FAA Official Resigns Over Sleeping Air Traffic Controllers
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In the wake of yet another case this week of an air traffic controller asleep on the job, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official in charge of operating the nation's air traffic control system has resigned.
In a statement on the FAA's website, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt says he met today with the official, Hank Krakowski, head of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization, and accepted his resignation.
"Over the last few weeks we have seen examples of unprofessional conduct on the part of a few individuals that have rightly caused the traveling public to question our ability to ensure their safety. This conduct must stop immediately," Babbitt says.
"Starting today, I have asked David Grizzle, FAA's chief counsel, to assume the role of acting ATO chief operating officer while we conduct a nationwide search to permanently fill the position. We are conducting a top to bottom review of the way we operate our air traffic control system," Babbitt adds. "We are all responsible and accountable for safety–from senior FAA leadership to the controller in the tower."
Yesterday, an air traffic controller in Reno, Nevada, was suspended for being asleep when a medical flight was trying to land. It was the fourth such time an air traffic controller was accused of sleeping on the job this month at a U.S. airport.
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You can't use the excuse of being overworked for falling asleep on the job when lives are at stake. At the very least the offending controller should call a supervisor and admit their situation. A simple cure would be to log in their presence every so often. If no log in then an alarm is sent to a supervisor who can then take action.
April 15 2011 at 4:55 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyJust another job where the Bosses could care less if employee gets any sleep. Most jobs/bosses in America could care less about employees.
April 15 2011 at 3:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNON UNION SCUM What the hell did you expect?
April 15 2011 at 2:31 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHere's a fact about the FAA and the controllers that work there. The FAA is far understaffed and tower Controllers are over worked. On top of that fact these guys are made to work what is called a rattler shift which consist of working four day shifts, then coming back in on the same day to work the grave yard shift. Usually followed by your days off which are ruined due to the change in your work schedule. The two days off are used to recover from the madness of the shift change. The FAA supervisors frankly don't give a damn either, how or what these people work or how it affects them. The FAA stills has the attitude that's it's a privilege to work for them. This is purely management issues, not the poor slobs that do one fantastic job 99.99 percent of the time. My two cents.
April 14 2011 at 11:57 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyReagan fired them, country lost alot of good workers now deal with this crap
April 14 2011 at 11:39 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyThis has been a problem ever since they allowed the ATF to watch Mr. Sunshine. Joe Biden might be able to substitute, if he is allowed to watch a presidential speech.
April 14 2011 at 11:34 PM Report abuse Permalink -4 rate up rate down ReplyOk, so we are to believe bringing in a lawyer will help solve this problem??? Lets just get it straight fo once. These are guys in a union and they will do anything and expect no issues to effect their paychecks. Only in America does the big guys in washington think the issue is solved by accepting a resignation from a person that cannot be everywhere at all times. How about demotions of regional and local supervisers who control these guys. Lets fire these guys and you can bet that the rest of these loosers will either man -up or leave.
April 14 2011 at 11:27 PM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down ReplyHot 5 Deals
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