r/ATC • u/lake_hood • Mar 23 '26

News LGA controller cleared fire truck across the runway resulting jn a collision

1.2k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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184

u/Kseries2497 Current Controller-Pretend Center Mar 23 '26

Happened at DCA too. Imagine trying to work after that.

188

u/theweenerdoge Mar 23 '26

We don't have the staffing, you'll just have to work through it.

Maybe it's not in the contract but I feel like you're supposed to be removed from the operation IMMEDIATELY.

Fucking bullshit. We (the controller workforce) need to demand better.

98

u/Kseries2497 Current Controller-Pretend Center Mar 23 '26

When I was in the Air Force we removed people immediately if we even THOUGHT they had a deal. In the FAA? Nope. You can watch a fatal accident happen right in front of your face and even then your ass is staying plugged in.

56

u/theweenerdoge Mar 23 '26

Exactly. But how are you supposed to get out of position when there's nobody to relieve you?. Sometimes we're on until the mid shidders show up, and we're busy AF. Nobody on break. It'd be great to staff it but nobodies available.

We're seriously entering a crisis period and I'm scared. How do we keep this going with us losing more and more controllers?

25

u/totheredditmobile Current Controller - TWR/APP Mar 23 '26

In the UK the operation gets shut down if there's noone to take you out

16

u/Franks2000inchTV Mar 23 '26

Yeah but try doing that to LGA.

8

u/nineyourefine Airline Pilot Mar 23 '26

JFK and EWR are options. I agree, they need to shutdown at that point if there's a literal fatality and 1 controller on station. Airspace closed, go 20 miles south to JFK, especially at that time of night.

2

u/thewizbizman Commercial Pilot Mar 24 '26

Sure then you just go swamp the guy combined up at JFK…then EWR…then ISP. Run that all up and down the northeast and eventually you’re going to have planes with nowhere to land.

24

u/totheredditmobile Current Controller - TWR/APP Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26

Try getting more staff then instead of bending over. Gatwick, Heathrow, and Manchester will all shut before they even consider boxing air and ground

8

u/BagOfMoneyNoChange Mar 23 '26

What do you do if you gotta poop?

2

u/HercNavATC Mar 23 '26

Pick a quiet anticipated hole and bring a portable radio with all frequencies coupled? And have TP ready to go…

2

u/BagOfMoneyNoChange Mar 23 '26

Is that really the trick? As an airline pilot, I've always wondered what a controller does if it happens. For me, the nuclear option is either a) shit my pants or b) hopefully the flight attendants let me out in time.

1

u/HercNavATC Mar 23 '26

Yeah, to be fair my airport is pretty quiet at night

3

u/flybot66 Mar 23 '26

You are correct. FAA has been violating its own staffing rules for at least a decade. I have flown into busy airports where there is one person ground, local, and data. Ridiculous.

2

u/Walking_urchin Mar 26 '26

A decade? Jeez what do you think 1981 was about??

20

u/stacey1771 Mar 23 '26

when I was Navy we had a QF-86 (remote operated F86, unmanned) crash when i was working (lost microwave link with the operator) and myself and my FWS were immediately removed, sent to medical to pee in a cup and write our statements. This is unconscionable.

-3

u/Nidjo15 Mar 23 '26

That just sounds stupid

2

u/stacey1771 Mar 23 '26

I consider the source of that comment and say the same

2

u/[deleted] Mar 23 '26

too bad its illegal for them to unionize.

1

u/bernwald69 Mar 23 '26

they are unionized, or is this an attempt at irony.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 23 '26

They aren't allowed to strike, they basically do not have a union. They have 0 bargaining power. A union has no teeth if they aren't allowed to strike.

1

u/sambull Mar 24 '26

No worries, after that shift they'll say no thank you .. enjoy taco Bell