In 1993 or 1994 it occurred terrible tragedy of Aeroflot plane on route Moscow-Hong Kong. Captain allowed to their kids to be a "pilots" and they turn off auto pilot. As plane lost orientation and due to terrible gravity pilots could not take commands. It caused plane crash. All people on board have been killed.
That case was showed in National Geographic's Air Crash Investigation.

Posted By Sasa Milosevic on March 3, 2010, 10:53 AM

I don't see any problem with this at all. In fact, my father used to do the same thing with me when I was a kid back in the early '80s. All the kid did was clear a couple of planes for takeoff. This means that all of the planes were on the ground while he was communicating with them and there wasn't any potential for injury to any passengers.

Posted By Tim on March 3, 2010, 1:08 PM

WHEN I WAS A KID I VOTED IN THE PA LEGISLATURE... IF THE KID WAS BEING MONITORED AND ALL HE SAID WAS "CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF" WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

IF THERE WERE 900 AIRPLANE ACCIDENTS THAT DAY THEN OK, FINE... CHASTIZE THE TOWER. BUT THERES NO HARM IN LETTING YOUR KID SAY "HEEEEEEEERE'S JOHNNY!"

Posted By PETE on March 3, 2010, 2:01 PM

So, was this child alone and clearing flights? Of course not. He was probably sitting on his dad's lap and repeating words that he'd been directed to say. The kid probably had fun and no harm was done. I'd rather the FAA investigate something more meaningful.

Posted By Carol on March 3, 2010, 2:18 PM

Are you kidding? You don't see a problem with this. What if a surgeon had his son do your open heart surgery? At least then only one life would be in danger instead of hundreds.

Posted By Really on March 3, 2010, 4:35 PM

Like a cockpit, an air traffic control facility should be a sterile environment that requires authorization for entry. Once there are authorized visitors in a facility, every effort should be made to ensure that the visit in no way interfere with the operations. Allowing the visitors to utilize the air-ground frequency is an act of irresponsibility and unprofessionalism. It should be noted here that only licensed personnel should be allowed to carry out such tasks. Air traffic control assistants in the facility at which I work are not even allowed that privilege. Serious discipline should be in order for this incident, and controllers everywhere should learn from this case.

Posted By Wayne Farley on March 3, 2010, 8:35 PM

Where was the tower's manager/supervisor? Wouldn't other controllers object? And, if not, why? The pilots didn't seem to mind and "played" along with the supervised instruction. Though I do wonder what job the pilot had in mind when he said he wished he could bring his kid to work!

Posted By boredwell on March 3, 2010, 11:45 PM

Not sure what happened to my comment... He wasn't directing air traffic, just repeating what Dad told him to say. The Dad/staff were clearly there on the radio as well. Maybe I should have a problem with it, but I don't. The pilots all sounded amused as well.

Posted By kmama on March 4, 2010, 5:41 AM

This gives me a mixed reaction, it’s funny because imagine a child giving instruction, which is also the same initial reaction of the pilots who received the transmission (specially because all instructions were correct) However, when this sinks in, you will realize that there a hundreds or thousands of lives that could have been affected...it will give you the chills now. Good that there was a quick response to this matter.

Posted By Kate Delaney on March 4, 2010, 7:21 AM

Having kids ANYWHERE near the control tower is lunacy! There should be absolutely no distractions in the tower or the cockpit. People who think this is cute obviously don't have their lives in danger. There are just as many near misses on the ground as in the air!

Posted By Mary Ann Papay on March 4, 2010, 9:19 AM

I am a firm believer that children learn things by doing. From a very early age i worked with my mom and dad at their business. I knew how to do things when i was grown that others had to learn. The child was not left alone to do air traffic control, they were sitting with their parent and repeating what they were told to say. What is the big deal! We make mountains out of molehills these days and all of our attention goes to what is wrong rather than what is right, and i am sorry about that. Let's put our attention on something more important than this.

Posted By devkirn khalsa on March 4, 2010, 9:24 AM

There is a big difference in allowing your kid do brain surgery & being directed by a certified air traffic controller to tell a plane that he is clear for take off. I am sure it was exciting for the kid & broke the monotony that the pilots face every day. This should not be an issue since it is rare & was so supervised. Kids go to Police stations, fire departments & hospitals too. Does that mean they are fighting fires, arresting people & operating on people or they are in harms way or endangering people. Of course not. Too many people are letting their imagination run wild.

Posted By Russell Barton on March 4, 2010, 9:32 AM

This does not compare to letting a kid do surgery. He/she was saying a few word they were told to say and talking is a little different than wielding a scalpel, don't you think.

This has been blown way out of proportion.

Posted By lbh on March 4, 2010, 10:22 AM

Are you serious??? Some of you don't see anything wrong with this??? While the father was monitoring air traffic, he was also distracted by keeping tabs on his kid. It's like texting and driving -- you really don't do either well. As for, "well, it was OK when I did it in the '80's", yeah, those were different times. If something HAD happened during this instance, the lawsuits would have been flying. You people are wrong -- this is one job where there is no margin for error, and your kids should not even be in the tower. I wouldn't trust this idiot (or his kid) with my life -- and I shouldn't have to!!!

Posted By Sue on March 4, 2010, 10:27 AM

First of all, you need to have a radio telephony license to participate in air traffic radio telecommunication, and you need to have an air traffic controller license.
If you think this was ok, well, then you probably feel safe if they just pick people from the street to perform ATC duties.

Posted By B.K.Walter on March 4, 2010, 10:34 AM

This is ridiculous. Whoever complained should be the one reprimanded. What a waste of time investigating this. Obviously his father was telling him what to say. I'm a teacher, and I let my 2 girls come with me and help from time to time. YOU LEARN BY DOING. Every child is interested in what his or her parents do for a living. It's a shame our world has come to this.

Posted By Noelle Smith on March 4, 2010, 10:43 AM

The child should not have even been in the air traffic control tower .. much less be communicating with the pilots! Kids are kids .. and can be very distracting. His presence could have distracted other traffic controllers in the tower as well. This is not a play pen nor a classroom. I think the proud father and the supervisor should be admonished but not terminated. Hopefully they will learn a valuable lesson from this situation. It's not "cute" nor a laughing matter.

Posted By Mike Monahan on March 4, 2010, 10:46 AM

I still can't understand the big deal ,there father was there and still had control of the mike.I did not here any of the airline pilots complain.it sounded like real air traffic controller to me,I have flow in to airports where controllers had higher pitch voices then that. stop making a big deal about this the airport was still safe.Can't FAA investigate something more meaningful?

