Pelican Parts Forums - Reagan approach, American heavy on final?

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I'll bet he would have gotten a lighter rap on the knuckles if he hadn't lied about the radio silence. He claimed there was an open mic someplace.

Did I miss it in the article that the ATC was asleep? I read that he was on several other websites.

He was recorded as saying it was an open mic, later is was reported he admitted to a snooze.

I feel sorry for the fellow. People f#ck in every bizz, also in this one. Crews fall asleep on the airborne side too, yes both of them. I've got 20 years of shift work behind me, including some 30 nightshifts per year. In the end it starts to kill you. This guy might have an impeccable record and this one misstep will terminate his carreer.
And, btw, it's always better to fess-up straightaway, these days everything is recorded, watched and examined.

FAA boss' comments:

Quote:

While we review overnight staffing at selected airports around the country, I have directed all radar controllers to contact air traffic control towers at those airports to confirm that there is a controller prepared to handle the incoming flight. In addition, I have reminded all air traffic controllers that proper procedures dictate that they must offer pilots the option to divert to another airport if they do not make contact with the control tower. Finally, I have ordered a nationwide review of the air traffic control system to confirm the appropriate backup procedures and equipment are in place and in use. I am determined to make sure we do not repeat Wednesdays unacceptable event.

So far, he's only been suspended, it's not like it was a serious accident like the UPS truck going off course and damaging someone's car and digging up their lawn, silliness, no one was hurt.

Wonder if he was tested for drugs? Perhaps he has sleep apnea and will now retire with full benefits since he has a disability. I have no sympathy for him.

Just a little historical perspective on this issue. After the controllers strike back in the early '80's, many control towers were unmanned in the wee hours after 11 or so. The FAA was using supervisors and military(all the strikers were fired) to run the system and didn't have enough for all shifts. The airports never closed to traffic, you were just on your own. I made a number of late night landings on "uncontrolled" controlled fields. No problem, Center handed you off to yourself, and you closed out the flight plan with a call the Flight Service Station. There are very few scheduled flights landing in those hours, so you might as well have been landing at Punxsutawny Airport for all the effect it has on the safety of the flight. As I recall no planes had any incidents or accidents during that period as a result of the unmanned towers. It just felt weird to land or takeoff without some chatter from the tower. I would make a call on the tower frequency to alert any other traffic of my intentions and position.