FORT Koffee Klatch

[Harmony2000]

Just found out that we had an F3 touch down, we have friends that live in Gloucester and it's right across the river from us. One tornado ripped up a part of the Colonial Parkway, jumped the river and created a water sprout where it gained strength and then tore through Gloucester. Today was a perfect spring day, beautiful, sunny, clear and nice temperature. Crazy to think that just last night houses were being blown apart.

I was concerned about the upcoming hurricane season, now I'm really worried! Going to check that hurricane kit. We always do in May but I think this year I'm going to do it early.

nennie tornadoes are scary business! Stay safe this season.

GuardianAngel thank you. NC got it much worse than we did.

[prhoshay]

Does anyone know why air traffic controllers are not on straight shifts?

[Ellen]

Does anyone know why air traffic controllers are not on straight shifts?

No, but I'd be willing to bet that it has something to do with profit margins.

[just1paul]

Does anyone know why air traffic controllers are not on straight shifts?

I bet it has something to do with staffing levels.

[prhoshay]

For such an important job, that seems ridiculous. If there was ever a place that should be fully staffed (and I fully agree with you, Paul), this is one of them. Budget cutbacks should not be an issued. Safety, first, I always thought...but maybe not.

Part of me can't help but wonder if this might be some kind of job action with the agreement/help of some of the pilots. That would not surprise me at all. Not much else makes sense. Would that be stupid.....of course, it would....but I would never underestimate the will and determination of the workers. I'm not meaning to insult, but stranger things have happened.

As I recall, don't we have a poster who has a daughter who is an air traffic controller? I'd like to hear some input from a controller.

[Lil Bit]

Gutmutters daughter is a pilot.

[Gutmutter]

Yes, and according to her the sleeping air traffic controllers problem is a lot more common than you would think. Also pilots nodding off at the wheel (but on automatic pilot) is not uncommon, either.

[MRD]

For such an important job, that seems ridiculous. If there was ever a place that should be fully staffed (and I fully agree with you, Paul), this is one of them. Budget cutbacks should not be an issued. Safety, first, I always thought...but maybe not.

Part of me can't help but wonder if this might be some kind of job action with the agreement/help of some of the pilots. That would not surprise me at all. Not much else makes sense. Would that be stupid.....of course, it would....but I would never underestimate the will and determination of the workers. I'm not meaning to insult, but stranger things have happened.

As I recall, don't we have a poster who has a daughter who is an air traffic controller? I'd like to hear some input from a controller.

This all goes back to Reagan firing and banning for life the striking air traffic controllers. There are a lot of airports with no controllers on duty past a certain time at night. The pilots can turn on the runway lights from the plane. Also remember at an airport those controllers are responsible for Ames landing and taking off there. There are centralized traffic control centers that monitor parts of the country for planes in flight and they stay fully staffed. They hand off the individual plane to the airport controller when it gets close.

[norealityhere]

Have not flown in a while.
I know that if you place your toiletries in your carry on baggage, they have to be 3 oz. each and be in a clear plastic bag.

If I put my toiletries in my checked in luggage, does that mean I can put in bigger toiletries / hairspray / toiletries, etc?

TIA

[imissme]

This all goes back to Reagan firing and banning for life the striking air traffic controllers. There are a lot of airports with no controllers on duty past a certain time at night. The pilots can turn on the runway lights from the plane. Also remember at an airport those controllers are responsible for Ames landing and taking off there. There are centralized traffic control centers that monitor parts of the country for planes in flight and they stay fully staffed. They hand off the individual plane to the airport controller when it gets close.

I dont see how Reagan firing and banning all those air traffic controllers 3 decades ago could effect todays controllers. I am not defending what Reagan did (I wasnt alive back then) but wouldnt all those people be retired by now anyway. The problem has to be something in the current budget that is lacking.