Posted By Norm on March 4, 2010, 10:47 AM

Those people who see no problem with kids giving instructions in an air traffic control tower have no concept as to what goes on, or can go on, when dealing in the air traffic control system. I was a controller at one of the nation's smallest controlled airports and I would never think of allowing my kids, no mater what their age, to direct air traffic. The very fact that these people make comments like "the plane was on the ground, what can happen" shows their total ignorance of the industry. The fact that the child's controller parent is right there is no safeguard. Disasters in the air traffic system happen in seconds and fractions of a second. It would take that parent precious seconds to take the head set or even just the microphone from his child to correct an error or to avert a sudden impending disaster.
This does not even consider the TOTAL lack of professionalism that something like this indicates. In a place as busy as JFK I am surprised that they even allow visitors in the tower, much less put them to work. Clean up your act JFK.

Posted By Tim Hudak on March 4, 2010, 10:49 AM

Well, if its ok, lets hire all kids to control traffic in the sky. They would be paid less and not be union members. A double win. Come to think of it probably smarter too. The father should be fired as well as his supervisors, no ifs and or buts.

Jim K

Posted By Jim K on March 4, 2010, 10:54 AM

Isn't there a "take your child to work day"? Obviously this child was being supervised and there was NOTHING wrong in my mind with this. The kid was clearly saying what his father told him to & obviously none of the pilots or other employees seemed to have an issue. I think that the guy was showing his child a great experience and that YES this is work and that is what people do to make a living. People should take their kids to work more often & maybe we will have less lazy non-working children around.

Posted By from Md on March 4, 2010, 10:55 AM

I agree with the poster who said the issue was having the kid (or ANY unauthorized visitor) in the tower. I would want everyone there focused on takeoff and landings, not whether or not Johnny is amused. What if he got sick? What if he touched equipment? His dad certainly would not have his mind fully on the job. This is not the same as having your child help you in the family business. Sorry, I think he should be terminated.

Posted By Jeanne Supple on March 4, 2010, 11:02 AM

Completely irresponsible!! What the heck was this father thinking? I am behind the FAA's investigation as to why this was allowed to happen, and the father should be heavily reprimanded and/or fired...immediately!!

Posted By Judy Toa on March 4, 2010, 11:06 AM

We really need to take a look at what things are getting everyone's attention nowadays. How about some press,reporting, or investigation into something else other than GOSSIP and human interest these days. Give me a break. Live your lives people stop worrying about how everyone else is living theirs. This outrage is a result of the PRESS. Someone should start an investigation into what rights the press has to cause panic and disorder so rampantly. The majority of the whole world has lost their common sense at the hands of the persuasive press. Find something that is worth getting excited about because this isn't it! Drama addicts are becoming way to acceptable in our modern world! Control yourself --- jeez!

Posted By Mary Scanlan on March 4, 2010, 11:11 AM

I think the reaction to this situation is completely out of hand. The kid was obviously being supervised and just repeating what he was told to say. The pilots obviously loved it, as indicated by their laughter and encouragement. Certainly if there had been any danger, the father would have been right there to correct him. Our kids need to spend time with their parents, and seeing the working world is good for them. Otherwise, they will just turn out as most unsupervised kids - gangbangers, druggies, pill poppers and unresponsive to adult supervision. I say leave the dad alone - he was just doing his job with his kid, spending some father/son time together and not harming anything.

Posted By Nate on March 4, 2010, 11:14 AM

Well...i'm an air traffic controller and I give clearances to airplanes all day everyday. For some clarification - The child did give clearance to aircraft that were in the air - "Contact Departure" is the first clearance that you get in the air...granted it's just a frequency change...it's still a clearance to an aircraft that's 800 feet up!

Was he wrong in doing this - yes! As a controller - I understand the responsibility that we have to conduct safe, orderly, air flow and the MANY restrictions that we have to talk on the radios. When I was a new controller in the agency - I wasn't allowed to talk on the radios for over 1 year due to the strenuous amount of training involved. The child did use impeccable phraseology...but in the long run, if ANYTHING happened to that aircraft and the flight history was researched - the FAA could be held accountable for the clearances that the child gave. My friends visit me at work all the time and so do my parents, and I could NEVER imagine my mother or father giving a clearance like that. Not that they wouldn't be able to repeat the exact thing I told them to say - but fear that my job would be in jeopardy.

I think it was just a bad judgement call. Maybe one clearance would have gone un-noticed...but with all the systems they have in place for training and proper control technique, he should have known better.

Posted By Nate on March 4, 2010, 11:23 AM

Okay, you evidently have NEVER seen or heard what goes on in a control tower. There are so many planes and situations that occur its mindboggling. The bigger the airport the more traffic. To monitor one small guy, takes your attention away from MANY other planes...then you have the possibility of a mishap magnified many times over. BUT if you don't care then by all means let the little boy continue.

Posted By Paul on March 4, 2010, 11:37 AM

This is a violation of convention. So, people who lean toward conformity, don't need to prove the actual safety risk in order to condemn it.

Posted By jack on March 4, 2010, 11:39 AM

GET A GRIP! As a 25 yr airline employee and a lifetime aviation lover I am tired of the "public" going off the deep end on everything they perceive. This controller did not jeopardize aircraft safety. The Airline Companies and the Fed's have taken our jobs and basically made them miserable. Pilot's, Flight Attendents, Customer Service, Mechanics, Cleaners have lost their dignity to contracts given to second rate outfits. But do you hear the public whining? We were all proud to wear our uniforms outside of the job. We were all glad to help the person on the street with questions. Leave this controller alone and get along with your lives! He tried to give his son a feeling of pride in his job and our industry.

Posted By TMS on March 4, 2010, 12:01 PM

Get real everybody! A reasoned mind would know that the kid was only acting as a "parrot" and that the father was standing over his shoulder telling him exactly what to say. The kid never actually did anything except to say what his father told him to say.

Posted By George MacKay on March 4, 2010, 12:02 PM

I feel it was VERY wrong to do this. Children do not belong in the work place, and I am sure it was very distracting for the co-workers! This is a job that requires high skill and concentration. I would not let my child come and talk to a customer in my office. There are designated days set aside for this "Bring a child to work" with planned activities and rules set in place.

