Page 212 - Controller News Today

To correct this problem. we cannot allow controllers to fall a sleep in control towers. we are not going to stand by and let that happen. gregg: that was transportation secretary ray lahood sounding off on a string of incidents where air traffic controllers literally fell asleep on the job. in response the faa is now phasing in new rules covering rest and scheduling for air traffic controllers. doug mcelway is live from reagan national airport with more on that. doug, what are the charges? >> re...

>> now, does the fact that theyre going to have two controllers on shift, on the night shifts, everywhere in the country now, does that make a big difference? are they supposed to keep each other alert -- >> that would be the hope. that would be the hope. fatigue is a problem. and i think that they ought to look at the necessity with some of these towers and having to be manned in the first place. but, of course, having two people up there is different. and im not talking about somebody come to ...

Investigation, and i want the public to know we will not allow controllers to sleep on the job. we simply will not. and im steamed about it. >> reporter: now, tomorrow faa officials and the air traffic controllers union are starting a nationwide tour in atlanta to talk to controllers to hear their concerns and to really hammer home the issue of safety. deb? >> this is such a grueling job. when you think of the number of planes coming in and out of various airports, but it is striking to me that ...

>> did you get that? wow. >> late last night it was georgias turn. in an atlanta suburb a reporter gets rattled by the power and sound of thunder and lightning. meantime, rescuers were in overdrive. they freed one family who scrambled to the lowest part of their home. >> where were you guys inside the house when the storm hit? >> we ran down into the laundry room and soon as we got down to the laundry room is had, you know, the trees started falling, and it was like -- it happened really, really...

In miami makes it seven just this year. the incident was reported to a manager by another controller. a dozen controllers were on duty at the time. this follows an incident on wednesday at an airport outside reno, nevada. the head of the faas air traffic organization resigned on thursday. another movie star mug shot in the books. new orleans police arrested academy award winner nicolas cage late friday night on charges of domestic abuse, battery, disturbing the peace, and public drunkenness. p...

Orleans a lot, and hes a big legend down there as is brad pitt and other people. thank you very much. we appreciate it. all right, alan. >> certainly. we want to catch you up on the days top stories. a killer storm system has claimed 26 lives throughout the southeast and midwest with the deadliest toll in north carolina. nine people died there today from a series of tornadoes. the weather service says three of the victims were caught in their mobile homes. early reports are that more than 80 t...

So anyway, but i go to new orleans a lot, and hes a big legend down there as is brad pitt and other people. thank you very much. we appreciate it. all right, alan. >> certainly. we want to catch you up on the days top stories. a killer storm system has claimed 26 lives throughout the southeast and midwest with the deadliest toll in north carolina. nine people died there today from a series of tornadoes. the weather service says three of the victims were caught in their mobile homes. early repo...

Thats according to the federal aviation administration. the head of the controllers union said he agrees with the faa that fatigue and scheduling must be addressed. new orleans police arrested actor nicholas cage late friday night. police charged the 47-year-old cage with domestic abuse, battery, disturbing the peace, and public drunkenness. police tell us cage got into an argument with his wife about where they were staying in the french quarter, became unruly, and thats when within officer t...

>> is this a problem that has been around for a long time and we are just now hearing about it? what has been your experience? >> well, absolutely. i spent ten years working for faa as a controller in another life and these schedules are not new at all. one of the problems, of course, is that the controllers actually like the schedules because it gives them maximum amount of time off and, however, what we are seeing is that i think we are just kind of burning out. i mean people just cant work th...

Manager by another controller. a dozen controllers were on duty at the time. this follows an incident on wednesday at an airport outside reno, nevada. the head of the faas air traffic organization resigned on thursday. another movie star mug shot in the books. new orleans police arrested academy award winner nicolas cage late friday night on charges of domestic abuse, battery, disturbing the peace, and public drunkenness. police say cage was arguing with his wife about weather the house they w...