By now most have likely heard about the air traffic controller, Glenn Duffy, who reportedly brought his 9 year old twin children to work and allowed them to make several radio transmission to airliners on the tower frequency.  The FAA and ATC union were quick to respond, with the FAA suspending not only the controller, but also his supervisor, Rose Kelly.  The union said the behavior was “not indicative of the highest professional standards” of controller operations.

Pilots and controllers sometimes have an adversarial relationship.  Pilots get annoyed at being told what they think is the wrong thing to do, and controllers often get annoyed at pilots who always think they know better.  (In that regard, ATC controllers and fighter pilots may have much in common.)  Rightly or wrongly, some pilots also blame controllers for some fatal mishaps.  Gallows humor asks 

What’s the difference between an air traffic controller and a pilot?
When the pilot screws up, the pilot dies. When the air traffic controller screws up, the pilot dies.

To be fair, many pilots also acknowledge the professionalism and skill of ATC controllers.  Some air traffic controllers have actually saved the lives of pilots, and it is a rare few who do not recognize the life and death power they have over the aircraft they control.

In this case, it appears pilots are backing the ATC controller.  Most aviators seem to think its being blown out of proportion (in sharing their opinion, one editorial even went so far as to say “no good dad goes unpunished“).

At no time was there any realistic danger to any person or aircraft. The controller was obviously “in control,” though he was being parroted on the radio.  The pilots who were the recipients of the radio calls actually got a kick out of it.  One report indicates that aircraft are now responding with “adios” (the same thing one of the children said) along with other indications of support for the kids and their father.

There are times when having a little fun in an official situation, and having your children at work, are inappropriate.  This was not one of those times.