Posted By Mary on March 4, 2010, 12:02 PM

Ok, let's set a few things straight because obviously people don't know as much about air traffic control as they need to. First, this happened at JFK. do people think that there is one person up there handling all that traffic? There is an entire TEAM of people monitoring flight data and talking to these planes. And it's not just the tower... There is ground control as well. The tower was well under control with or without guests/supervisors/clowns up there with them. These men and women are PROFESSIONALS who know, and are very good at, their jobs. Do you really think they would allow a child to keep them from clearing planes? Absolutely not. And shame on anyone for degrading their abilities. Second, the child was LEARNING! He was doing no harm and even the pilots were saying good job. Up until they put his dad on administrative leave he was probably thinking this is what I want to do when I grow up...how awesome! I got to talk to an airplane! There is no better way to introduce a child to the world of professionalism. The FAA should be chastised for wasting taxpayer money in investigating this. What is there to investigate? If this kid was on the radio it was with everyones knowledge up there and, knowing these brilliant people, they were cheering along. They have an incredible ability to know exactly where all those planes are at all times. That's why you get to land and takeoff when you travel without incident. They have the airspace planned and mapped many miles before a plane even comes near the runway. If anyone should be fired it's the FAA facilitator investigating this for so blatantly wasting government resources. Anyone who thinks otherwise discredits this profession and themselves by being so ignorant.

Posted By Nic on March 4, 2010, 12:03 PM

this is, in my opinion, criminal negligence -

one arrogant idiot pilot said no harm was done as the plane landed safely!!!

what a gold standard in traffic control!!!

prosecute them all - ban children from the towers -

do they ride in police cars and help out with arrests? put out fires? please.

Posted By constance on March 4, 2010, 12:09 PM

I do work within the Portuguese Air Traffic Control system. But I am not am Air Traffic Controller. I am a Telecommunications Engineer.

I cannot understand how some people say this is not a problem.

A control tower is not a public place, it is, or must be, a secured facility, where access is granted in a "need to be there" base. It is not and must not be a nursery or a children's playground. So first of all the kid shouldn’t be there in the first place.

Secondly to “talk” to the airplanes you must have a valid licence, and that makes sense because the phraseology and even the words used are in many ways specific to air-ground communications.

In third place to control airplanes and it doesn’t matter if they are in the air or the airport’s tarmac, you must have a valid Air Traffic Controller licence. And as far as I know they don’t come easy.

Now we must think, this time everything went smoothly and there were no consequences of this particular incident. Can you say the same for next time, if this behaviour is not punished, strictly?

And what are the consequences in the general public trust in the Air Traffic Control System? How will a passenger feel, landing or departing from JFK, or any other airport, and not knowing who is controlling airplanes? Would you feel safe not knowing if it is a certified Contoller or a kid?

I surely wouldn't.

Posted By MR on March 4, 2010, 12:11 PM

Lighten up, America!

Posted By Leonard on March 4, 2010, 12:20 PM

I agree with "Really"....this is a "MAJOR" problem and the father should have known better and "SEVERELY" reprimanded....suspension is not enough.

Posted By Jean on March 4, 2010, 12:20 PM

OMG! Don't we have other things to worry about???? I saw no danger to anyone, the father was with the kid the whole time! Just idiots making more out of something that was nothing!!!!!

Posted By D,D, on March 4, 2010, 12:22 PM

Had this been a mother bringing her daughter to work, would we be discussing this?

Posted By donx65 on March 4, 2010, 12:24 PM

The bottom line is nothing disastrous happened as a result of this. Obviously, rules and regulations will have to be place to make sure this situation doesn't happen again and limiting what is appropriate during a visit to a workplace in a highly controlled area such a control tower. Kids should have opportunities to visit parents at work so they know what they do for hours at end. What went on in the past (like neat field trips for kids) has been circumvented by terrorist attacks and security issues--the things we got to do when we were younger are not possible in today's political climate. We are parents who know that visiting daddy at work and the simple thrill of speaking over a radio can be an incredible memory for a child. The negative press and publicity from this whole issue is enough to make the father feel like an idiot and the child feel terrible, too. One of my own childhood memories is going on a field trip to an aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Enterprise, in Naples, Italy--everything we did that day was magical. I'm not sure anything like that is even possible today and that saddens me. Let's move on.

Posted By Maureen on March 4, 2010, 12:24 PM

Many comments say it is not a big deal. However, if a pilot had an unexpected emergency during take off,then the kid would be a distraction where seconds may make the difference between life or death. The Air Traffic controller and his supervisor should be fired. Would you like during surgery to have your doctor bring their kid and have them practice on you?

Posted By Roberto F. from Phoenix Arizona on March 4, 2010, 12:26 PM

Air traffic is serious work, no child should be allowed to be in the area let alone talk to pilots. Any distraction puts ALL the people on the flights at risk.

Posted By Chuck on March 4, 2010, 12:33 PM

It's not like simply visiting a fire station or police station though, because the controller was in the middle of directing air traffic. It was plain stupid. The "no harm, no foul" thing doesn't wash here. Nor does the "children learn by doing" argument. This isn't a family restaurant people. It's aircraft filled with hundreds of human beings! If you want to teach someone to be an air traffic controller, let them learn using the appropriate processes, like attending classes and using simulators first. Don't let your kid play grown-up at the risk of the safety of others for goodness sake. A little common sense would go far here.

Posted By Kerry on March 4, 2010, 12:34 PM

I think it has been blown out of proportion. Written warning maybe, suspension no.

Posted By steven d on March 4, 2010, 12:38 PM

Reading so many posts on this on various sites...

I believe it was a wrong decision for the child to be allowed to go on the radio and contact planes (regardless of whether they were in the air or grounded).

Flying and air safety is not for "child play", even if it occurred back in the 80's (hey, I never wore a seatbelt back in the 70's and 80's, but does that make it okay in today's world???).

I also want to know if the pilots are going to face investigation? Not once did they question the fact that their orders were coming from a child. If I were a pilot and received orders from a child, I would ask control to repeat the order and confirm that it was in fact from the control tower.

Posted By Amy on March 4, 2010, 12:40 PM

The father and the supervisor should be fired! There is enough of bad press and negative public perception of the ATC's without this irresponsible action. What were they thinking of? Why was an an unauthorized individual allowed in the tower.

In response to those who feel it was OK because the father was there giving his son directions, how about the scenario of a child driving a car with his father in the passenger seat giving instructions and directions. It would be illegal for any unlicensed driver, let alone a small child.

