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FAA Control tower Abandoned
Looks like this is becoming a common occurrence lately.
Oh I forgot, the FAA treats their controller and technical workforce like ****. Maybe that's it. FAA Control tower Abandoned Southwest Planes Turn Around Minutes From Green Southwest Says Planes Could Not Land Without Air Traffic Control UPDATED: 8:34 pm EDT May 16, 2006 WARWICK, R.I. -- Two Southwest Airlines flights left Baltimore Monday night bound for Rhode Island, but it was just the beginning of a back-and-forth odyssey for dozens of passengers. NBC 10's Audrey Laganas reported that the planes turned around in flight just before midnight. The passengers said the pilots told them they were turning back because there was no one in the control tower at T.F. Green Airport. The stranded passengers were so mad, they called NBC 10. NBC 10 was waiting when they landed Tuesday morning. "It was so sad, and we were treated like cattle," said Michelle Harvey, who was flying home from Baltimore with her mother. "And then when we were flying, the pilot got on. He sounded greatly distressed. He said, 'There's no one at the tower in Providence. We have to go back.' We were about 10 minutes out. Ten or 15 minutes out," Harvey said. The passengers had to camp out overnight at the airport in Baltimore. |
#2
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FAA Control tower Abandoned
In article ,
Blowinginthewind wrote: FAA Control tower Abandoned Southwest Planes Turn Around Minutes From Green Southwest Says Planes Could Not Land Without Air Traffic Control Ignoring the the sarcastic comments, and somewhat puzzled by why the tower would be abandoned, I'm curious what prevented the flight from landing. Is there something in SW's op-specs which requires an operating control tower to land? It also seems odd that they would turn around and go back to Baltimore. It would seem to make more sense to land someplace close (like BDL) and put the pax on a bus to their final destination. |
#3
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FAA Control tower Abandoned
Op-spec probably. FAA tower close often, many are
part-time. If there was a scheduled flight in-bound the crew should have stayed a little overtime. But if the tower is closed, no clearance is available for landing, but as long as the last weather observation is current [less than an hour] an IFR approach can be made under Part 91. But FAR 121 and the airline manual control. As to airline diversions, they will always try to go to a terminal where they have a service agreement. "Roy Smith" wrote in message ... | In article , | Blowinginthewind wrote: | | FAA Control tower Abandoned | | Southwest Planes Turn Around Minutes From Green | Southwest Says Planes Could Not Land Without Air Traffic Control | | Ignoring the the sarcastic comments, and somewhat puzzled by why the | tower would be abandoned, I'm curious what prevented the flight from | landing. Is there something in SW's op-specs which requires an | operating control tower to land? | | It also seems odd that they would turn around and go back to | Baltimore. It would seem to make more sense to land someplace close | (like BDL) and put the pax on a bus to their final destination. |
#4
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FAA Control tower Abandoned
"Roy Smith" wrote in message ... Ignoring the the sarcastic comments, and somewhat puzzled by why the tower would be abandoned, I'm curious what prevented the flight from landing. It wasn't abandoned. It's a part-time tower that closes at midnight. Southwest was running late. |
#5
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FAA Control tower Abandoned
"Jim Macklin" wrote in message news:deLag.21814$ZW3.6700@dukeread04... Op-spec probably. FAA tower close often, many are part-time. If there was a scheduled flight in-bound the crew should have stayed a little overtime. Why? Who's going to pay the overtime? Southwest? But if the tower is closed, no clearance is available for landing, Nor is one required for landing. but as long as the last weather observation is current [less than an hour] an IFR approach can be made under Part 91. PVD has an ASOS, weather observations are available 24/7. |
#6
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FAA Control tower Abandoned
In article . net,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote: "Roy Smith" wrote in message ... Ignoring the the sarcastic comments, and somewhat puzzled by why the tower would be abandoned, I'm curious what prevented the flight from landing. It wasn't abandoned. It's a part-time tower that closes at midnight. Southwest was running late. Duh. That's what I figured at first and looked it up in Airnav. I saw "Attendance:*CONTINUOUS" and my took that to mean the tower never closes, which of course is wrong. Never mind. |
#7
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FAA Control tower Abandoned
You didn't quote the whole article. It can be found at:
