FAA suspends controller for watching movie on duty

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110419/ap_on_re_us/us_air_controller_movie ^ | Tue Apr 19, 2011 | Joan Lowy And Ray Henry

[Redcitizen]

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.

[Redcitizen]

Hey, he was trying to stay awake. I would rather he watch a movie and stay awake versus be asleep and unresponsive for hours especially if he worked alone.

The management reaction to this reminds me of the saying: " The beatings will continue till morale improves."

I'm for fixed shifts no more than 50 hours a week. Then it can be rotated after 6 weeks or longer. That would help the controllers to get proper rest. Thats my opinion.

[M-cubed]

Jeeez!...come to work with me in the morning...If u fall asleep....you're dead....lol

and its only 1/2 the money

[Redcitizen]

Sounds like a dead end job. ;) (just kidding!)

[M-cubed]

It was!..till I bought it and worked it for 15 yrs...

Now I just do it to keep my hands dirty....*W*

[Redcitizen]

Sounds like the American dream. Congrats on having your own business and have a good night.

[coloradan]

Was it the movie “Airplane!”?

[Secret Agent Man]

If its a governemnt worker they are never fired, just suspended.

If government finds a PRIVATE worker doing the same bad behavior of the above govt worker, it demands the private company fire the worker (which they would have anyway). Then fines the private company. Then gets another part of the government to investigate the private company rectally.