Child directed planes at JFK airport

[Chuckt]

Have you ever taken your child to work? Have you ever sat on your parents knee to drive a car? Sitting on my parent's knee stopped before I was a child but here is a video of a child in the control tower talking to other aircraft. Are they pulling this story out of proportion or did lives become at risk once the child was in the air traffic control room?

YouTube - Child directed planes at JFK airport

US officials are investigating how a child was apparently allowed to direct planes at New York's JFK airport - one of the country's busiest.The probe comes after an audiotape caught the boy directing several pilots preparing for take-off last month.

In one exchange, the boy is heard saying: "JetBlue 171 contact departure." The pilot responds: "Over to departure JetBlue 171, awesome job."
The boy was apparently with his father - a certified air traffic controller.

The adult is later heard saying with a laugh: "That's what you get, guys, when the kids are out of school."

In another exchange, the child says: "MS 4-0-3, contact departure," and then adds: "Adios, amigo."

The pilot responds: "Adios, amigo."

The pilots on the tape appear to be not concerned that a child is giving them instructions.

The incident happened on 17 February, when many New York pupils were on a week-long break.

The age and name of the child and the adult on the audiotape were not immediately known.

'Not indicative' incident

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement: "Pending the outcome of our investigation, the employees involved in this incident are not controlling air traffic.

"This behaviour is not acceptable and does not demonstrate the kind of professionalism expected from all FAA employees."

The agency did not give any further details.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said the incident was "not indicative of the highest professional standards that controllers set for themselves and exceed each and every day in the advancement of aviation safely".

[Lily]

It's very hard to believe it happened in that exact context isn't it Chuck ?

[Chuckt]

It's very hard to believe it happened in that exact context isn't it Chuck ?

One newspaper I read said the child did not tell planes where to go.

[Lily]

Not heard anything about this over here Chuck, unless I missed it but I do find it hard to believe.

[iamowen]

I heard about it on our local radio yesterday, they played some of the tapes, very amusing and the pilots seemed to find it so as well. The boy was not in charge, his father was, it has been blown up out of all preportion

[eddybear]

Not heard anything about this over here Chuck, unless I missed it but I do find it hard to believe.

I found it on the BBC website, Lily

BBC News - New York airport jets 'directed by child'

[DeaconDan]

This was completely harmless.

[Chuckt]

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement: "Pending the outcome of our investigation, the employees involved in this incident are not controlling air traffic.

"This behaviour is not acceptable and does not demonstrate the kind of professionalism expected from all FAA employees."

They were controlling air traffic. They were in control. They were in the tower. They knew what was going on. They told the children what to say and the children said it. How were they not controlling air traffic?

I think it is a serious issue but I think the FAA is making it out to be more than it is. You have to be extremely bright to become an air traffic controller so these people are not dumb people. They know what is going on. They are college educated and able to learn more things than most. The people who fly aircraft like 747 are usually ex-military people who have devoted hours of training and it is very hard to get a job in commercial flying. The pilots are not concerned that a child is talking to them in their aircraft so it is inconsistent that the FAA is.

[gibby]

I agree. This was blown out of proportion.

[canny]

Many Many moons ago, I went to visit my mums place of work and was allowed to speak,,, I was instructed what to say and when to say it... Just as this child would have been..............