Posted By lawthomas on March 4, 2010, 12:43 PM

I am having a big problem with this. Anything that takes the air traffic controller, or his/her co-workers, away from their assigned tasks is wrong. I would assume that the tower at this airport is very hectic and should not be a place where you "take your kid to work". I believe the parent should receive a warning as should the supervisor for having allowed something like this to take place.

Posted By Cindy on March 4, 2010, 12:51 PM

I feel no one but controllers /supervisors should be allowed in a control tower at any time. When your children (or others' children) are visiting, attention is off the job and focused elsewhere. I personally feel this controller and his supervisor should lose their jobs. I also will avoid JFK as I do not feel their commitment to safety.

Posted By Pat McCauley on March 4, 2010, 12:53 PM

Get a life pls, with some priorities about whats important!
1.What a Result!
2.Buy one Get one Free!
3.Best Succession Planning I've seen for a while!
4. Don't ya wish that the Bankers (Or should that have a "W" somewhere, just like Bush?) did the same a few years earlier?!!
5.Get a LIFE, with Real Issues and Priorities and...
oh yes, quick please?!
And the world turns,...don't make em do it on their heels as they walk away...and you have Zero Image abroad! That said, Comedy Sells! :-(

Posted By Gus on March 4, 2010, 1:02 PM

KEEP YOUR KIDS AT HOME. THEY ARE NOT CUTE TO ANYONE BUT YOU. THIS WAS TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND SHOULD HAVE CAUSED HIS FATHER HIS JOB. MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES DEPEND ON SOMEONE DIRECTING AIR TRAFFIC THAT KNOWS WHAT HE/SHE IS DOING. AFTER ALL THIS IS WHAT THEY GO TO SCHOOL FOR. I SHUDDER TO HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. MANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS TRAVEL, AND THIS IS HOW SERIOUS THEY TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY? WOW!

Posted By elvira walker on March 4, 2010, 1:03 PM

I don't see anything wrong. The father appears to be in full control and is only allowing his son to relay the commands. He's right there ready to step in. Its a situation where a father is proud of his profession and is exposing his son to it. FAA doesn't appear to be too family friendly. Everybody should stop and take a deep breath. No need to terminate an experienced air traffic controller, maybe some remedial training.

Posted By Jose Campos on March 4, 2010, 1:04 PM

I don't see problem with this, after listening to what was said. The father was supervising and was in control of the mike and the pilots seemed to know as well. The FAA should not over react.

Posted By Gerchow on March 4, 2010, 1:06 PM

The mere fact that the child was with his father at work means he was not 100% focused on his job. I believe that the job of an air traffic controller is a serious one and that his focus on his job should be 100%. I certainly wouldn't want to be on a plane when the air traffic controller was "playing around" with his son under any circumstances. That is how "accidents" happen - when people are not focused on what they are supposed to be doing.

Posted By Christine Clark on March 4, 2010, 1:10 PM

I think the father and his supervisor should be reprimanded and a stearn warning given to all air controllers that this will not be tolerated in the future. A policy should be made stating that no unauthorized personnel should be allowed in the towers at any time - period! I do not think, however, that this air controller or his supervisor should lose their jobs over this one screw up.

Posted By Ken Kron on March 4, 2010, 1:34 PM

Remember when we kids were allowed in the cockpit during flights? I remember being on international flights and hanging out in the cockpit with the pilots. Our world has changed. Yes, the ATC was wrong and he probably should not have let the kid talk to the pilots but he should not lose his job over it. Nothing happened!

Posted By helen on March 4, 2010, 1:42 PM

I find this exceedingly reckless and worthy of dismissal. The tower is no place for the child to be at all. Massive distraction. Does the secret service get to take their kids to work and let them do things like this? Police? Firemen? Doctors? The parent and the supervisor have serious issues with exercising proper judgement.

Posted By Jeffrey on March 4, 2010, 1:53 PM

It may not be a very big deal, but that's because nothing happened, other than very bad publicity and making the FAA look foolish whatever they do. But, I do think it was poor judgment in a very sensitive position, even if the result relates only to publicity. Millions of people fly, and among that group there will doubtlessly be some number who will now worry about whether some kid is relaying instructions to their flight. I think the FAA should try to discipline the guy just to let others know that this should never happen again; but the discipline imposed should be relatively mild, like a reprimand.

Posted By Don McD on March 4, 2010, 1:54 PM

Everyone is over reacting. No one was in danger. Children are not security risks. I wouldn't be afraid to have this air-traffic controller hadle my flights.

Posted By Helen on March 4, 2010, 2:02 PM

I think this is really a tempest in a teapot. People who compare this with a surgeon letting his child do surgery are making a completely specious argument. The pilots were clearly not at all concerned and it's obvious that the father was right there monitoring the transmission. We have gotten so weird in this country lately that we have completely lost all sense of reason.

Posted By Shane on March 4, 2010, 2:21 PM

Someone above wrote this statement...

"If you think this was ok, well, then you probably feel safe if they just pick people from the street to perform ATC duties."

In actuality, FAA is currently hiring people off the streets to do air traffic. No previous experience, or prior schooling required! Now when these people get to their facility, they are VERY CLOSELY monitored by a certified controller. and in the very beginning, the trainee acts as a parrot, repeating what his trainer tells him to. This is exactly what this guy was doing with his kid. There is no difference! So if you feel like this situation was so bad, next time you fly, think about random Joe Smoe off the street controlling your plane, because 80% of the time, there is training going on.

At the time of the incident, there was probably at min of 3 other controllers up in the cab. There was plenty experience up there to handle the situation without error, which an error did not occur! No aircraft was in danger, no seperation was lost! No way should this guy be fired, or the Sup.

Posted By aRealAirTrafficController on March 4, 2010, 2:34 PM

I can understand what some of you are saying-- kids are just repeating what an adult is telling them to say and it is not offensive-- yet, imagine if the scenario had turned in an emergency situation how soon can they react and who takes over the liability if anything goes wrong-- there are many places for child's play, and a active control tower at a major airport is not a child's playground. Yes, our Air Traffic Control system is outdated and it is not the most efficient for the times and needs updating ASAP, but that is a whole different issue not being into play in this discussion.

Posted By Nelson on March 4, 2010, 2:54 PM

It's just not professional. For the same reason I don't want to here your kid on the answering machine when I call your business, a pilot shouldn't be hearing it in the cockpit. For all those who don't think it's a big deal, next time you go to the bank and are depositing your funds, will you feel comfortable handing it over to a 3 yr old...will that increase your confidence in that bank? Maybe we'll get that 12 yr old to approve your loan.

