Boston92 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 3390 posts, RR: 7 Posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1620 times:
According to the article, three controllers are supposed to be in the radar room, but on this Monday (June 24th), there was only one, who had an apparent heart attack.
As NATCA reported last week, an air traffic controller forced to work alone due to extreme understaffing in the radar facility that handles airborne traffic around Reno-Tahoe International Airport was incapacitated while on duty June 23 as he suffered chest pains.
At approximately 5:40 p.m. PDT, the controller called his colleagues in the control tower about his condition and they raced into action to call paramedics and take measures to ensure the safety of the flights that were under the ill employee’s control. Normally, at that time, there are approximately six to 10 aircraft in this airspace.
Normal staffing for this shift in the radar room is three controllers, or two controllers plus one supervisor. But on this day, as has been the case repeatedly since last fall, only one controller was working.
We now have an audio recording of the incident and you can listen to a version here, which has been edited to remove the periods of silence between transmissions:
On the recording, you will hear the controller as he struggles to complete an instruction for a pilot. Then a couple of pilots inquire as to his condition, followed by the tower controllers referencing the incident and taking over control of the airspace.
To read NATCA's press release from last week, please go here.
Here is the actual audio of the event. Events start about 14 minutes into the recording.
14min 27sec radar controller sounds to be short of breath
15min 46sec radar controller sounds to be in pain
16min 12sec radar controller in severe pain
16min 14sec radar controller in tears
17min 20sec local control takes over radar frequencies
20min 57sec Paramedics on freq at the back of the tower?
"Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200 and a substantial tax cut save you 30 cents?"
RCoulter From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 398 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1549 times:
Doesn't suprise me it was only the one guy, he is the only one I always seem to hear no matter what time of day. The only positive was that this happened at RNO, I would hate to have seen what would happen if it was a much busier airport.
Jlbmedia From United States of America, joined Jun 2002, 602 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1463 times:
UA772IAD From Australia, joined Jul 2004, 1635 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1434 times:
Luckily help was nearby. Hope he makes a speedy recovery...
Quoting RCoulter (Reply 1): Doesn't suprise me it was only the one guy, he is the only one I always seem to hear no matter what time of day. The only positive was that this happened at RNO, I would hate to have seen what would happen if it was a much busier airport.
Not much since a busier airport would have more than one staffed on the roster for a PM 'rush hour' shift.
Boston92 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 3390 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1330 times:
Well it seems the controller is fine, and this is now a story of the FAA and understaffing of ATCS.
An FAA spokesman now is calling it a severe bout of heartburn, but again, NACTA says that that is beside the point.
RCoulter From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 398 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1287 times:
I really doubt it is heartburn as me and my step-dad have had to take medication for it and neither of us has ever sounded like that, even when it was the worst.
Boston92 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 3390 posts, RR: 7 Reply 7, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1223 times:
Quoting Swiftski (Reply 5): What a hero for trying to keep going.
He knew his job was important, and did everything he could to keep going.
"Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200 and a substantial tax cut save you 30 cents?"
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