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04.12.07, 06:56 AM #1
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Planes wait while controller takes potty break
Planes wait while controller takes potty break
POSTED: 9:31 p.m. EDT, April 11, 2007
Story Highlights
Airliners circle for 18 minutes while lone controller goes to restroom
Plane carrying lungs for transplant waits for takeoff
Union says event indicates system is stretched to its limit
FAA says controller handled situation correctly, there was no danger
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two airliners had to circle for 18 minutes and a plane ferrying human lungs for transplant was briefly delayed Friday while an airport's lone air traffic controller took a bathroom break, the controller's union said.
The union on Tuesday cited the Friday incident at the Manchester, New Hampshire, airport as evidence that air traffic control facilities are understaffed.
"There should never be one person in the tower, because it's not safe," said Doug Church, spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "It's just added proof that the system is stretched to its limits, and these are the type of things that are happening."
Federal Aviation Administration officials responded that staffing is sufficient, that the bathroom break was handled in accordance with policy, and that travelers were not endangered or unduly inconvenienced.
While drawing vastly different conclusions about the significance of the event, the FAA and the union gave details that generally matched.
Both said the controller, whom neither named, had been on duty at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport about two hours and 40 minutes Friday when he had to take a bathroom break.
Because the only other employee in the tower was not certified to handle takeoffs and landings, the controller notified FAA's Boston consolidated terminal radar approach control, or TRACON, that he was taking the unscheduled break.
FAA spokesman Jim Peters said the controller, who had handled 60 aircraft during the first three hours of his shift, acted responsibly by waiting until a slow period before taking his bathroom break. Boston TRACON assumed responsibility for the airspace and placed two aircraft in a holding pattern until the controller returned.
Peters said the break lasted 12 minutes, but said a few additional minutes may have lapsed as the planes were realigned to land.
"It's the FAA's position that the staffing that was present at Manchester was sufficient to safely handle arrivals and departures at that time of the evening," Peters said. "He was only gone for 12 minutes, so while there may have been a slight delay in the aircraft landing, certainly the controller did what he had to do."
Union spokesman Church said Southwest Flights 1187 and 2379 were delayed 18 minutes. He provided CNN with an FAA "traffic management log" indicating an 18-minute lapse during a "bathroom break."
Passengers on the aircraft were probably not informed of the reason for the delay, Church said, adding, "They'd probably be angry."
During the controller's break, a Lifeguard flight pilot radioed the tower and spoke to a trainee, who was not certified to conduct controller operations. The trainee told the pilot he would have to wait 10 minutes for the controller to return.
The pilot replied that he had "lungs on board," Church said.
Peters acknowledged that the Lifeguard flight was told it had to wait 10 minutes, but said there was no indication from the pilot that the delay would cause problems.
The FAA and the controllers' union have skirmished repeatedly in recent months about staffing levels at airports.
The union says controllers are often forced to work overtime, contributing to fatigue, which results in safety lapses. But the FAA says most overtime is voluntary and said instances of involuntary overtime are rare."What we are dealing with here, is a complete lack of respect for the law" - Jackie Gleason, Smokey and the Bandit
www.geocaching.com - The site where you are the search engine.
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04.12.07, 08:09 AM #2
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ADKOT - Favorite VH Song
Stay Frosty - Last Online
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When ya gotta go, ya gotta go.
"I'm the opposite of Bill Cosby. Diamond Dave always gets your approval." (DLR)
"Rawhide in "A"
Tom Brady hates tomatoes
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04.12.07, 08:15 AM #3
- Join Date
- 06.12.04
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- In a van down by the river
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Van Halen/5150 - Favorite VH Song
RWTD/BoBW - Last Online
12.22.22 @ 11:37 AM - Likes (Given)
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Could be worse....he could have been the only operator at a crisis hotline.
A little more volume in the headphones please.
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04.12.07, 09:46 AM #4
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- Jersey- Home of the Devils
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Fair Warning - Favorite VH Song
Today- Bottom's Up! - Last Online
10.02.21 @ 11:21 AM - Likes (Given)
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What about that McDonald's cup sitting on the console???????
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04.12.07, 10:20 AM #5
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The one I'm listenin' to. - Favorite VH Song
Can't pick just one - Last Online
01.21.15 @ 09:57 AM - Likes (Given)
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That must of been one hell of a piss.
ALEX IS GOD!!!
I've been doin' this for 'bout 20 years now, and I'll tell ya, to this day I still don't know the right drumstick from the left drumstick -Alex Van Halen
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04.12.07, 11:13 AM #6
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I, II, 1984 - Favorite VH Song
Jump/D.O.A./Beautiful Girls - Last Online
01.05.12 @ 10:51 PM - Likes (Given)
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12/18 minutes... c'mon!
Runaround... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around... around...
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04.12.07, 11:34 AM #7
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Humans Being - Last Online
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He needs some Exlax, that's all.
"What we are dealing with here, is a complete lack of respect for the law" - Jackie Gleason, Smokey and the Bandit
www.geocaching.com - The site where you are the search engine.
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04.12.07, 08:56 PM #8
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all - Favorite VH Song
strung out.... - Last Online
10.15.20 @ 11:51 PM - Likes (Given)
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They should be forced to wear adult diapers when working......I know they work 12 hr shifts, but still....12 hrs. with a load o' shite in yer pants ain't too bad....
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04.12.07, 09:18 PM #9
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judgement day/ me wise magic - Last Online
09.06.21 @ 11:25 AM - Likes (Given)
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maybe he had the 'rhea, was reading the new penthouse or whatever, and after he finished decided to rub one out?
hell, its possible!""""\//-/""""
The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!
www.myspace.com/mikesisca
"If ladies want Valentines Day so bad either make Superbowl Sunday an actual holiday or give guys Steak and Blowjob Day and we'll call it even." T.RYAN, sharing thoughts on valentine's day.
" SHUT UP, FAGGOT." - Vinnie Velvet, showing off that sharp wit of his.
DIRTY SANCHEZ- It's not just for breakfast anymore!
Originally posted by FORD
History tells us that oppressive nations build walls to keep people IN, not out.
(See "Berlin Wall" and "Likud Israel" for examples) FORD- when i told him i'd build a wall between the US and Mexico.
then ill build it from the mexican side. -my reply.
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04.13.07, 01:07 AM #10
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Too Many! - Last Online
12.05.14 @ 12:23 AM - Likes (Given)
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Love should NOT be work, it should be as easy as breathing Dave's Dreidel
My god, our government has less secrets than Van Halen. Emperor Brett
I'm a Democrat and an Atheist, but I've yet to receive my ticket to Hell. Is this something I call Live Nation about or what? JakeK21
I feel it takes far more energy to hate than love. Well outside of Obamacare, How Many Say I and Heineken beer. ziggysmalls
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04.13.07, 03:59 AM #11
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04.13.07, 11:10 PM #12
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Well, Id much rather listen to Van Halen over anything by Black Sabbath. And I like Sabbath, but theyre not Van Halen.
Back In Black & 5150