BBQ of DEAD CAT Is More Important Than Air Traffic! (rating, radio)

[KevK]

This makes me wonder how many other air traffic controllers are not watching the traffic but sitting around in the towers talking and texting their friends about cooking dead cats.
Does anybody supervise these folks or do they just do what they want at work? Do they actually do any work at all? Why are they allowed to even have phones in the towers?


http://ny1.com/content/top_stories/D...px?ArID=104382

[allydriver]

Unions do a pretty good job of ensuring incompetency in the workplace.

[burdell]

Typically inane, misguided media coverage of an aviation accident. Both aircraft were operating under VisualFlightRules. The ultimate responsibility to see and avoid traffic rests with the pilots in command of the aircraft, nobody else. At best the ground controllers are merely advisors.

[nicet4]

Originally Posted by burdell

Typically inane, misguided media coverage of an aviation accident. Both aircraft were operating under VisualFlightRules. The ultimate responsibility to see and avoid traffic rests with the pilots in command of the aircraft, nobody else. At best the ground controllers are merely advisors.

This is correct.

Operating outside of Class B airspace neither aircraft was required to have radio or have it on. I've flown in lots of areas like this in airplanes that didn't even have radios.

Two aircraft operating under VFR flight rules are soley responsible for collision avoidance. End of story.

[nicet4]

Originally Posted by burdell

Typically inane, misguided media coverage of an aviation accident. Both aircraft were operating under VisualFlightRules. The ultimate responsibility to see and avoid traffic rests with the pilots in command of the aircraft, nobody else. At best the ground controllers are merely advisors.

To be accurate ground controllers have nothing to do with airplanes in the air. Ground control directs taxiing aircraft around airports taking them to and from the active runways. The tower clears aircraft on the ground to take off and land on the active runway. Towers hold jurisdiction to five miles out. Approach and Departure control handle IFR (instrument flight rules) flight generally 5 to 20 miles out (depending on the airport) and up to 5,000 to 10,000 feet above ground. ATCC handles all flights above 18,000 feet (any flight above 18,000 must be conducted under IFR flight rules) and all aircraft operating IFR in controlled airspace below 18,000 feet not under control of towers, approach or departure controls. VFR aircraft can request radar "advisories" but these are handled at ATC's pleasure.. they will if they have time and won't if they don't.