Posted By Sally on March 4, 2010, 2:58 PM

This is just another example of the ever-fading boundaries of our society. How an air traffic controller would feel that it is appropriate to bring his/her child to work is beyond me. Children do not belong in most workplaces, let alone a workplace that is a small, cramped and oversees the safety of hundreds of people. And we're not talking minor safety concerns - if a mistake is made, people DIE. And this guy is treating that responsibility as if it's a joke.

The best part is that another tape was released this morning of ANOTHER child directing traffic at the same airport. This was not an isolated incident, which makes it all the more worrisome.

To everyone saying a child learns by doing: hogwash. Get the kid a flight simulator program if you're so interested in having your little darling follow in daddy's footsteps. That won't endanger hundreds of lives.

Posted By Jessica on March 4, 2010, 2:59 PM

Fire him and the supervisor. Not one of you would be saying this was okay if the plane had crashed.

Posted By Kids are Kids NOT Adults on March 4, 2010, 3:02 PM

I think that boy did a GREAT job! Obviously the other pilots thought so too! I also think the U.S. might have a future air traffic controller on our hands! Way to go DAD!!

Posted By Vicki on March 4, 2010, 3:04 PM

Oh, hang it up. This story has been so distorted and flogged by the media that it's no wonder many media outlets are having both credibility and financial problems. The father was right there; he made the decisions, all the kids did was repeat what he told them. I've even heard that the planes involved were on the ground. No one was endangered at all. This is a non-story that the press--"Budget Travel" included--has blown all out of proportion. Why not concentrate on some "real" news for a change.

Posted By Sara on March 4, 2010, 3:17 PM

Hello, consider what has happened in the U.S. as far as terrorism is concerned. You have to understand the situation that most people are experiencing today. I totally disagree with persons that say that we are over reacting. Before this incident happened I considered the air traffic controllers jobs as being number one or number two as the most important and most dangerous, simply because there are lives involved in the decisions they make everyday. I don't know what the father or whoever allowed the child to do that was thinking or not thinking. Allowing the child to do that is sending out a message to the rest of us: Air traffic controllers is child's play, any child can do it, its no big deal. It is a big deal to me, a passenger. Ask the passengers on those flights if they knew or minded that a child was calling the shots or even allowed inside the tower. A lot of what others wrote makes sense: would you let a child perform open heart surgery? NO. Personally, I don't think the person that allowed this to happen values his job or just wanted to get on the front pages of the local news papers or sites such as this one. I consider it extremely irresponsible and who know what is next?

Posted By Alsports2000 on March 4, 2010, 3:26 PM

The FAA has known about this for a few months and this is just now coming to light?! I think the controllers are being punished so the FAA can appear to protect the public. Why weren't they punished when it happened? Probably because the controller and the supervisor were both in the room and the kid was just repeating what he was told. The planes hadn't even taken off yet AND the pilots appear to be OK with the whole situation. Having your kid in the operating room is a different matter entirely. Compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges!

Posted By Robin on March 4, 2010, 3:50 PM

My husband IS a physician,and he takes our kids to work with him occasionally, but he also teaches medical students, and supervised them in learning hands-on medicine.

Everyone learns by "hands on" after classroom instruction...how do you think the air traffic controllers get where they are today? They are taught by sitting right next to someone with years of experience, and learn by repeating what they are told to do. And yes, even a brain surgeon has medical students observing, or even assisting. They are not there alone doing the surgery, they are there to learn.

Same thing happens in dozens and dozens of career fields every day. How old was the child? He was old enough that he could be clearly heard and understood by the pilots.

Who knows, maybe he'll choose that same field as his chosen career someday!

Posted By GA Mom of 5 on March 4, 2010, 3:53 PM

This is much ado about nothing. I am a retired pilot and I find it insulting that the media deems pilots to be such morons as to do something unsafe simply because the voice on the radio used the proper terminology. It was obvious the child was under the direct supervision of an ATC professional at all times.

Posted By Paul on March 4, 2010, 4:09 PM

I really see no problem with it. Wait how did he get into the tower? I thought that was like getting into Fort Knox. Seriously though, The pilots enjoyed it and I bet the kid did to. No harm, no foul.

Posted By Skipper Oakes on March 4, 2010, 4:17 PM

I didn't hear a single pilot complain when cleared for takeoff. They knew the child was being closely supervised and were enjoying it. This kid acted more responsibly than most of our Republcian politicians in working with the Democrats...now that is really serious business when grown adults are acting like littel kids and not the other way around when a kid is acting like an adult which this kid controller was doing, excellently from what I heard.

Posted By critical thinker on March 4, 2010, 4:24 PM

I dont want ANY BODY, CHILDREN included in the traffic tower with the air traffic directors!! A seconds mistake can be very costly... This is for adults only. Certainly the directors who allowed their children to have ANY PART in directing air traffic have reached the place where their view of their job has become TOO CASUAL.!! MAUREEN E.

Posted By Maureen E. on March 4, 2010, 4:25 PM

For those morons who think this is ok, wasnt there a crash not too long ago, because the air traffic controller was distracted? This is NOT a job that distraction is ok.

Posted By paula on March 4, 2010, 4:38 PM

Full agreement with Paul, retired pilot, 3/4/2010 4:09pm. Hardly anyone beyond pilots and air traffic pros, along with enthusiasts, understand the language that was used by ATC. Thus the chicken little reaction. Pilots must talk with both ground control and departure control and be "handed off" from one to the other. There are multiple layers of authority, in other words. One kid doesn't have the power to launch a plane and override a pilot's authority. There were not "hundreds and thousands of lives at stake" as some have written. Get a grip. As Paul states, pilots are not morons. They have command authority and final responsibility for the safety of their passengers and would not jump off a bridge just because a voice told them so. The pilots in this case knew what was going on.

Posted By Michael on March 4, 2010, 4:48 PM

I think entirely too much is being made of this.The child was sitting with his father and his dad told him what to say.I am so sick of hearing about this from the media.

