US boosts staff in 'sleeping' air traffic control row
 

US aviation officials are boosting air traffic control staffing at a busy Washington DC airport after two jets were unable to make contact with the control tower early on Wednesday.

The lone nighttime controller at Reagan National Airport had fallen asleep, the Associated Press reported.

The jets carrying a total of 165 people landed safely without tower help.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a national inquiry into tower staffing, officials said.

Aviation officials told US media the overnight shift at the airport was typically manned by a single controller.

The jet pilots were unable to raise the airport control tower on the radio as they approached to land. The efforts of other controllers elsewhere to reach the tower by telephone failed as well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12850844

Note: 24 March 2011 Last updated at 14:27 GMT

One guy? Are they serious?!

WTF, There are dozens of scenarios that could result in one man not being able to do his job (a job that people's lives may depend on).

But no we got to save the all mighty dollar... :roll:

You are absolutely right, a serious situation could have arisen :hmmm:

That typically needs to change. There are so many 'what if's" when the tower is manned by only one person. The tower needs two people. It is that simply.

The rule where I work is consistently 2-man teams. Fine if it's 4am and somebody needs a break for a few minutes, but 2 guys work the night as a whole.

Inefficient understaffing in shift patterns leading to dangers in air traffic control.
Thats good:haha:

Tribesman :rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2:

@Tribesman:

:har:

Treffer!

:haha:

I'm surprised they don't have just one guy doing every job there.:har:

They tried, but the janitor is in a union

'Sleeping' US air traffic controller suspended
 

An air traffic controller who was unavailable to help two jets land at a busy Washington DC airport has been suspended, an official has said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12850844

Note: Update Record,24 March 2011 Last updated at 18:38 GMT

Apparently, the system is designed to handle a loss of one control point. So the regional air controllers guided them in, while the local radio channels helped them make sure the runways were clear of other aircraft.

GR or other pilots can explain that better.

This time, it was good, but this stuff is not wishful mode :hmmm: