Squeaker directing air traffic at JFK

[sntslilhlpr6601]

Rules are rules. 

I don't like what the media has done with this but then I don't like what the media does at all, so that's no surprise. Whether this was a harmless event or not is beside the point. The bottom line is rules are in place for a reason. Anything can happen. I don't need to think up some ridiculous scenario as an example, because we all know: **** happens.

And I'm no expert by any means but I would hardly think that the Tower at JFK is a good place to supervise a kid.

[ToeTag]

Its not what did happen..its what could have...

fliperk, you still gonna go to the store in your car today?  Cause alot of baaaaaaaaaad things could happen if you do that.

[Casca]

Whether this was a harmless event or not is beside the point.

Whether this was a harmless event or not is precisely the point.  If there was any inherent risk in this or if it was even a wobbler, this thread would not exist.

[Golfer]

If this were an actual honest to goodness breach of safety, security and all the hubub the media would have us believe I'd be the first to say it was a stupid thing to do.

I'm not saying that because it's just not the case.  I'm a huge advocate of allowing kids and enthusiasts see what aviation professionals do on a daily basis.  On more than a few occasions I'd overhear a young kid ask a flight attendant in their best polite voice if they could go see the cockpit.  The FAs usually said let me ask though on occasion they would get snippy with the kid saying something about how due to security blah blah blah...

This got me out of the seat and into the forward galley in a blink of an eye.  Bring the kid in, put him in the seat, take a picture and send him on his way.  Their parents were happy, the kid got a great opportunity and he/she will remember that for the rest of their life.  We were all that kid at one point and if we forget it then that's more a tragedy than any sensationalized breach of conduct.

I'm not even sure who this kid is.  I ran into him one day at Frederick, MD back in early 2006 after getting lunch at the little restaurant there.  He was there watching the airplanes with his mom while we were eating.  I told the other pilot I'd catch up with him in a few and went outside.  I asked him if he liked airplanes, did he know anything about them and he pointed out a couple different types.  I told him he'd be perfect because I needed a hand with something and asked if he'd come with me to my airplane while looking at mom making sure it was okay.  They both ended up coming out, took a few pictures and it made their day.  If I was that kid I'd remember it forever and I'm confident he will too.





I figured we were safe because I always have a backup in case things go wrong.



Otto on the glareshield made the line guys and passer-by pilots laugh.  It's serious business but if it wasn't fun I and a whole lot of others wouldn't do it.  Pull our collective heads out of our collective rear ends with the PC, the sensationalism and get back to common sense ya'll.

[Raptor]

Its not what did happen..its what could have...

Do yourself a favor and turn Fox News off

[batch]

Do yourself a favor and turn Fox News off

the same exact story was published on EVERY major news provider.......... ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, CNN, etc......

so basically your theory then is to stay sheltered from the outside world??

[Wolfala]

the same exact story was published on EVERY major news provider.......... ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, CNN, etc......

so basically your theory then is to stay sheltered from the outside world??

I think the theory is to use that thing inside yr head and to think rather then blindly accepting opinion as fact.

[Casca]

If this were an actual honest to goodness breach of safety, security and all the hubub the media would have us believe I'd be the first to say it was a stupid thing to do.
--snip--

Cute kid Golfer.  He'll remember that till he gets Altzheimer's.

[texasmom]

Notwithstanding my previous post, there's tons of other stuff I've seen in towers that are actual safety threats.   JFK does seem a little busy to mess around like that, but I'm sure those controllers know better than anyone which times are okay to slow down a little bit & goof off and when the kids need to hit the stairs.

[4440]

If this were an actual honest to goodness breach of safety, security and all the hubub the media would have us believe I'd be the first to say it was a stupid thing to do.

I'm not saying that because it's just not the case.  I'm a huge advocate of allowing kids and enthusiasts see what aviation professionals do on a daily basis.  On more than a few occasions I'd overhear a young kid ask a flight attendant in their best polite voice if they could go see the cockpit.  The FAs usually said let me ask though on occasion they would get snippy with the kid saying something about how due to security blah blah blah...

