LaHood Gives Wrong Reason for Firing Air Traffic Controller

AP

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, right, is shown here at a news conference in Allentown, Pa., March 4.

The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday corrected Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who announced the dismissal of two air traffic controllers during a news interview Wednesday, but gave the wrong reason for one of their dismissals.

With the Federal Aviation Administration under harsh scrutiny following a series of mishaps, LaHood told PBS that two air traffic controllers -- one in Tennessee and one in Miami -- had been fired. So far so good. 

He then explained that the controller in Miami had been fired for guiding a 737 Southwest flight to look at a small plane that was out of radio contact to determine if something was amiss.

"Completely violates procedures," he said. "You can't guide a big plane over to look at a small plane. That's not the way that's done."

But the controller was fired not for being incompetent, but for sleeping on the job.

LaHood was correct that the Tennessee controller was fired for making a bed in the control tower, including pillows and blankets.

"We're not going to sit by and let that kind of behavior take place in control towers," he said.

The two firings were two of the five cases involving sleeping controllers that have gained notoreity this year. 

In a separate embarrassment, a controller was caught watching a DVD movie at his post. That controller was suspended. In total, the FAA has suspended eight controllers and supervisors since late March.

But the civilian air traffic controller who allowed first lady Michelle Obama's Boeing 737 to get too close to a 200-ton military cargo jet on Monday will not be punished. Military air traffic controllers at Andrews Air Force Base had Obama's plane abort a landing out of fear that the military jet wouldn't have enough time to clear the runway.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. LaHood told PBS that the first lady was never in any danger, the U.S. has the safest aviation system in the world but it needs to perform better.

"So, I would say that flying is safe, but we need to do more, and we are doing more, and we will continue to do more until we make sure that controllers take personal responsibility for the most important safety jobs they have," he said. "We're doing a top-to-bottom review of procedures, workplace procedures and other things."

The FAA issued new air traffic rules for flights carrying Mrs. Obama or the vice president. An air traffic supervisor rather than a controller will handle those flights, the agency said. A supervisor already handles flights carrying the president.

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LaHood says aborted landing of first lady's plane under investigation

STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: The National Transportation Safety Board also will investigateOfficials: A plane carrying the first lady got too close to a military C-17The FAA says the aircraft were never in any dangerThe incident happened Monday at Andrews AFB Washington (CNN) -- An aborted landing by a plane carrying Michelle Obama because it was too close to a military plane ahead of it was a "serious incident," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday.

LaHood confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the incident Monday at Andrews Air Force Base.

The National Transportation Safety Board, an independent federal agency, also said it is launching a probe into Monday's incident, according to NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson.

"We consider any incident like this a serious incident," LaHood said. "It's under investigation, we will get to the bottom of what happened and how it happened, and obviously make sure it doesn't happen again."

He emphasized that the first lady was never in any danger and said he had yet to hear from either Michelle Obama or the president about it.

The planes -- which were both trying to land -- were three miles apart, when they are supposed to be five miles apart, a senior administration official told CNN, adding that it was believed to be an air traffic controller mistake.

Asked why the separation rules governing plane landings were not followed, LaHood said: "That's what we'll figure out in the investigation."

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LaHood says aborted landing of first lady's plane under investigation

First lady plane incident 'ridiculous'STORY HIGHLIGHTSFAA increases supervision of flights carrying the vice president, first ladyThe National Transportation Safety Board also will investigateA plane carrying the first lady got too close to a military C-17The FAA says the aircraft were never in any danger Washington (CNN) -- Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the independent National Transportation Safety Board are investigating an aborted landing by a plane carrying first lady Michelle Obama because it was too close to a military plane ahead, officials announced Wednesday.

Neither plane was in danger in the incident Monday at Andrews Air Force Base, according to both agencies.

"We consider any incident like this a serious incident," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in confirming the FAA review. "It's under investigation, we will get to the bottom of what happened and how it happened, and obviously make sure it doesn't happen again."

Later Wednesday, the FAA said in a statement it will now require supervisory oversight in monitoring flights transporting the vice president or first lady. Such supervision is currently required in monitoring flights carrying the president, the FAA said.

LaHood emphasized that the first lady was never in any danger and said he had yet to hear from either Michelle Obama or the president about it. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney confirmed Wednesday that Jill Biden, the vice president's wife, also was on the plane as she and the first lady returned from a series of media events supporting military families.

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LaHood Gives Air Traffic Controllers Extra Hour of Rest, Opposes Breaktime Napping

AP

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, right, is shown here at a news conference in Allentown, Pa., March 4.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Sunday announced new safety changes for air traffic controllers after several of them were caught sleeping on the job, leaving pilots to land on their own. 

Among the changes, LaHood said the department will give controllers an extra hour of rest in between shifts. But he said he would not permit workers to take naps while on break, something other countries like Germany allow. 

"Controllers will not be paid to take naps," the secretary said. 

Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," an animated LaHood said the schedule changes should make a difference, but stressed that the department would continue to fine-tune if necessary. He said that even as the department makes changes to the rules, air traffic controllers need to take more "personal responsibility" on the job. 

"I don't know when I've ever been madder. I'm outraged about this," LaHood said. "We're doing everything we can 24-7 to correct this problem." 

LaHood announced several key changes on "Fox News Sunday." He said air traffic controllers would be required to take at least nine hours off, instead of eight, between shifts, and managers would have to be more available in the late night and early morning hours. Controllers would also be prohibited from swapping shifts unless they adhere to the nine-hour buffer; and would not be able to switch into an unscheduled midnight shift after a day off. 

Controllers were known to set up schedules that crammed in a combination of evening, day and overnight shifts, separated by just two eight-hour rest periods. The schedule gave them a three-day weekend, but could, as recent incidents suggest, leave them vulnerable to fatigue. 

"We thought controllers really were getting the rest that they needed," LaHood said, when asked why the department didn't pick up on the problem earlier. 

The series of incidents involving sleeping air traffic controllers has raised questions about whether the problem has been going on for years, but LaHood said it's the first he's heard about it. He repeatedly said he's "mad" about the incidents and pledged a "top-to-bottom review" to correct it. 

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement after the interview that the changes had already been put in place and would be in full effect by week's end. 

The announcement is the administration's latest attempt to deal with the problem of dozing radar operators. Since March, there have been known instances of controllers falling asleep on duty at six U.S. airports. The latest, at Miami, occurred over the weekend. 

LaHood stressed that despite the changes, he would not allow air traffic controllers to take sleeping breaks during overnight shifts. That conflicts with the findings of a fatigue study -- the report on air traffic controllers, which has not yet been formally released, recommends allowing controllers to sleep on their breaks. 

Earlier, the FAA announced it would no longer permit single staffing at some airport towers during the overnight shift. The FAA chief in charge of air traffic controllers also resigned amid the controversy last week, as lawmakers called for changes in the system.

Over the next several weeks, transportation officials plan to visit air traffic offices across the country to review safety standards. 

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