Child directs air traffic at JFK airport

[GrinningManiac]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8547875.stm

So apparantly the lil' Yankie tykes got a week off recently, and in doing so, one child went to work with his dad, who was the traffic tower announcer at JFK airport, the busiest airport in America

The Dad told the kid what to say, and the kid said it with clarity, and the pilots responded in good humour and everyone was having a fun time (Pilots were telling the kid 'awesome job' and responding to his 'adios amigos' in kind)

Problem is, the Federal Aviation Administration has launched a probe into the incident, citing a lack of professionalism and all manner of bleak-sounding, miserable charges. They talk about it like the Dad brought some hookers up there and began having a drug-induced orgy, or somethign equally neglectful and irresponsible.

Noone was hurt, the pilots (the guys who would have been affected if anything DID happen) found it funny, the airport ran smoothly and everyone was okay

WHY? Why would you push forward with condemning this fun little escapade?

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

Because the FAA hate fun?
Of course, they are quite right when the talk of unprofessionalism.

 

[Private Custard]

Because there are pressurised metal tubes full of people, thousands of feet in the air.

You don't fuck with the system, simple really.

 

[khaimera]

It sounds like they want to punish him for what could have happened rather than what did happen, whcih was nothing. Had it caused a catastrophe though, it would be another story. It just seems risky to me.

 

[cuzant]

He should get a aslap on the wrist nothing more, it's not like anything went wrong, it is a bit worrying that a 6 year old could have said something wrong and caused a disaster.

 

[GrinningManiac]

I completley agree that it was probably a little risky and irresponsible, but the fact is that the Dad was clearly in control and stopped his kid shouting "HI!" over the mic or soemthing

 

[Icecoldcynic]

I think the idea itself SOUNDS irresponsible, but if the father was overseeing it, I'm unsure what the issue is.

 

[Lullabye]

Because the FAA hate fun?
Of course, they are quite right when the talk of unprofessionalism.

Life is unprofessional, I don't know how these people deal with it.

He should get a aslap on the wrist nothing more, it's not like anything went wrong, it is a bit worrying that a 6 year old could have said something wrong and caused a disaster.

Let's just assume the father didn't leave the child alone in the room with the mic on and was supervising the child. I mean, from the sounds of it, the pilots knew that it was just a kid.

 

[aegios187]

Government is going to do what it seems to be best at, spply a hundred dollar solution to a five dollar problem. There's no need for formal inquiries etc. Just make a fucking decision. Hey, only personnel X, Y and Z can be in the control tower ops center and friend/familiy etc must remain in the designated visitor's area (if they even allow any)

The kid was clearing flight for take off which basically the most non-harmful thing to do while in the ATC. However, I understand the distraction/safety concern. I am honestly surprised there isn't anything in their SOP about letting non-authorized personnel to go on-air with aircraft or even be in the operations area. Oops?

 

[Hollock]

I heard the video of it, it's cute yes, but really not something you want to fuck with in the slightest way.

EDIT: we should let it slide this time for sure seeing that he was supervised and everything, but it's still a little unnerving.

 

[hudsonzero]

would you get one a plane being directed by a 6 year old?

 

[Composer]

because they hate children

 

[Xojins]

I can see why they'd be mad; you don't want to take chances when it comes to directing/flying an aircraft, not to mention the fact that it was at one of the busiest airports in the US. I still think it's dumb though. Nothing bad happened, so why should the kids dad not be allowed to work?

 

[Internet Kraken]

WHY? Why would you push forward with condemning this fun little escapade?

I'm going to guess it's because something could have gone horribly wrong. The child could have potentially screwed something up. Of course he didn't, but that's not the point. Had something gone wrong, you guys would probably be mocking the father's foolish decision of having a child give instructions to the pilot. That's how the FAA probably views this; a foolish decision that they do not expect their employees to make when working, regardless of what the consequences are.

Then again, I doubt that they made it specifically clear that you can't ever do something like this. But that's probably because they expect their employees to know better. Think of how irresponsible they would look if something had happened.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Because people in general are naturally arseholes.

Sorry to genralise, but if there are rules in place - those rules should be followed and in the future, if this provokes other people to do it, then it may cause an accident.

Sorry to spoil everyone's fun and yes, I'm an arsehole too!

 

[JupiterBase]

Uhm, the FAA don't fuck around no more? I'm pretty sure they never have. They take no chances at 30,000 thousand feet in a $285.5-300 million dollar aircraft weighing around 115,000pounds with 400 lives at stake. also consider that its filled with a combustible fluid and is traveling at Mach 1 cruising(I thought it was faster? but meh ah well.)

My dad was a pilot he has a picture like this in his room...

<spoiler=Biplane crashed into tree>http://www.firstworldwar.com/photos/graphics/ww_airplane_tree_01.jpg

It was coupled with a warning, that as soon as you take for granted the machine your in and that your fucking flying you will die.

Since the pilots are relying on the air traffic controller i understand why.

EDIT:

I think this was wrong but didnt deserve such a punishment. Imagine you get on a plane. Imagine the pilot says "This is your captain speaking, this plane is being directed by jimmy the third grader who eats paste"

Would 99% of people on the plane freak out? I can tell you they would.

I think this was unprofessional but not really that serious given the pilots reaction. The people on the planes however may not have been happy, you have to see it from their point of view. A warning would have been sufficient.

This reminds me of another incident in Dallas. We were taxing to the runway when all of a sudden over the intercom we hear the captain.

"This is your Captain speaking were gonna be delayed. Our co-pilot noticed a crack in the windshield...good thing he noticed it!"

Fuck. Back to the Original Topic though: I could understand maybe not being so harsh if this happened on a smaller airport somewhere else but this is one of the busiest in the whole country and those arnt fucking Cesna's.

 

[cuzant]

Because the FAA hate fun?
Of course, they are quite right when the talk of unprofessionalism.

Life is unprofessional, I don't know how these people deal with it.

He should get a aslap on the wrist nothing more, it's not like anything went wrong, it is a bit worrying that a 6 year old could have said something wrong and caused a disaster.

Let's just assume the father didn't leave the child alone in the room with the mic on and was supervising the child. I mean, from the sounds of it, the pilots knew that it was just a kid.

Yeah thats where i was coming from, if he was left on his own though, big no-no

 

[DarkSaber]

If they refused John Mcclane entry to an Air Traffic tower, then why the hell should they let a 6-year old in? ;-)