NTSB: Controller nearly caused midair collision [unionized govt worker can't be fired]

yahoo.com ^ | January 18, 2012 | JOAN LOWY

[grundle]

An air traffic controller with a history of disciplinary problems nearly caused a midair collision

A regional jet operated by ExpressJet and a single-engine Cessna came within 300 feet of colliding after they were cleared to take off on intersecting runways at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Mississippi on June 19

Airport tower controller Robert Beck first cleared the Cessna to take off on runway 18, according to the documents. About 16 seconds later, Beck cleared the regional jet, Continental Express Flight 2555, to take off on runway 14, which crosses runway 18. No warning was issued to either pilot about the other plane even though another controller who heard the takeoff clearances told investigators he shouted a warning to Beck, "You've got two rolling!"

Both planes were at the same altitude, about 300 feet above the airport, when they passed within 300 feet laterally of each other. As the planes passed, the ExpressJet captain exclaimed to his co-pilot: "Wow, that was close." One air traffic manager told investigators, "It was a miracle that no one died,"

Beck had "a history of professional deficiencies that included taking shortcuts with phraseology and not complying with standard checklist procedures,"

Beck, a controller for 23 years, also had been suspended several times within the last five years for tardiness, absenteeism and failure to report an arrest for driving under the influence. Beck also had been removed from duties training less experienced controllers after a trainee complained that "Mr. Beck was in the back of the room with his feet up and eyes closed" while conducting training sessions

Beck is still an air traffic controller

Doug Church, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the union takes incidents like the near-collision in Mississippi "very seriously."

[grundle]

This person has a long track track record of screwing up at work. But he's a unionized government employee, so he can't get fired.

[AlexW]

“Didn’t Ron Reagan fire a whole bunch of em .. back in the day?”
________________________________________

IIRC, those controllers did not show up to work, so they could be fired.
Poor performance probably does not count for kicking his sorry ass out.
If Obumbo does not kill America, unions will.

[MV=PY]

Yes, and it was truly a wonderful event.

[Walkenfree]

That's absurd, anyone can be demoted, transferred or fired for dereliction of duty. Especially when endangering other
peoples lives.

[Thommas]

That's absurd, anyone can be demoted, transferred or fired for dereliction of duty. Especially when endangering other peoples lives.

Sorry, not in this case. As a retired Controller, I say from experience that there are several cases in the last 30 years of Controllers' actions leading to death and destruction with no repercussions other than the occasional miscreant being promoted. It is a weird profession.

[Lumper20]

You are correct. It is sad as military commanders are relieved of command and officers and NCO’s are even thrown out of the service for suitability violations such as two DUI’s. This individual is clearly unsuitable for his job.

[freekitty]

Don’t buy this for a second. They can be fired. Just do it. To heck with the union and their thug rules.

[Celtic Conservative]

Here's what you do with a menace such as this guy. Clean out a broom closet, put a desk and computer in it, and put Him there. Tell him He's been "promoted". No, he can't be fired. But he can be rendered harmless.

CC

[ml/nj]

No warning was issued to either pilot about the other plane even though another controller who heard the takeoff clearances told investigators he shouted a warning to Beck, "You've got two rolling!"

Come on.

This story would have one believe that these two pilots are not privy to the clearances given to the other. Unless things have changed drastically there is only one controller and one radio frequency for all of the active runways at an airport. It was hardly against the law to ask for clarification of a clearance that a controller gave that seemed to conflict with one given a few seconds earlier.

ML/NJ

[CFIIIMEIATP737]

The scenario is perfectly plausible.

First, one aircraft could have been on ground frequency while the other aircraft, on tower frequency, received a take off clearance. The aircraft on ground would not have heard the other aircraft’s clearance.

Second, the pilots could have assumed that the tower believed that separation criteria were met and that both aircraft had good clearances.

And last, just because a pilot hears a clearance given to another aircraft doesn’t mean that they have adequate situational awareness to picture how that airplanes flight path will affect their own flight path.