air traffic controllers news stories on Newser

Oops: Tokyo Blogger Posts Flight Plan of Air Force One

John Johnson — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 08:10:00 CDT

An air traffic controller in Tokyo is in hot water after posting secret information on his blog, including the flight plan of Air Force One when President Obama visited last year. The controller apparently wasn't looking to cause trouble but to impress his friends with all the cool stuff he...

Michelle Obama Plane Has Close Call After Gaffe

John Johnson — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:42:19 CDT

The latest air traffic controller's gaffe is sure to get the attention of the White House. A plane carrying Michelle Obama and Jill Biden had to abort its landing at Andrews Air Force Base at the last minute yesterday because it would have been way too close to a military...

Air Traffic Controller Caught Watching Movie on the Job

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:16:05 CDT

Note to air traffic controllers: Watching a DVD at work may help to keep you awake, but ultimately it's not much better than napping. A controller in Oberlin, Ohio, learned that lesson the hard way early Sunday, when his microphone was accidentally activated and began transmitting the audio from the...

More Rest for Air Traffic Controllers: LaHood

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:18:05 CDT

Following reports of at least seven air traffic controllers falling asleep on the job , the US government announced today that controllers will have more time to rest between shifts under new work rules, but Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made clear he won't tolerate sleeping on duty despite studies and expert...

Yet Another Air Traffic Controller Caught Napping

John Johnson — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 13:47:51 CDT

Another air traffic controller has been suspended for sleeping on the job, this time at a Miami radar center. That's No. 7 this year, notes CNN . This one's especially priceless because the entire crew got a lecture on professionalism—emphasis on not falling asleep—prior to the start of last...

FAA's Air Traffic Head Resigns After Sleep Incidents

Kevin Spak — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:39:33 CDT

The head of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization resigned today, amid a wave of reports of air traffic controllers sleeping on the job . Hank Krakowski submitted his resignation this morning to FAA chief Randy Babbitt, the Washington Post reports, who promised a “top to bottom” review of the air traffic...

Four More Dozing Air Traffic Controllers Suspended

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:32:10 CDT

The epidemic of snoozing air traffic controllers continues: Four more have been suspended for nodding off on the job, the FAA announced yesterday. One of those was a controller at Nevada's Reno-Tahoe International Airport, who slept for 16 minutes early yesterday as an airborne ambulance carrying a patient landed with...

Second Napping Controller Found ... With Blankie

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:57:42 CDT

After a DC air traffic controller fell asleep on the job , the FAA learned of a second one who did the same thing—but this one did it intentionally. The Knoxville air traffic controller went so far as to find cushions and a blanket to use for his nap, Reuters...

Snoozing Controller's Excuse: 'Stuck Mike'

Evann Gastaldo — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:55:13 CDT

The air traffic supervisor who fell asleep early Wednesday at Reagan National Airport, forcing two planes to land on their own , was suspended yesterday. Federal officials say the veteran controller was also given a drug test, although the FAA will not confirm the testing or the results. The Washington Post...