Posted By Janice Field on March 4, 2010, 5:31 PM

I agree that this is a typical example of the news media blowing things out of proportion. It's no big deal; in fact it was kind of neat. The professional pilots who responded sounded delighted to answer the clearances.
As a child, I went to work with my oldest brother who was an ATC. Admittedly he was not working the tower at JFK. I was allowed to put the headsets on and listen to the conversations between him and the pilots as he worked. It was really cool and I'll never forget it. I was fascinated with the whole experience. After listening to the redundant clearances for while I was saying, under my breath, exactly what my brother was saying.
Unfortunately, the real problem here is that the media, who knows nothing about how ATC works, is telling the general public, who also know nothing about how it works are leading the public to assume that the child is acting own, when in fact the father is listening in on a separate headset and is able to correct any mistake the child might have made immediately.
This is a huge problem with today’s media. They just run with a headline without any investigation. I would venture to guess not one news station has interviewed a real ATCer, who could explain the situation and point out there was absolutely no danger of confusion involved.
If anything the media is acting irresponsible and the FAA official’s hands are tied. I feel sorry for the Controller and for the child. Just two more victims of what we all know as irresponsible journalism. It’s no wonder that many news stations are going broke.

Posted By Fred on March 4, 2010, 6:00 PM

Obviously, the kid was there with his Dad, who wouldn't let his kid say the wrong thing! I think people are over-reacting!

Posted By Beth on March 4, 2010, 6:02 PM

This kid was only repeating what his Dad told him to say and his Dad was right there to make sure it was correct. They were being cleared for take off, not in the sky. I think it is a shame it has been blown to this proportion. When I was a single Mother working in Radiology, I had to bring my toddler son in with me on call in the middle of the night. He sat on my lap while I scanned or the doctors lap and even helped push the patients bed back to ICU along with the nurses respiratory therapy techs. I don't see the problem. The child was not on his own.

Posted By Carol on March 4, 2010, 6:35 PM

I'm not to sure what is wrong with this situation.There was no harm done.Just a kid saying a few words to pilots.And can everyone stop with the 'what if' or 'he could of' okay.He really didn't do anything wrong.

Posted By Caleb on March 4, 2010, 6:52 PM

Those people that think it is normal to allow the own kids to play on parents work place, should put their lives in hands of dad's sons. No it is not legal to allow sons to be in air traffic control during work time. It is not legal to allow doctor's son to help to daddy during surgery. Law must be respected. People can not privatize work place due to own complexes.

Posted By Sasa Milosevic on March 4, 2010, 7:10 PM

well, i think it should not have been done. I am
a PA and have brought my daughter to work at times.
Even though i could function well, there was still
the interruption and the back of my mind worrying
about what she might do. and she was a good kid.
i think the distraction is a big thing and
if something had happened, could this father dis-
engage totally from his child? i don't think so.
i think a few days suspension and a revision of
the rules would be in order for both men.

Posted By ann sullivan on March 4, 2010, 7:12 PM

Unbelievable. Pilots, ATCs, all in this profession need to be 100% focused, doing every step of their job per protocol. Pilots need to be 100% focused to be able to deal with potential problems. Don't tell me that each one of those pilots didn't think for a moment or 2 "what's going on here?" ... sure it's cute, and fun, and really keen for the kid, but I can assure you that for a few seconds in one of those planes there was distraction from the job at hand.
Jeffrey Skiles, the copilot with Sully on flight 1549 went through the engine restart protocol for both engines on that flight so fast that no one has been able to reproduce his time in a simulator. These situations come up, and any distraction can mean life or death. And you don't know when they will come up. Even taxiing is not without potential complications.
Oh, and what was the "unintelligible"? doesn't matter?

Posted By Henry on March 4, 2010, 7:29 PM

There are a lot of pros and cons here. Was it unprofessional? Yes. Having the child in the tower w/o saying a word was unprofessional. Was he a distraction? Probably because the father was also having to watch him. In all fairness at my job my family is a distraction even when they aren't there because I think of them constantly through the day. Can this be of dire consequence? Not for me, I do office work, but for an ATC, it maybe could-if he or she was zoning off thinking about the fight w the spouse that happened earlier. Another con is this is JFK-it isn't some podunk airport w a single grass runway clearing two planes a day. Having a child saying the words to direct traffic could be touchy. However after saying all that I think that 1/The kid was parroting his parent who was taking care in the situation 2/The pilot could also see that he was clear and would not have taken off if he wasn't. And really I am sick of hearing about this-maybe the ATC and his supervisor deserve a demotion and some required extra training at their own expense, but not being fired unless there are other problems with them and the rules need to be changed so that only valid personnel are in the tower at any time. Considering that no one was remotely harmed (and yes that matters), it really has been blown out of proportion. The media should move on.

Posted By Trish on March 4, 2010, 8:03 PM

THANKS FRED AND OTHERS WITH COMMON SENSE.

Posted By Troy on March 4, 2010, 8:16 PM

All right, I read quite a few of the responses but not all of them. It's kind of amazing how to either extreme the opinions go. As a pilot and an air traffic controller I do not see it is not big deal. Those guys in the tower have an incredible capcity to keep a handle on everything. Visitors in the tower is commonplace. Most boy scout troops have been in a tower. Don't forget that the pilots share the responsibility for safety. If they are not comforatable with the child-given clearance, then they can request the tower to reconfirm the clearance. It is obvious to everyone that the kid was being told what to say. The situation was never out of hand. Get over it and spend time investigating something worthwhile.

Posted By Francie De Beer on March 4, 2010, 10:53 PM

I absolutely have a problem with this. Have people lost their minds? We don't have enough to worry about and now this idiot lets his young kids communicate with pilots as air traffic control? He should definitely be suspended, though I don't think fired. People who really know how to do this job are not always plentiful.

Posted By Chamalove on March 5, 2010, 1:16 AM

This should never have happened and should never happen again. Children should not be allowed in an air traffic control center.

Posted By Lynn l on March 5, 2010, 8:57 AM

As a high time GA pilot and experienced aviation attorney, in my opinion this was a media-induced hysteria which afforded no cause for alarm. You must understand the physical set-up. The controller position in question is manned by a person with visual contact on the aircraft from a tall tower. The language is quite routine and presumably the speaker's father was at his elbow listening himself - obviously able to take over the mic to correct if needed. From a large airport like JFK the departure is already specified in print and diagram which the pilot has already familiarized himself with and is automatically initiated by the simple clearance issued. Let's find something more important to worry about.

Posted By Norris Rickey on March 5, 2010, 11:30 AM

Lighten up folks and stop wetting your pants!

Go ahead and fire people. Makes so much sense when the FAA is desperate for controllers

Dad probably couldn't get any time off since they are so understaffed. Now he gets a little vacation with his family. Good for you Dad.

