Kids in the JFK control tower

[JSC3ATLCSO]

I did some searches to see if this has been brought up but has anyone heard of the guy that on two different days took his kids up into the control tower at JFK?


The question being is What is the Valued Opinion of DRTV members on this subject? 

I think as it has been reported at this time there is no big deal.  The media is freaking out over something that I'm sure has happened before.  It isn't like someone wasn't standing right there and puppeteering the kid.  Media Sucks!

[tombogan03884]

Saw in the paper it was during the school vacation . Dad was telling the kid what to say and he was passing it on.
None of the pilots on the quotes from the radio traffic seemed anything but amused.

[JSC3ATLCSO]

Yeah.  That is what I'm getting from the media reports but they are trying to crucify this dude for taking his kids to one of the busiest places on earth and with a high level of security and responsibility.  

Morgan Freeman and Jay Leno just spoke about it on Leno and both said what's the big deal.  The kids handed off planes to a different controller within the tower.

[tombogan03884]

Well, it seems like BS but considering the Security violations, and FAA licensing regs that were broken in what is SUPPOSED to be a "high security area" filled with "Highly Trained Professionals", and WORST of ALL, It got to the media !
His employer (former ) or the courts, will crucify this guy.
But it's BS, I think the pilots got a chuckle and the kid had the time of his life .

[sledgemeister]

Sounded rather cute actually dunno how cute it be if two planes crashed but.....

anyway heres the voices.

[Sponsor]

[Walkeraviator]

As a professional pilot, I can see both sides of teh argument based on how busy a day it was.  All airports have busy days and not so busy days.  And at places like JFK, ATL, LAX they have certian times of teh day that are busier than others called pushes... so if it was a super slow time what is teh harm??  If dad was there with his own headset on, no biggy.  BUt when radiop chatter is so bad you cant hardly get your calls in, this wouldnt have been a good idea, and runway incursion is a big problem, and if something had gone wrong with this kid running tower frequency....Cluster F*ck...

Additionally was it a VFR day where the weather was super clear or were all the planes shooting ILS to minimums??? 

[tombogan03884]

As a professional pilot, I can see both sides of teh argument based on how busy a day it was.  All airports have busy days and not so busy days.  And at places like JFK, ATL, LAX they have certian times of teh day that are busier than others called pushes... so if it was a super slow time what is teh harm??  If dad was there with his own headset on, no biggy.  BUt when radiop chatter is so bad you cant hardly get your calls in, this wouldnt have been a good idea, and runway incursion is a big problem, and if something had gone wrong with this kid running tower frequency....Cluster F*ck...

Additionally was it a VFR day where the weather was super clear or were all the planes shooting ILS to minimums??? 

Stinks to be you.
All that time traveling and you don't even get to see the movie   


                                                 

[Tyler Durden]

Must be  a slow news week.

The knee jerking continues.

I say "No harm, no foul".

[Pathfinder]

On another forum, someone brought up the point that this used to be called "apprenticeship", or maybe "bring your kid to work day".

The statists have to find fault with everything so they can step in and be the nanny gummint they have always wanted to be, so yeah, this is way overblown and the punishment will be seriously overwrought.

[TAB]

my 2 cents, the guy should have known better. there is 1 ATC school in the nation, it has a 90% wash out rate.    you don't become a ATC at JFK with out lots of exp and high evals.   I would bet its one of the most regulated porfession in the US.  AT no time should there be a distraction like a young child in the room.