JFK tower allowed a kid to direct air traffic

[Dinkshooter]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35683779/ns/travel-news/?GT1=43001

Does anyone really care? Are they as usual making it way more of an issue than it really is? Geeze probably made the kids day. Maybe inspired him to be a pilot or something. The dad should get a pat on the back. Not suspended or fired.

 

[Oak]

Even more shocking to me, golfers have "approval ratings" these days :

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4960760

 

[Dinkshooter]

I hate golf, but I liked Tiger better after I heard he had porn star girlfriends.

 

[noharleyyet]

Ah hell boys, they popped the kid/dad to take some of the heat offa Charlie Rangel & Tiger.

Newsmakers are the guys behind the cameras every bit as much as the perpetrator.

 

[mdhunter]

The scary thing is many airplane accidents involve distractions of personal in the tower. The helicopter and small plane that collided over the Hudson last year occurred because the air traffic controller was on the phone with his girlfriend.

It might of made that kids day but I am glad I wasn't flying near NYC at that time.

 

[genesis273]

It was cute and I`m sure it made the kids day. I (Airport Employee) can say that the FAA is very strict even with the way we communicate with the tower when working in the airfield/safety zones. Everything is recorded and spoken in a way that there is no confusion. Since I am from NC it is very hard to not sound like a hick when talking to them. You have to be very precise with every location, connector, runway, etc, and clear with them when you are out of the safety zones. That being said, I can not imagine a kid talking to the pilot to clear for departure at a major airport, or any airport for that matter. I am actually not surprised that the controller was suspended or fired. Basically, the FAA does not play around. Althought the towers are secured it is possible to go in them and watch if you have connections. When you do, it can be very chaotic and with little room to move and you keep as silent as possible. Other than that, a controller has a pretty cool job.