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Air controller lapses at post in Reno
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A medical flight with at least three people aboard was forced to land overnight without help from air traffic control after the lone controller on duty didn't respond to repeated cont . . . (flightaware.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I don't have any comment on the subject, just like to get in touch with former "speaker" Benito Sweeb to ask him some questions. In a friendly way, offcourse.
The press and public treats the pilots as if they are mindless fools who can't see or hear or make decisions, just do what they are told by ATC which frequently serve no real function.
Funny that the controller was sleeping at 'Ronald Regan Airport', named after the person who decimated the Air Traffic control system by firing the professional controllers in 1981 for striking due to the very same concerns that the flying public are learning about today.
AMEN!!!!!!! What the flying public doesn't realize that there are procedures for a pilot to go by for controlled & uncontrolled Airports. If it says UNCONTROLLED he'll be on the ground quickly. It's when these guys nod off and it's supposed to be controlled that it causes a problem cause they are trying to follow the law that says there is supposed to be a man in that tower and nobody will talk to them.
Here in the sticks our tower closes at 1900 and reopens at 0500. In the mean time ifr clearances are handled by FSS folks and the center, where there are lots of people around to keep one another amused and awake, and more stuff to do as well. Approach clearances are issued by the center. Flight plans are closed by FSS when the pilot calls in after landing. IFR clearances are issued either by FSS or Center. CTAF is observed by all, and we play well together in vfr conditions by talking to one another because we don't want to hurt ourselves. VFR is VFR no matter what kind of clearance you have.
So, why pray tell, is there only one controller on duty at 2:00 am in Reno, Nevada or any other place else where only one person is on duty? Could it possibly be that there is little if any traffic? One operation an hour or less maybe? Maybe none? Does Reno really need to be staffed in the middle of the night?
Well, you know of course that it does dear taxpayer! We will soon have a GS 15 keeping a GS 11 awake while they play a friendly game of gin rummy waiting for that one air ambulance being piloted by a deaf, dumb and blind pilot who couldn't possibly find the airport without their able assistance. (I enjoy doing approaches on my own navigation. It's kinda fun)
If politicians couldn't scare the beejesus out of their constituents with such stuff as this they would have to take up another line of work.
If I am out of line here, someone explain why.
So, why pray tell, is there only one controller on duty at 2:00 am in Reno, Nevada or any other place else where only one person is on duty? Could it possibly be that there is little if any traffic? One operation an hour or less maybe? Maybe none? Does Reno really need to be staffed in the middle of the night?
Well, you know of course that it does dear taxpayer! We will soon have a GS 15 keeping a GS 11 awake while they play a friendly game of gin rummy waiting for that one air ambulance being piloted by a deaf, dumb and blind pilot who couldn't possibly find the airport without their able assistance. (I enjoy doing approaches on my own navigation. It's kinda fun)
If politicians couldn't scare the beejesus out of their constituents with such stuff as this they would have to take up another line of work.
If I am out of line here, someone explain why.
Scuse me, you have a ticket and IFR. So many of these folks don't and this conversation would go the other way. My comments about the markers, i.e, there are many bankheads and radios around that could easily be automated and serv the same basic purpose. Enroute separation and clearance matters are handled by the centers anyway and we are not talking about them here. I'm talking about places like Moreland AR and McCurtain OK and many others like them. These guys are seasoned veterans and pull these jobs by seniority most of the time. In answer to your other question, familiarity training for a new location, yes but not like a new hire that had to learn how to be a controller too. Like I said, in the 80's they found out just how overbuilt and unnecessary a lot of them were.