers staff the midnight shift in Washington.
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened its own investigation, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has added yet another investigation.
The Piper Cheyenne plane involved in the Nevada incident is a twin engine turboprop with seating for five.
Airport staff heard the pilot trying to contact the tower and then tried to contact the tower themselves, Bart said.
“The pilot evaluated the airfield. The weather was clear. The aircraft did land without incident,” she said.
It was not immediately clear where the flight was coming from.
Bart said the airport, which serves the Reno, Carson City and Lake Tahoe areas, opened a new air traffic control tower in October 2010.
She said the airport has three runways, including two with modern instrument landing and lighting systems.
The incidents come nearly five years after a fatal crash in Kentucky in which a controller was working alone. Investigators said the controller in Kentucky was most likely suffering from fatigue, although they placed responsibility for the crash that took 49 lives on the pilots.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has warned against putting controllers alone on shifts and assigning tiring work schedules.
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Associated Press writers Oskar Garcia and Ken Ritter in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
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Comments (61)
Tusker
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:46pmTSA is enough of a reason why I won’t fly…… this just ads to the list for me.
Report Post »leary1
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:42pmLet me guess….more union employees that can`t be fired even if lives are lost or jeopardized.
Report Post »lildeb56
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:30pmMaybe they should put in some sort of alarm that goes off in the control tower when there is no response…
Report Post »Xpat48
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:25pmNo problem. He’s union. So what’s the problem. No problem.
He’ll be back at work tomorrow. Probably with a promotion & raise.
These are the unions. *[{(Free-loader's)}]*
Report Post »rationalthinker
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:18pmWhat does it mean that they‘ve ’launched and investigation?’ Why do they need an investigation? Seems pretty straightforward.
Were you asleep?
Yes.
You’re fired!
There. Problem solved.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:10pmLa hood has said, “this is unacceptable”, and announced that they will hire another 26 air controllers. Hopefully, these new ones will be able to perform their tasks without naps of up to five hours.
Report Post »Always_Right
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:10pmThis is one sector of Government that the big spenders want to get rid of. The Dems hate having to to actually spend money on things only the government can do. The ATC/FAA budget is almost never increased or expanded. It is what I would consider “infrastructure” and is a very necessary part of the aviation industry. There has been talk of putting the ATC under a contracted controlled 3rd party, but there is just too much regulation from the FAA for that to work. ATC needs to remain gov’t controlled, and with that comes the GS payscale, unionization, etc. The hard part is punishing these sleeping controllers. Should public servants be allowed to unionize and have collective bargaining? That’s what needs to be addressed.
Report Post »rightplanet
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:02pmThey should fall asleep for Air force one
Report Post »GrumpyCat
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:53pmI can’t wait for ObamaCare to apply the same genius which runs the Post Office and FAA to health care!
Report Post »Slobaphobe
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:49pmOnce always. Twice maybe. Three times never. I smell union.
Report Post »goatkid
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:43pmThis is only one of the reasons why I will only drive in stead of fly. If I need to cross the ocean, I’ll find some way to take a boat.
Report Post »TRILO
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:41pmOne more reason not to fly. I am sure that the union will be there for support and to make sure this person gets to keep their job.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:40pm.
Report Post »Barn Storming 2011 Style…..
thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:21pmI want published the names and pictures of these idiots. That would be interesting to see. Each one that does this deserves their pictures in the papers…a sort of pictured ‘perp walk’.
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:20pmI think it is a shameful way these unions are taking over like this. Making people afraid. But, look at our President. Scum bags all around.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:15pmDoes anybody want to guess the number of airports WITHOUT controllers vs. the number WITH controllers? Sure, somebody ought to be on duty, but if the lights are on, Unicom advisories are stated, approach patterns are honored and visual conditions permit, there really isn‘t any ’danger’ — it is done all the time! Heck, I used to have to do a ‘clearing pass’ to chase all the deer off the damn field during corn season–or at least get them squirrely enough that they’d move over during the actual landing–when they are hungry and think they’ve found the food equivalent of Ft Knox (which I understand is now empty of gold), they wouldn’t move off a runway if an Osprey clattered in!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:00pmThe difference is that if you are being Paid to do a job, you are expected to stay awake and do your job. If a plane is going into an unattended airport, the pilot should know it and do the routine to light the lights.
Report Post »Always_Right
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:14pmThat’s why the FAA changed the vernacular from “controlled/uncontrolled“ to ”towered/non-towered” airports that are either UNICOM or Part-time. Uncontrolled sounds so scary! LOL
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:13pmAnother “UNRESPONSIVE”, unionized federal employee – - Whats’s new?
Report Post »delhoghe
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:10pmI‘ ve worked in union shops where the company couldn’t have machine operators work unless an electrician was on duty It was a safety issue in case an operator got caught in the machine. Having an air-traffic controller on duty by himself is not a union or non- union issue, it’s a stupidity issue. One that can get people killed.
