FAA probing why the Las Vegas airport controller was disabled
An airline officer at McCarran International Airport was unbuilt while on work Wednesday night and has been put on administrative leave pending a survey.
Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that no security events or loss of necessary separation between aircraft occurred and there were no conflicts between aircraft at the airport. Anyway, rep. Your Titus described the incident as "deeply disturbing."
FAA said that the controller, a woman who did not identify, began her change right after 10:00. Her performance seemed to break down at. 11:09. and was weakened at 11:24. She then seemed to respond at 11:47. Another check came into the tower cabin at 1[ads1]1:50 and began to handle air traffic at. 11:54.
"FAA is deeply concerned about the incident, thoroughly investigating what happened, and taking immediate steps to modify the policy of shifting crew at night," the agency said in its statement.
Titus, D-Nev., Member of the House Committe Committee on Aviation, said she was informed of the case and waiting for further details.
"The safety of travelers is of paramount importance, and I will work with FAA and McCarran as this survey continues to unfold," said Titus in a statement issued late Friday.
FAA officials refused to comment on the controller had a medical emergency, but medical personnel were sent to the tower when the incident was reported.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, representing the country's more than 14,000 air traffic controllers, said it would cooperate with the FAA investigation.
"It's important to remeber the outstanding work done every day by thousands of men and women who keep the national airspace safe, says NATCA president Paul Rinaldi in a statement. "Our airline directors in Las Vegas and around the country make an exceptional day of work in and out and demonstrate the highest professional standards."
Two checkers were at work at the event and one was in a pause, which is permitted under FAA policy. Pilots contacted inspectors at Las Vegas Access Control – a dedicated communications center at the foot of the McCarran Tower – after some of the radio buses. One of the approachers went up to the tower and notified the tower controller that was in violation of the situation.
A registration of tower communication between the tower and the airline at the time of the event from LiveATC.net includes some exchanges with pilots asking the controller to repeat his instructions.
At one point a pilot said that he "checked on the tower, something up there."
Later in the recording, the controller sees his microphone out to be open and she can be heard to cough several times. A distant male voice asked, "Are you okay?"
Some pilots began to radiate each other, indicating that they would get in place until there was a resolution. Finally, a new voice began to give pilots instructions from the tower.
The nation's air traffic system relies on multiple redundancies of accident prevention and risk reduction systems, according to FAA. Pilots are trained to not land unless they have landing clearance.
The LiveATC.net recording indicates that some pilots have chosen not to differ or communicate with other aircraft on a common radio frequency. Flying on the ground held either its position or proceeded gently while asking the controller and communicating with each other.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.
