Radio Traffic Shows Support For Suspended ATC Parent

With departing quips of "adios" and more direct words of support, pilots talking with ATC at JFK are quietly showing support for controller Glenn Duffy.  Duffy and a supervisor were suspended when audio recordings surfaced showing that his 9-year-old twins were allowed to give instruction to aircraft.

As ANN reported earlier, Duffy, 48, and supervisor Shawn Simms, 50, were both placed on unpaid administrative leave after the FAA learned that his children were allowed to talk to pilots on an ATC frequency.  FAA Administrator Randy Babbit has decried the behavior as a "lapse in judgment."

Pilots that were recorded interacting with Duffy's 9-year-old son were heard to laugh and seemed to enjoy the unique ATC interactions.  An Aeromexico flight was given an order to contact departure and included an ad-libbed "adios" from the junior controller.  The pilot cheerfully called back "adios!"

Now this tagline has been heard in ATC audio recordings from JFK showing pilots support for Duffy.  Additional chatter from pilots caught online includes "Thoughts going out to your co-worker there," and "I think its BS what he's going through."

FMI: www.FAA.gov