Aero-News: Quote of the Day

ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues.

Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.

Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day.

Let us hear from you, folks!

Aero-News Quote of the Day

"Air traffic controllers exist for a reason: to ensure that the planes taking off and landing are doing so safely. Sadly, the FAA continues to short-staff control towers in an effort to control costs while they eschew safety. This tragedy must be a wakeup call for the FAA to reexamine its policy and make sure that airports have the controllers they need."

Source: Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) in a letter to FAA Adminstrator Marion Blakey following revelations in the wake of Sunday's crash of a Comair CRJ in Lexington, KY. Investigators with the NTSB discovered the lone controller on duty at the time of the accident had worked a full shift the day before the accident -- and had only slept for two hours before returning to duty nine hours later. The FAA added a second controller to the tower at Blue Grass Airport the day after the accident, which killed 49 of 50 people onboard.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.senate.gov/~schumer/