LAS ATC Warning to PAX

[SeanD]

Saw this on the news lastnight,

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4922930

[ColMustard]

Not sure how scaring the public will help their cause. It does get busy there though, that is definitely not a place to be shorthanded.

-ColM

[skyhawk39]

I suppose you could call that a form of informational picketing....but I agree that scare tatics on the general public is NOT what aviation needs...

[Doug Taylor]

ATC needs to get their message out.

The FAA is a political organization and if people scream at their elected officials about the FAA's rope-a-dope against NATCA, there's a good possibility of the message hitting it's intended target.

Flying is inherently dangerous, being an air traffic controller is exceptionally challenging, but professionally compensated controllers are a key element in keeping the skies safe.

I used to say a lot of nasty things about controllers at O'Hare, but after having engine problems in flight during 'rush hour' a few weeks ago, their beer money is no good.

[Aero_Engineer]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

ATC needs to get their message out.

The FAA is a political organization and if people scream at their elected officials about the FAA's rope-a-dope against NATCA, there's a good possibility of the message hitting it's intended target.

Flying is inherently dangerous, being an air traffic controller is exceptionally challenging, but professionally compensated controllers are a key element in keeping the skies safe.

I used to say a lot of nasty things about controllers at O'Hare, but after having engine problems in flight during 'rush hour' a few weeks ago, their beer money is no good.

Agreed 100 percent, after all ourlives depend on them. Also remember fatigue and lack of concentration in this job can cause devistating results.

[pilot602]

I fly out of and into LAS approach all day, every day (it's not a long day at work unti you've gone through at least six different controllers). I'd imagine every Class B is about the same way ... frequency congestion and more and more aircraft everyday.

They can't strike but I don't see anythign wrong with the leaflets. Sometimes you have to be blunt and direct to get people to listen and understand.

Flying is a dangerous affair the only thing that keeps it safe is people willing to do the work. You start pressuring those people and bad things happen.

[SeanD]

I drive by McCarren daily on the way to and from work and have noticed around 5pm the line for 25R take offs is about 15 to 20 deep. It wasnt like that last year at all or even 6 months ago. Yesterday I saw a TO on 25L right after one on the 25R and one on 2 mile final on 25L. That seems a bit risky if you ask me. I hope they get it worked out soon.

[Bandit_Driver]

they could get their point across by putting delays into effect and slowing arrivals and departures to a level their staffing can handle.

[Fox Xray]

Originally Posted by Bandit_Driver

they could get their point across by putting delays into effect and slowing arrivals and departures to a level their staffing can handle.

That would be a job action which is illegal (think PATCO).

I participated in the informational picketing in the NY area, we got little or no press unfortunately, New York is just too busy of a news area.

The public should be aware of what is going on. From the moment you go to push-back till you arrive at your destination ATC is watching you. Behind the scenes we are working tired, short staffed, faulty equipment, and being harassed by management. Wait till the nontract is imposed on us and the senior controllers, the people who have been doing things well for a long time pack it in. Outside of the environment I work people can not appreciate how bad things really are.

[Doug Taylor]

And the short staffing of ATC is a bigger problem than many people realize.

There are times when we're trying to check in on a new frequency when there's weather in the area and the controller is working two (or maybe even three, I don't know) different frequencies and it's hard to get a word in edge-wise without 'stepping on' another transmission.

Now if you were having an emergency and needed the assistance of ATC, in some congested sectors, you're probably going to have an extreme challenge which may make the situation even worse.