Fast and Furious

The stories are coming too fast to pick apart. You’ll just have to read them and draw you own conclusions.


Newark air traffic controller cites retaliation by FAA

” Jim Mitchell, an OSC spokesman, said the agency typically does not discuss cases until they have been reviewed. Overall, however, he said there have been 36 whistle-blower complaints filed by FAA employees this fiscal year, up from just 11 last year. “

Flights Get Close at J.F.K., Reviving a Runway Debate

”“They’re rolling the dice,” said Barrett Byrnes, president of the union chapter at the Kennedy tower. But the F.A.A. said that the operations are not a hazard. “

If you keep rolling the dice, sooner or later they come “snake eyes”. And just in case the details of this near miss sound familiar, your memory is still working. Here’s the animation of a mirror image from a few months ago. This is me, avoiding all the fun I could have with the word “CRAPS !”.


And finally, here’s an interesting video from AVweb. Just in case you thought controllers have a dull job. As you’re watching it, remind yourself to ask, what about all the other airplanes the controller is working during this distraction ? TCAS in a MOA. Might as well try dodging a Sidewinder.

Don Brown
July 9, 2008