Audio Indicates Kid Directed Planes at JFK

The Federal Aviation Administration and the union representing air traffic controllers are criticizing the conduct at a control tower at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport last month, when a child was apparently allowed to direct pilots. (March 3)

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News & Politics

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• child_air_traffic

[Wm226]

This incident is blown completely out of proportion. As a Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor, the child was obviously supervised. And in my opinion, the kid did a great job when compared to other controllers that I've encountered, lol.

[LtOlson]

@jsnwilcher Agreed, I'm a tower controller and know the regulations applying to who is allowed to transmit to aircraft.

The kid was giving basic instructions, clearly and expeditiously with the rated controller right there for the complex and critical stuff.

THE KID WAS NOT SEQUENCING OR MAKING DECISIONS.

[DarwinsFriend]

@boobieswooo As a member of the FAA organization for over fifty years – owning a Repair Station, you’re “fuck yourself” comment means nothing.

Physics are physics and having 240,000 pound aircraft moving around an incredibly complex facility – simultaneously – is an ADULT BUSINESS.

Fire the father and ban him from aviation forever. End of Story.

[boobieswooo]

@DarwinsFriend taking away a fathers job? go fuck yourself

[iEskabar]

this kid is awesome

[batura1]

@Wm226

I disagree. You probably fail to realize the immense gravity of the nature of this job, that as a matter of principle, this is like a SIN. Simply not tolerable in any case whatsoever, even if there are 1000 supervisors on the child's head. This is not a bar where you let the kid pour beer for fun, this is a fu*king airport control tower.

[warpedcomedy]

@Animeprincessmaria Uh, the kid just told the planes to take off.

[warpedcomedy]

@AirTrafficControl1 Oh, please, it was nothing like that, as you well know. What harm can come if a highly supervised child simply tells a plane that it is clear for takeoff?

[abubacarr4ever]

everybody needs to chill he was supervised gosh and he did an awesome job and he did not make anybody crash

[Aliendear]

Children are beautiful, and are undistorted. When children have good parents, they usually turn out good. His calls to the planes were clear and very competent. I was this clear when I was 11, and I rode in Cessna 172 a few times and was "well aware" and my attention level was perfect. I wanted to become a pilot, but it didn't work out. My parents never had the money back then (about $3000.oo ) or were not smart enough to finance it. A friend of ours was the pilot. He was an amazing guy.

[drcaos]

@AirTrafficControl1 Gosh, telling simple instructions and saying "Adios amigo" it´s very different to a surgery.

Your comment was pathetic.

[AirTrafficControl1]

This is why the FAA has lost credibility

Based on your judgment any child can do provide the ATC service as long as they are under the wise supervision of their parents.

Next time they will support doctors bringing children to the surgery room to make supervised little incisions to a patient in the middle of a surgical operation.

Policemen having their kids read the Miranda rights while the handcuff a suspect.

ATC is a serious, professional and highly regulated business