FAA suspends controller, boss after children were allowed to radio pilots at Kennedy Airport

Описание: (3 Mar 2010) HEADLINE: 2 suspended after children radioed pilots at JFK
CAPTION: An air traffic controller who brought his son to work let the youngster read a few routine messages to pilots in an incident that amused pilots but not the FAA. (3 March 2010)
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
NB. THIS IS A VOICEOVER TRANSCRIPT, NOT A FULL SHOT LIST.
NATS: audio recording
(New York)
The F-A-A is investigating after audio clips edit surfaced of a child apparently directing air traffic at John F Kennedy Airport.
NATS: audio recording
The recordings are from last month during a week-long break for many New York school children.
NATS: audio recording
They were posted to a website for air traffic control aficionados.
NATS: audio recording
The clips leave the impression the child is under adult supervision.
NATS
In a statement, the FAA said the controllers have been suspended.
"Pending the outcome of our investigation, the employees involved in this incident are not controlling air traffic."
At least one pilot says he does not believe the public was ever in danger.
(Ross "Rusty" Aimer, Retired Pilot)
"I would equate this to when you bring your children on board prior to take your child on take off to the cockpit and we put them in the captain''s seat and mommy and daddy take a picture of the kid in the cockpit."
People who frequently fly in and out of JFK say air traffic control is NOT child''s play.
(Sue Pirard, Air Traveler)
"I think it was cute, but not a good idea at all, I think it''s dangerous."
Others say it''s not clear there was ever any real danger.
(George Chapman, Air Traveler)
"If that was well supervised, and just a harmless conversation with the pilot yet someone was observing the traffic patterns, and the floor ground activity and no one was in harm''s way."
The names of the air traffic controller whose son was at the controls has not been released.
NATS: audio
Ted Shaffrey, The Associated Press, New York

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