Calls For An Investigation In A Complaint To The FAA

A front-line manager at the New York ARTCC in Long Island has sent complaints to the FAA and the Office of Special Counsel alleging some controllers work just three hours per shift, and sometimes watch movies or send text messages while they should be monitoring air traffic.

Evan Seeley is the whistleblower. He raised the issue three days after an American Airlines B777 nearly collided with two C-17 Globemasters over the Atlantic ocean on January 14th. The New York Post reports that the airliner came within 200 feet vertically and 2,000 horizontally from the military aircraft. The NTSB is reportedly investigating the incident after an inquiry from the paper.

In his letters, Seeley alleges that the controllers, whom he says are union employees, are not properly supervised at the center. He said two or three controllers often track as many as 15 aircraft at a time, while others will socialize, relax, or play games or movies on their laptop computers despite an FAA prohibition against electronic devices in the workplace. He says sometimes stations are closed down, and that most controllers only work on average three hours of their assigned eight hour shifts.

The Post reports that Seeley's claims are corroborated by other air traffic control personnel. One told the paper that the situation was "just the tip of the iceberg."

FMI: www.faa.gov