Movie-watching air traffic controller suspended

WASHINGTON -- An air traffic controller has been suspended for watching a movie when he was supposed to be monitoring aircraft, deepening the Federal Aviation Administration's embarrassment following at least five cases of controllers sleeping on the job.

In the latest incident, the controller was watching a movie on a DVD player early Sunday morning while on duty at a regional radar center in Oberlin, Ohio, near Cleveland that handles high-altitude air traffic, the FAA said in a statement Monday.

The controller's microphone was inadvertently activated, transmitting the audio of the movie — the 2007 crime thriller "Cleaner," starring Samuel L. Jackson — for more than three minutes to all the planes in the airspace that the controller was supposed to be monitoring, the agency said.

The controller's microphone became stuck in the transmit position, preventing him from hearing incoming radio calls or issuing instructions to planes during the incident, the agency said.

The controller was alerted to the mishap when he was contacted by a military pilot.

Besides the controller, the FAA also has suspended a manager at the Oberlin center.

In all now, the FAA has suspended eight controllers and supervisors since late March.

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In five of the cases the controllers allegedly fell asleep. In another case, the FAA is investigating why two controllers in Lubbock, Texas, were unresponsive to radio calls.

Nearly all the incidents occurred during overnight shifts when traffic is light and people naturally have trouble staying awake.

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The incidents have shaken FAA officials, made air traffic controllers the butt of late night comedians and raised public jitters about the safety of air travel.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said early Monday, before the agency had disclosed the incident near Cleveland, that he was "infuriated" that air traffic controllers have been caught snoozing on the job.

"None of us in this business can ... tolerate any of this," Babbitt said. "It absolutely has to stop."

Babbitt was at a regional radar center near Atlanta with Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union that represents controllers. The pair met with about 50 controllers and other FAA employees as they kicked off a nationwide tour of air traffic facilities aimed at sending a message as much to the public as to controllers that unprofessional behavior won't be tolerated.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood underscored the same message in a series of television interviews over the past several days, telling CBS' "The Early Show" on Monday that "paying controllers to sleep will not be part of what we do at the FAA."

Video: LaHood tells controllers to take personal responsibility

Even President Obama joined the chorus, telling ABC News last week: "We've got it under control."

But every time administration officials say they've moved decisively to contain the problem, another controller steps over the line.

The day before the Cleveland incident a controller fell asleep while working an overnight shift at busy regional radar facility in Miami that handles high-altitude traffic for Florida, parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean.

The incidents have raised concerns about work schedules that don't allow controllers realistic opportunities for sleep.

The FAA forbids controllers from sleeping on the job, even during the 20-minute to 30-minute breaks they receive every few hours. Babbitt stood by that position Monday.

Instead, the agency said it will require controllers to have an extra hour off between shifts — a minimum of nine hours instead of eight — to get more sleep.

Babbitt said at the meeting that the scandal caused by sleeping controllers has harmed the agency's credibility. He said passengers should never have to worry about whether a flight crew is rested, a plane is properly maintained or that air traffic controllers are on the job.

"That should never be a thought for anybody getting in an airplane in this country," he said. "And it hasn't been a thought. But unfortunately, we have raised that concern."

[bearcats22]

its an easy job or the gov. would have air force personel working the job. pilots can call several differant places to get landed it's just a coverup to make customers happy. i mean any one can put in an application. i have a friend that just got a job as an air traffic controller and had no experiance period and will do an excellant job.

[documemts]

The tragedy here is they are not provided with I-Pods and Gameboys. That would help keep them involved and alert instead of drifting off into sleep and movies. You know of course this all started with Reagan breaking the air-traffic controller's union back in the 80's.......

[Rusty1936]

This problem can be cured: A healthy 8 hours of sleep and a good breakfast. Controllers schedules do not lend themselves to this cure.
They need 12 hours off between shifts......1 to 2 hours travel time back and forth to work, 1 hour meal time, at least 1 hour recreation time and 8 hours sleeping.

[h_huestis]

Given that these controllers get paid $ 162,000.00 a year in pay and benefits, it is only right that these controllers should be awake 100 percent of their shift. If they can't do their job and stay awake, just fire them, and replace them with someone who will be awake 100 percent of the time.

[smurfula]

How about a guy, who would authorize taking a little cost of living money, away from disabled and aged people, for years? Now what would this American government, one nation under God, do with a person like that? Satan would probably make him president.

[ticobird]

Personal experience indicates the problem is allowing the controllers to switch from day to swing to graveyard shift. This is STUPID! The human body is just not made to switch sleep times on an ongoing basis. Sleep rhythm is as important as the sleep itself. There should be scientific studies indicating this and if it is found that this was ignored (for whatever reason) then more senior personnel should place their heads on the chopping block.

[Jhihmoac]

...Should've been watching old "Airport" movies...Would've snapped him back to reality...

[gangesdak]

I am now waiting for the sexx break news.
Air traffic controller job should be given to the illegals; they are always alert. Think about it.

[credibility2]

This is why collective bargaining is a sham in the public sector. Too many layers to go through and automatically fire someone for being malfeasant and endangering the lives of others. This would never be tolerated in the private sector.

[ppaulville]

Wow, eight incidents in a few weeks. What are the odds? We're so lucky that this has never happened before over the decades without us finding out. I know what would happen to me if I fell asleep on my job, or if I watched movies.