Kid in Control Tower Gets All Involved Suspended

The young boy who gave traffic control directions to a Jet Blue flight getting ready to take off sounded cute, but not to the FAA. A federal investigation is now underway into the young boy who sat in the air traffic control room and directed the air traffic.

The tapes that contain the young boy's voice giving what sounds like precise directions to pilots who are actually flying planes at the time, have come to the FAA's attention. This happened at JFK Airport back in February. Most likely during the February vacation from school.

The boy gave directions to five aircraft in which you can hear the pilot's chuckling and another man say to one pilot, "this is what happens when the kids are out of school".
Well, it won't be happening again, everyone involved in this child directing air traffic fiasco has been suspended, according to Fox News.

This is one of the interactions between the boy and a plane ready to take off:
"Jet Blue 171, clear for takeoff," the young boy said to the pilot, who said "Clear for takeoff 171," in response.

"This is what you get, guys, when the kids are out of school," the boy's father said to the pilot, who responded, "Wish I could bring my kid to work."

The FAA has made it very clear that only authorized control personal are allowed to give this directions to air craft.

The suspension was announced on Wednesday morning by the FAA:

"Pending the outcome of our investigation, the employees involved in this incident are not controlling air traffic. This behavior is not acceptable and does not demonstrate the kind of professionalism expected from all FAA employees."

I don't think I would be comfortable if I were a passenger having the pilot of the flight that I am on take directions from a child. I know the parent was there overseeing this, but is this not one way for a mistake to happen? With all the safe guards being put into place in the aviation travel industry today, what was this parent thinking?

It is great to bring your kid to work for a day, that is why many companies allow it on "Bring your Child to Work Day", but there has to be a limit on what you are going to let them do while they are there. Brain surgeons are not going to pass the scalpel to their kid, or the man who sets up the dynamite for demolition is not going to hand his kid the switch. Common sense was missing here big time.

References: Fox News Live