http://www.turnto10.com/news/9227658/detail.html and towards the bottom it says: A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said based on control tower recordings, Southwest's version of events is "not true." "Southwest made a decision to return to Baltimore after the pilot attempted to make a landing ... [and] missed his approach," spokesman Jim Peters said. "Based on conversations, it was not necessary for the tower to be open when that plane landed." Peters said it is possible for flights to land without someone being present in the control tower. So was a dispatcher confused, or did the pilot outright lie, or did the passengers and/or reporter misunderstand what was going on? Or is the FAA covering its butt? Blowinginthewind wrote: Looks like this is becoming a common occurrence lately. Oh I forgot, the FAA treats their controller and technical workforce like ****. Maybe that's it. FAA Control tower Abandoned Southwest Planes Turn Around Minutes From Green Southwest Says Planes Could Not Land Without Air Traffic Control UPDATED: 8:34 pm EDT May 16, 2006 WARWICK, R.I. -- Two Southwest Airlines flights left Baltimore Monday night bound for Rhode Island, but it was just the beginning of a back-and-forth odyssey for dozens of passengers. NBC 10's Audrey Laganas reported that the planes turned around in flight just before midnight. The passengers said the pilots told them they were turning back because there was no one in the control tower at T.F. Green Airport. The stranded passengers were so mad, they called NBC 10. NBC 10 was waiting when they landed Tuesday morning. "It was so sad, and we were treated like cattle," said Michelle Harvey, who was flying home from Baltimore with her mother. "And then when we were flying, the pilot got on. He sounded greatly distressed. He said, 'There's no one at the tower in Providence. We have to go back.' We were about 10 minutes out. Ten or 15 minutes out," Harvey said. The passengers had to camp out overnight at the airport in Baltimore. |
#8
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FAA Control tower Abandoned
wrote in message oups.com... You didn't quote the whole article. It can be found at: http://www.turnto10.com/news/9227658/detail.html and towards the bottom it says: A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said based on control tower recordings, Southwest's version of events is "not true." "Southwest made a decision to return to Baltimore after the pilot attempted to make a landing ... [and] missed his approach," spokesman Jim Peters said. "Based on conversations, it was not necessary for the tower to be open when that plane landed." Peters said it is possible for flights to land without someone being present in the control tower. So was a dispatcher confused, or did the pilot outright lie, or did the passengers and/or reporter misunderstand what was going on? Or is the FAA covering its butt? There does not appear to be any reason for the FAA to cover it's butt in this case. Northwest has two flights that normally arrive at Green Bay about 11PM. Sometimes they run a bit late and don't arrive until after the tower and TRACON close at 11:30. On those occasions Minneapolis ARTCC clears them for the approach of their choice and they land on the then uncontrolled field. Apparently Southwest would rather return to the departure point when they arrive after the tower has closed. They're free to do that, but it's wrong to blame their choice on the FAA. |
#9
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FAA Control tower Abandoned
I just recall that out here in the "fly over country" FAA
towers with a scheduled air carrier flight due to arrive stay open a few extra minutes. In the case of Raytheon [Beech] their tower is private and they pay the bill. Most towers are federal and the taxpayers pay the bill. It is too bad that union rules, FAA rules and company procedures could not work together to have the passengers in comfort at their desired destination. -- James H. Macklin ATP,CFI,A&P -- The people think the Constitution protects their rights; But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome. some support http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties. "Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message .net... | | "Jim Macklin" wrote in message | news:deLag.21814$ZW3.6700@dukeread04... | | Op-spec probably. FAA tower close often, many are | part-time. If there was a scheduled flight in-bound the | crew should have stayed a little overtime. | | | Why? Who's going to pay the overtime? Southwest? | | | | But if the tower | is closed, no clearance is available for landing, | | | Nor is one required for landing. | | | | but as | long as the last weather observation is current [less than | an hour] an IFR approach can be made under Part 91. | | | PVD has an ASOS, weather observations are available 24/7. | | |
#10
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FAA Control tower Abandoned
"Jim Macklin" wrote in message news:4qPag.21830$ZW3.19509@dukeread04... I just recall that out here in the "fly over country" FAA towers with a scheduled air carrier flight due to arrive stay open a few extra minutes. Which? It is too bad that union rules, FAA rules and company procedures could not work together to have the passengers in comfort at their desired destination. It appears to be solely company procedures that kept the passengers from their destination. No FAA rule prevents them from landing when the tower is closed. |
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