Report Post »GrumpyCat
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:52pmIf the machines are designed so that an electrician is required to cut off power in case of an emergency then the machine design is defective. I worked at a drafting table in a union shop where we were not allowed to change the lightbulb in our desk lamp. Put in my request that morning, electrician and assistant arrived about noon.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:01pmAh, ah, I think he (the air traffic controller) didn’t get the message that Obama saved US from that government shut-down last week. Who knew?
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:32pmWell, not exactly. They’re squabbling over the “agreement” as I type! There still could be a shutdown.
Report Post »Susan Harkins
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:58pmThe controllers probably had a manditory union rally meeting in Wisconsin during the time.
Report Post »Cherynn
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:17pmDont go picking on the unions now. They are barely trained, highly over paid loafers. Not everyone can screw up an easy job, that takes special talent. They fall alseep because they are not paid enough to stay awake.
Report Post »sharbian
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:58pmThese guy work rotating shift work and mids. They work hard and are human… they get tired. How about the FAA start staffing 2 people on the mid shifts?? It seem they would take at least that step considering it is a safety issue. You all have no idea what it is like to have no TV, no radio, no reading material – and be asked to go home at 2pm, be back at work at 10pm and work without stimulus till 6am. Double staff the mids!!
Report Post »and to the republic
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:21pmSounds like that lightbulb joke. How many air traffic controllers does it take to do one mans job? 2, one to control traffic and one to keep the 1st one awake. I don’t think so. No excuses people. They get paid to do their job whether they are tired or not. Get your sleep. Do what your paid to do…..
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:57pmAre all these Air Traffic Controllers mattress salespersons during the day? I would love for Air Force One (with the idiot in chief onboard ) to have to land without a controller when he comes back from his weekly vacation.
Report Post »nacilbuper
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:56pmI heard he was one of the seven dwarfs.
Report Post »and to the republic
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:17pmDopey?
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:52pmWhy o why can’t I get a job where I can sleep without getting fired?
Report Post »and to the republic
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:17pmYou can. I grab a nap as time allows. Course I own my own business and as slow as it is, I’m pretty well caught up on my sleep…..
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:52pmInteresting….asleep on the job and they make how much?? Anyway, it‘s not like it’s an IMPORTANT job or anything. Nobody’s safety at stake.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:54pmIs this a union plan? Seems to be happen with greater frequency.
Report Post »theonefromabove
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:59pmLooks like the qualifications need to be adjusted.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:01pmProbably the union’s plan to increase it members by hiring. I heard an interview with an auto worker once and he stated they would slow down production so new people would be hires to take up the slack, there by increasing the number of union members. That would make sense if you remember what happened in NYC during the snow storm.
Report Post »Class2000Generation
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:10pmGood point Grandmaof5 !!! As Glenn says “Watch the other hand”. It‘s hard to believe that the liberal media would actually report something negative about a union’s job performance.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:10pmThink I need to do a better job of proof reading before I push “send”.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:42pmHere is a simple answer. Do what Reagan did, fire all their lazy union a$$e$ and replace them with Military until you can hire new ones while disbanding the union.
GODSAMERICA
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:06pmThe National Air Traffic Controllers Association has warned against putting controllers alone on shifts and assigning tiring work schedules.
Report Post »Yes they need to keep from assigning controllers tiring work schedules. After all, no one else ever has to work a tiring schedule. Hey you brainiacs out there, make sure that there is plenty of coverage to protect the public instead of worrying about a tiring work schedule. There is NO job out there that can’t get to be tiring.
Showtime
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:27pmWe’d be better served if they would position the TSA in the control towers instead of where they could fondle passengers! The control tower is the point of origin for danger.
Report Post »edcoil
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:28pmDidn’t after the last two the administration implemented a new policy of two controllers in the tower?
Report Post »G.W. Dobbs
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:28pmWhen a Nation slips into degradation from the Top, the results are seen on the ground. Lying, cheating and stealing have become the methods of all operations IN GOVERNMENT. And WHY NOT? We do not have a legitimate, honest, caring, concerned CHRISTIAN President; nor do we have a Constitutional Judiciary; nor do we have a Congress intent on protecting our lands, our economy or our people. That is just the way it is in the LAST DAYS.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:29pm@Blackhawk1
Report Post »Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:42pm
Here is a simple answer. Do what Reagan did, fire all their lazy union a$$e$ and replace them with Military until you can hire new ones while disbanding the union.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“…while disbanding the union” — AGAIN!
yougottabekidding
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:36pmNew thought on this!
Shock collar with a ten second delay!!
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 3:48pmI bet the first thing this controller said on waking was, “I want my union rep!”
Report Post »IntrepidSI
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 4:32pmLook for, the union label…………….
Report Post »