St. Reagan busted the union. This is what you whiners get.

Posted By BlueMole on March 5, 2010, 12:15 PM

The child WAS NOT directing air traffic. He was only repeating what a trained adult told him to say and no one was in the air. A child does NOT belong in a cockpit where he might accidentally do harm - but to sit with his father and other professionals who were actually IN CHARGE is not putting the child in charge and endangered no one.

Same kind of hysteria that schools display with Tylenol vs REAL drugs at school, etc. They will expel a child who has an aspirin in her purse! I heard just the other day that a child was expelled for bringing a SPENT shotgun shell to school. No gun - just an empty shell. People have gone from one extreme to another.

Posted By CMM on March 5, 2010, 12:24 PM

As a pilot's wife, I too have a mixed reaction. If they had been in the air, then I would have a problem with it, but as they were not I don't see why this frenzy is occurring. I think every child should be able to see where mom and dad work. It gives identity to the workplace, and faces to the names.
According to other articles, the father took his twins to work, he had his manager's permission to do this, and he was at their elbow the whole time.
Lastly, comparative to the other controllers, you could actually UNDERSTAND what the CHILD was telling the pilots! If you have non-native English speakers in the air, you expect them to understand that garbled mess from the other controllers? YIKES!

Posted By KB on March 5, 2010, 12:43 PM

Kudos to the Father and Supervisor, letting a child experience communicating with flight professionals in a very controlled environment.

For those who think this was the wrong thing to do, this is not a job for you. While you may have recognized that mastery of a skill set may take years of education and additional years of training, you forget, in a controlled environment and supervised conditions, the relaying of verbal instructions represented a minimal risk, the father even communicated with the pilots afterwards, confirming that he was still in control of the situation.

If the situation was reversed and the father was not able to talk directly to the pilots, but through his child, you would considerd their actions heroic.

While my opinion will not change the others, my attitude towards life and work will effect and shape my children. Remember children learn by observing and doing what they see adults do!

Posted By Dennis D on March 5, 2010, 1:03 PM

I think that the FAA is going to far with this. Its not as if the kid was left along by him self. I am sure that it was an experience for the kid to see what daddy does. I think its a good thing. But maybe there should be certain kids day for kids to go to work with parents to see what the parents does for work . This way the child gets an experience and also helps build his or her career . If we don't teach and train our kids then the kids of the future will not know what they want to do in life and will flounder. I think since the father was there to feed him the info and he did not say anything wrong I just think that father just be told please don't do that again. FAA should not make a big deal out of this .

Posted By David on March 5, 2010, 1:25 PM

I was a pilot for more than 50 years and have flown on all continents all over the world. I retired as a Captain with Singapore Airlines. I also flew with the Airlines for over forty years. What a bunch of utter nonsense!! Its time the news media gets a grip on life. The FAA is totally wasting our time and money on this. Fire some of the total idiots working for the TSA (TOO many people STANDING AROUND) and get back to reality!!

This doesn't bother me at all.

The child was only repeating his fathers words - not controlling. Have the news media finally lost what little common sense and intelligence they might still have????

Posted By Bert HOLLAND on March 5, 2010, 2:10 PM

Lighten up FAA. What happened to the days when kids were brought to the job site with Dad and he was learning to fit into his father shoes. HOw do you think a child finds his heroes. By watching and emulating the grown up world, his Dad.

What has happened to our society that all that makes a boy a man is taken away from him and all he's allowed to do now is watch heroes on TV but not in live action. The boy was probably with his father, supervised and given a boost of confidence and self worth. Have we truly become a society of whimps. God save us.

Posted By yolande yablonsky on March 5, 2010, 2:15 PM

Fire the idiot so he can stay home and play airport with the kid all day long!!!

Posted By mistymtn on March 5, 2010, 3:10 PM

No matter what the child said, or where the planes were at the time, he shouldn't have been in the control tower. Air Traffic Control is a stressful job, and one where distractions can have serious consequences. Visitors, children or not, should not be allowed.

Posted By Margaret Smith on March 5, 2010, 5:55 PM

I have been an air traffic controller since 2000 and there is no way that a child should have been allowed to SPEAK on the frequency. To LISTEN to daddy on the frequency, yes, but to have Daddy tell him what to say(like when you finally pass the Air Traffic Control exam, earn you pink card and are training on your local control LQS) was irresponsible and not very bright. As previously stated by others, yes children learn by seeing examples and yes it probably was very cool for lil Johnny or Bobby to see Daddy at his very important, very detail-oriented job. At NAS Point Mugu we had many tours for boy scouts in the local area where they were allowed to come up to the tower (which was previously approved by the Tower Supervisor, the Facility Watch Supervisor and the Air Traffic Control Facility Officer). Which leads me to ask the question, if his supervisors knew that he had his kid at work that day? During these tours, the children were not allowed to even touch the equipment and could only be there for a short time as the tower is a place where you must stay focused because it can go from 1 airplane to 10 in no time. I completely agree with the FAA investigation. People are becoming too complacent on their jobs these days and air traffic control is not one of those jobs to even play around with. If he doesn't want his job, I'll take it!

Posted By Air Traffic Controller Petty Officer 2nd Class Saquonna Riley on March 5, 2010, 11:14 PM

Maybe the airlines could charge extra for a flight that was directed by a child!! They have become wizards at capitalizing on BAD IDEAS.
This is the only industry that has actually gone backwards on service over the last 40 years.

Posted By Mike McKown on March 6, 2010, 1:19 AM

At the end of the day in my opinion, Children should not direct air traffic, With or without a Qualified Controller beside them, at any point in a Flight theres a risk of a MayDay call coming in, a child sitting at the desk with the headset on and receives a mayday the child is not going to know what to do in such situations,

Even so there was a Air Traffic Controller beside him if that plane is decending quickly then there is no time for messing around swapping over the headset and getting into position to try and help the plane in distress,

Children i have no problem in watching they can still watch and learn, they can even talk and pretend there talking to the Pilots, but they should not directly talk to the pilot in anyway the plane is 10,000 feet in the air for crist sakes, the ATC have a responability to direct traffic carefully if that was not as sensable as he was then there could of been disaters all over the airfield.

I Am hoping that the FAA do actually do something about this, im glad i was not aboard any of these flights while this lack of responsabilitie took place.

I Find this sickening to see such things do actually happen.

