Kid directs traffic at JFK

[specter177]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587801,00.html

Discuss.
Personally, I think taking his kid there was fine, but actually letting him talk to planes was crossing the line.

[SeanTK]

Based on what they actually let the kid do, I don't really see a problem with it, as long as it doesn't become a common occurrence. He was not giving aircraft movement instructions, and besides that, he had a professional controller (the father) AND a supervisor there to make sure everything went smoothly. It was a very, very controlled situation, with what I believe to be ZERO chance of risk.

Again, I wouldn't want them to make a habit out of bringing the kid in, but for a one or two time occasional thing, it didn't seem to harm anything. Adding to that, everyone involved in the moment (pilots, controllers, etc.) seemed to really enjoy it, and to specify again, according to the article, all he was doing was giving handoff instructions after being told exactly what to say.

[expat]

I think that this is going to be blown so sky high that it will be on Mars gathering dust so long that NASA, if they ever get their will in the headlines for coming second. Sorry, but a total none story, but the selling of papers and a nice class action by "traumatised" passengers who found out when they arrived it was their aircraft and saw $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and a life in the sun is what it is about. How about asking the pilots involved what they think/thought and if any thought safety was compromised to file the relevant paperwork and not have a couple of people hung out to dry by a media frenzy....as usual.
A "great day out for your child Bill, but it was ill advised, don't do it again" is all that is required.

Matt (preparing for the critical onslaught)

[machineman9]

The only 'bad points' I can see is the 'adios amigo' and the giggling in the background. Besides that, the job got done.

I mean, rules are rules. You shouldn't let your young child drive your car around even though he was being supervised by two people. He shouldn't have been there, but no harm was caused.

[specter177]

Normally I would agree, but aviation has taken too many hits recently, and this is just one more. Public confidence is being shaken, and things like this only hurt the aviation industry.

[DaveSims]

While I do believe this story is getting blown way out of proportion, i think if this guy would have stopped to think about what he was doing, and WHERE he was doing it, he might have made different choices.  If this had happened at some backwoods airport control tower, no one would have noticed or cared, but at JFK?   ::)  This day in age, with the media as it is, one must always be aware of appearances, and how seemingly innocent actions can be made out to be criminal.

[C]

Dangerous? Probably not.

Ill advised? Almost certainly.

Worth a slap on the wrist? Very much so.


There's a time and a place. Tower freq at a busy international probably isn't it.

[Flying Trucker]

Good evening all...

Having thought this over a number of times and reminiscing the past and believe me that was the most difficult part I have to agree with the above post.

I think "C" you put it into perspective.

[olderndirt]

Been reading this and wondering if I had anything worth saying.

[Brett_Henderson]

Most of what I heard, were the scripted broadcasts even GA pilots are familiar with..

"cleared for takeoff"

[beaky]

[quote]Most of what I heard, were the scripted broadcasts even GA pilots are familiar with..

"cleared for takeoff"

[Brett_Henderson]

So... why do it?? Was it worth it for him? Does he realize the damage he has done to his industry, and flying in general?

Yeah  *sigh*..  I wish he hadn't done it.. but I wish even more, that it could all be taken in context.

I don't want bureacratic robots in a tower, anymore than I'd want them running a police department. I trust his decision to do this, as much as I trust the decision of a police officer to not issue a speeding ticket to everyone going 1mph over the limit.

[DaveSims]

I remember the good ole days of ATC, back when the BTR approach control would give out the LSU score with the altimeter setting.    That would probably be a career ending mistake these days.

[SaultFresh]

I personally think this is awesome, haha. I think on that day, a dream could've been sparked, so was it all worth it, yeah, in the sense that seeding hopeful dreams in a young kid is a great experience. Now, I kinda don't think that it should have been done at JFK, but if it had been done at some smaller airport, I think that's great. I mean, my airport here in Canada isn't really busy, even on a busy day, haha. If the Tower controller brought his kid to work and I got to talk to him or her over the radio, that would make my day, and it would probably make the kids day too. Overall, I think that kid is pretty lucky, I never got to sit in a cockpit when I was a kid, and I certainly never got to go in tower either. I also never went to work with my dad, which could possibly be why I decided to do something different career wise, haha. I don't believe any harm was done, it was not out of control, and I think that guy is a pretty cool dad, I hope he doesn't catch too much flak from this.

[JoBee]

Somewhere some FAA lawyer is gonna say "we have to be careful about setting a precedent. If we slap this guy on the wrist, some other controller is gonna think "I'll take a slap on the wrist so my little Johnny can talk on the radio too""

This guy, and his boss are going to get canned.

In my opinion the tower needs to be as sterile an environment as the cockpit and having these kids in the tower had to be a distraction.

And if you don't think bad things can happen real fast in the ATC world, watch this - http://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safe ... ation.html

Yeah, these guys are going to get canned, and I think it is justified.

cheers,
Joe