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FEATHERING OUR NESTS: O-MAMA’s Perspective on SPRING CLEANING

Spring is in the air.  The birds and the bees are flitting around doing their thing…nature abounds.  The birds are feathering their nests and laying their eggs, while the bees are busy pollinating every flower in the garden.  The air is crisp and clean.  Chirping and buzzing fills the air.

Everything seems fresh and new.  So, let’s take a new look at Spring, shall we? The first thing that comes to mind is cleaning. Ugggh.  But, let's talk about the birds and the bees instead...the part of the story that happens...

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A WING AND A PRAYER: Air Traffic Controllers Asleep In The Tower
Photo Getty Images File

How do we keep air travel safe?  Good question for the FAA to answer, as the rest of us make our summer travel plans.  Top FAA officials and union representatives are on a nationwide tour to talk about professionalism and safety in the control towers across America.  Why?  Well, air traffic controllers have been in the news of late...for being over-tired, off task or watching too much TV.  Sounds like someone needs a nap?!

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an aborted landing, which is not that unusual, except that the plane was carrying none other than the first lady! Oopsie!  The plane carrying her and Vice President Joe Biden’s wife came within three miles of a C-17 cargo plane, which is too close for comfort.  Controller error.  Then, a controller and manager in Cleveland were suspended for watching a DVD on the job.  The problem was discovered when the controller’s mic was left on and the sound from the movie “Cleaner” was broadcast over the radio to airplanes in the area.  A military pilot reported it to air traffic control.  Oh, those meticulous military guys?!! 

These incidents came on the heels of a Miami controller falling asleep, while directing traffic (the seventh case this year of a controller dozing off on the job).  Some towers now have two people on the overnight shifts, but budgets don’t allow for this staffing 100% of the time. 

MOMism: “Straighten up and fly right.”   We teach our kids to have some self-control.  They need to sit up in class, at the dinner table and in the back seat of the car.  There are times when we need to keep our hands to ourselves and our elbows off the table.  So, why don't our air traffic controllers have any self-control when controlling the nation’s airspace?!  Our controllers need a wing man (or woman), a little counter balance, so they can fly straight.  Otherwise, if we continue to fly around lopsided, we're going to crash into things.

CNN-Air Traffic Controllers
www.wksu.org
CBS-First Lady Plane

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  • Lynbr

    The long and short of this is simple: These air-traffic controllers are OVER WORKED! The solution is just as simple: HIRE, TRAIN AND RETRAIN MORE AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS!!!
    on 04/21/11
    Reply

  • Hudsonmama

    If this is such an important position, why aren't controllers allowed a nap? Maybe the shifts should be shorter. SOMETHING isn't working!
    on 04/20/11
    Reply

    • momof3

      It's all about money...no one wants to pay for 2 people in the tower anymore...nor do they want to pay for controllers to nap on the job. So...something needs to change because people are going to die. Our priorities are upside down - safety standards are failing. The shifts should be shorter, there should be less shifts or there should be two on the job, which would mean less travel and higher prices?! BIG PICTURE: 40% of costs associated with airline travel is on fuel. How about we convert to biofuels (the Airforce is using them) and then reduce the costs?! That way, we'll be able to afford 2 air traffic controls and bring down the ticket price..
      on 04/21/11
      Reply