Posted By Chris Rogers on March 6, 2010, 12:08 PM

OK both sides have legitimate points. My comment has to do with how the various media outlets are reporting this story. "Child allowed to direct air traffic control" etc. It's giving an image that a 10 year old is directing air traffic while mom or dad is on a coffee break which of course was not the case. Stop with the misleading, sensational headlines.

Posted By fred flynn on March 6, 2010, 12:28 PM

As a commercial pilot I really think that this guy should never be allowed in a control tower again. At JFK airport there is an aircraft landing every two minutes day and night. Aircraft taking off are attempting to fit in between the landing traffic. A delay in clearance, such as caused by Daddy whispering in junior's ear and junior attempting to issue a clearance is an invitation to a major accident involving air carrier aircraft.

Aircraft control at an airport like JFK is SERIOUS business and a minor error in a transmission could and HAS caused accidents. No accident occurred in this instance. Thank GOD. The opportunity to kill hundreds of people by a minor error in clearance was given this child. That is a chance not everyone is given!

There are times and places where a child may be allowed to try Daddy's job. Air traffic control at a center that is so busy and traffic so great that even most experienced controllers could not handle the job is no place to give a child the microphone.

Extreme censure is required in this case.

Posted By John Johnson on March 6, 2010, 9:40 PM

I can't believe those who see no problem with this.
No big deal? We don't have to worry about terroists; we have the air traffic controllers! Their idiocy is what we need to worry about. They are paying more attention to their own children and not to the planes with our children.How stupid

Posted By Lee on March 6, 2010, 10:02 PM

Professionals that are paid as professionals that safe guard the safety of others, should never be distracted, nor have children in the workplace. A severe reprimand with time off with no pay is justified in this situation, but what do I know as a profession Lifeguard and Coach, Shame, Shame on the parent that went that far and supervisor that let it occur. And I also feel sorry for the Dad, because the supervisors will circle the wagons and sacrifice him to save themselves. Termination, well, I wouldn't just terminate the Dad, I would want a much bigger head to roll.

Posted By Coach Lendrum on March 6, 2010, 10:17 PM

I agree with all of the people who think that we have a big problem with the controller's behavior. A kid with his daddy controlling air traffic; how “sweet”. It is unbelievable! Controllers and pilots, leave your children at home! Thousands of people trust you with their lives. The controller and his supervisor should be fired immediately. I agree with Cindy, “Anything that takes the air traffic controller, or his/her co-workers, away from their assigned tasks is wrong and dangerous.”

Posted By Vera on March 6, 2010, 11:49 PM

I don't have a problem with it. No harm, no foul. Maybe this kid will grow up to be an Air Traffic Controller because of what his DAD did. The experience is worth a lot in a child's desire to continue to Learn. Too many "Adults" don't know the value of an experience for kids. My cousin was brought to the European race circuit by his father when he was a young teenager. Today he is racing funny cars. Its been about 20 years for him. Relax people. It was a Safe Controlled Environment.

Posted By William on March 7, 2010, 2:26 AM

Air traffic Controller....

a job so easy..a child can do it.

Posted By Pete on March 9, 2010, 12:13 AM

I'm sick of all the people who say you learn by doing.... One big screw up sometimes cannot be undone... Would you want your loved ones put in danger so that some kid and their father can feel like a big shot? I have kids so I know how unpredictable they can be; after all, they are kids... My dad used to let me drive on his lap... This is basically what this father and his son were doing, except the kid is driving a car with 100 people on it. If you people think that its okay then we are all screwed...Get a clue people.

Posted By Rick on March 10, 2010, 2:33 AM

On bring a child to work day, the child does not attend board meetings, he sits at his parents desk. He does not lunch with clients, he does not take conference calls. This was irresponsible, any crisis could have come up, and everyone was distracted by a grand-standing father and child. Unprofessional.

Posted By Nanny on March 10, 2010, 1:01 PM

This issue is silly. I have over 10,000 hours flying large jets, and I see nothing unsafe about what happened. In fact, the kid gave clear instructions, clearer than some controllers often do. I never had my kids in the cockpit when I was flying, but I did let then help ground crews load aircraft, which they loved. Anyone with kids knows that in order to perform well in a stressful job, your work life and family life must be in balance. It would be silly to do anything to this controller other than to say, no more kids at work.
Fagetaboutit, and let's worry about real issues.

Posted By Steve on March 10, 2010, 5:02 PM

I'm a controllers wife and I don't have an issue with this as I imagine most Air Traffic Controllers don't either. The child was just parroting what the controller instructed him/her to do. This is done every day when a controller is training a new controller. If the FAA is so concerned about the public safety they should be more concerned about the equipment that our controllers are using and give them the proper tools they need to do their job. This is what concerns me more.

Posted By Linda on March 19, 2010, 2:53 AM

I'm a sheriff in Texas and I take my kid in the cruiser, sometimes I let him shoot the shot gun, the boy is 10. Nothing wrong with it.

Posted By Wortth on March 21, 2010, 7:55 AM

I cannot believe that people find nothing wrong with this. A child's place is not to fill in (even for fun) for the parent in a professional position. Next thing we know, we'll have kids walking up to cars to ticket them because their dad is a cop, kids suturing for their doc fathers, and heck, let's just have the Obama girls fill in for dad on a diplomatic mission to Iran. It's all just good fun! Watching dad do something is one thing, taking part is another.

Posted By Chris on April 4, 2010, 10:08 AM

Since this was such a positive, laudable, and harmless act, then why don't we lobby the FAA to enshrine it by allowing, even encouraging the
participation of children in every-day ATC?

They could add a regulation stating that children are officially permitted to give air traffic clearances under the supervision of a qualified adult. The age limit for the kid would be, let's say... above the age of 5... or should there even be a lower age limit? Heck, why shouldn't your kid's first words be "JetBlue 351, cleared for takeoff"?

At least this would remove the danger of confusion on the side of a pilot when a child's voice unexpectedly gives them instructions over the radio. Instead of saying "Who the hell was that?!?" the pilot would just say, "That's right, we're in America! They let their kids direct air traffic over here. God bless 'em!"

The regulation could even be extended to animals that are able to mimic the human voice. I saw a dog on YouTube who can say twelve words - that's more than enough for most ATC communications! If my parrot can say "Cleared for takeoff", why shouldn't he be able to say it to the pilot of a 747 with 400 passengers on board?

So come on all you folks who believe that the controller acted reasonably, get behind me and let's tell the FAA to get these necessary changes pushed through! Power to the people!

Posted By Dwight_js on March 10, 2011, 4:16 PM