This got me out of the seat and into the forward galley in a blink of an eye.  Bring the kid in, put him in the seat, take a picture and send him on his way.  Their parents were happy, the kid got a great opportunity and he/she will remember that for the rest of their life.  We were all that kid at one point and if we forget it then that's more a tragedy than any sensationalized breach of conduct.

I'm not even sure who this kid is.  I ran into him one day at Frederick, MD back in early 2006 after getting lunch at the little restaurant there.  He was there watching the airplanes with his mom while we were eating.  I told the other pilot I'd catch up with him in a few and went outside.  I asked him if he liked airplanes, did he know anything about them and he pointed out a couple different types.  I told him he'd be perfect because I needed a hand with something and asked if he'd come with me to my airplane while looking at mom making sure it was okay.  They both ended up coming out, took a few pictures and it made their day.  If I was that kid I'd remember it forever and I'm confident he will too.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

I figured we were safe because I always have a backup in case things go wrong.

(Image removed from quote.)

Otto on the glareshield made the line guys and passer-by pilots laugh.  It's serious business but if it wasn't fun I and a whole lot of others wouldn't do it.  Pull our collective heads out of our collective rear ends with the PC, the sensationalism and get back to common sense ya'll.

Some parent let their kid near you? I feel sorry for the poor boy 

[Raptor]

the same exact story was published on EVERY major news provider.......... ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, CNN, etc......

so basically your theory then is to stay sheltered from the outside world??

Here is the article by CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/03/03/air.traffic.child/index.html?iref=allsearch

Here is the article from CBS
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/03/earlyshow/main6261845.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;2

And now from ABC
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/boy-directs-air-traffic-jfk-airport-caught-tape/story?id=9995927

Fox was the only one to relate it to an actual accident that was not closely related to what happened here. It was actually the only news network to reference a crash.

Once upon a time Fox was a respectable news network that did a fair job when it came to representing the news, now they care more about ratings and fear mongering brings in ratings.

[batch]

after reading your post it took me exactly 17 seconds to do a search and find this link.......... I shouldnt have to waste that kind of time just to contradict some personal bias you have ....... please pay very careful attention to the last paragraph from MSNBC...... youll notice it is word for word the exact same paragraph that has you in arms about FOX

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35683779/ns/travel-news

Once upon a time people could actually read and comprehend the news, now they care more about bashing a network.

edit: out of fairness if you do need assistance in finding the EXACT same paragraph on the rest of the networks let me know........ I read them all yesterday so I know they exist

[B17Skull12]

This is just silly.  If he gets fired, too me it just shows how silly the FAA is.  1 his dad was watching him.  2 looking at (admittedly rather outdated, circa 2000) JFK 7110.67G, clearance delivery give you all the climb information.  (aka carneise, breezy point, etc.)  So pilots should already have the turns and climbs ready to go in their FMC.  The only thing that really has to be done, assuming their isn't a a slow pilot to get off the runway or something, is the rolling boundary call, which his dad probably has handled.  The final thing here is the controller is covering 1, yes 1 runway.  Its not like its 4 runways and N90 can't seperate traffic correctly and is giving visual seperation to everyone and their grandma, which leaves tower to sort out the mess.  This is just the opinion of a CTI student, TWR after clearance delivery is the easiest positions.  Basically all you need to know for the beginner is diverging headings or timed departures and releases.  Radar is where the pulling your hair out happens.  Terminal in particular, although enroute is no slouch one either.

[Flatbar]

Ok, consider this. Both the ATC and his super gets no disciplinary action against them and the story is panned by the media as 'harmless'. Then, another ATC decides to do something similar, then another and another...etc. When some ATC does something really boneheaded and a tragedy occurs, then what?

If this goes unpunished then they are opening a can of worms that could result in loss of life and confidence in the system. The established rules of conduct must be maintained and improved upon, when needed, in order to protect life, assets and public confidence.

I'm surprised that some of the real life pilots in this thread fail to recognise the gravity and consequences of failing to correct conduct like this. Sure it was harmless this time, but what is the cost of inaction.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

And a week from now we hear this was an audio recording taken from FSX or other commercial aviation sim that use live traffic controllers. Hence everyone is relaxed and happy to hear a squeeker controlling traffic.