Who needs ATC??

[yank51]

Seems a couple of planes had to land without the help of the tower controller. Was he sleeping? These are some of the highest paid government employees in the country, so I wonder where he was at a tad after midnight:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/23/washington.planes.controllers/index.html?hpt=T2

Don't know Reagan, in DC, but I'd imagine it's fully staffed 24/7, isn't it??

[johnh_049]

well, you know, when you gotta go, you gotta go....

:173go1:

[stansdds]

Reagan National is supposed to be staffed 24/7. This is a bit of a mystery.

[pied]

This the result of staffing one person at night. The person who was there probably worked 6AM to 2PM and then commuted home to get 'rest' before going back to work at 10PM.

I worked that schedule for years, it will wear you out! Luckily I never fell asleep so deeply that an arrival didn't wake me.....


pied

[srgalahad]

This the result of staffing one person at night. The person who was there probably worked 6AM to 2PM and then commuted home to get 'rest' before going back to work at 10PM.
I worked that schedule for years, it will wear you out! Luckily I never fell asleep so deeply that an arrival didn't wake me.....
pied

AMEN - and one reason I retired early
but, like most staffing issues, the "tombstone Theory" applies (we go with it until someone dies, then calculate the cost).


Was he sleeping? These are some of the highest paid government employees in the country, so I wonder where he was at a tad after midnight:

Yep, just like the media fear-mongers, we'll guess at the most prejudicial option.. what about food poisoning from the staff cafeteria, a major illness, being occupied with a threatening phone-call, an equipment failure, a co-worker 'going postal' (all have occurred in the past)? Naw... it's a civil servant -- the most likely reason is that he's a putz!

[aeromed202]

Hmm, tombstone theory. I've seen it and am sort of living it but didn't know it had a name. Always learn something here.

[mfitch]

Since this ended happily (planes landed, passengers arrived safely), I find it amusing to think of these flights using CTAF procedures.

Since everyone was already talking to approach at that time, I presume they provided guidance and passed along information they had. Would one person have been working as tower and ground controller? That is common at small airports at non-busy times I know, but I wouldn't think large airports did this very often.

[Trans_23]

AMEN - and one reason I retired early
but, like most staffing issues, the "tombstone Theory" applies (we go with it until someone dies, then calculate the cost).



Yep, just like the media fear-mongers, we'll guess at the most prejudicial option.. what about food poisoning from the staff cafeteria, a major illness, being occupied with a threatening phone-call, an equipment failure, a co-worker 'going postal' (all have occurred in the past)? Naw... it's a civil servant -- the most likely reason is that he's a putz!

Yep, I thought the same when I saw the news story. Leave it to the media to make up the facts if they have none. By the way, the transportation secretary has ordered that there be two controllers in the tower on that shift at Reagan now. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-24/reagan-airport-gets-second-night-controller-on-sleep-concerns.html

[Terry]

Cheapest fix is a dead man switch. A button must be pushed every so often or an alarm will sound.

[yank51]

Well, say what you want, but it appears the controller on duty WAS sleeping, by his own admission. Seems the new was right on here...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/03/24/dc.air.traffic.suspension/index.html?hpt=T2

Let's just say, I'm not surprised. The type of job it is, especially at that time of night might lead you to "doze off". BUT, then there are thousands of people in other positions, who manage to work their jobs, even with 12 hour shifts, say from 7PM to 7AM, and not fall asleep. And do that 2, 3 or 4 nights in a row. Got to take your work seriously I guess.

[wiltzei]

NTSB INVESTIGATING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICE INTERRUPTION AT WASHINGTON'S NATIONAL AIRPORT http://www3.ntsb.gov/pressrel/2011/110324.html

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hq51Iw9BLRU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[wiltzei]

"Delta flight trying to land in Tampa gets "no response" from tower" (http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/188931/250/Delta-flight-trying-to-land-in-Tampa-gets-no-response-from-tower)