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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
        
(Message started by: Frank_W on Jun 24^th, 2005, 2:37pm)

Title: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by Frank_W on Jun 24^th, 2005, 2:37pm

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160570,00.html

Probe: DFW Controllers Hid Near Misses
Friday, June 24, 2005

DALLAS — Air traffic controllers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area routinely covered up errors and their supervisors failed to investigate cases that included airplanes flying too close to each other, federal officials said.

The incidents date back seven years at DFW Terminal Radar Approach Control (search), which oversees air traffic at all of the area's airports, including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (search).

The investigation by the Office of Special Counsel, an independent government agency, was prompted by whistle-blower Anne Whiteman, an air traffic controller at the radar approach control.

"It was to the point that I was fearful that two airplanes would collide," Whiteman told the Dallas Morning News for a story in Friday's papers. "I can say that without hesitation."

Also Friday, the Los Angeles Times reported that airplanes came alarmingly close to each other four times in the last month at Los Angeles International Airport (search), reviving concerns about safety at the airport, which has an outdated and confusing runway.

And The Boston Globe reported that the National Transportation Safety Board (search) is investigating a near-collision earlier this month of two passenger jets that were mistakenly cleared to take off at the same time on intersecting runways at Logan International Airport (search).

In Dallas-Fort Worth, Special Counsel Scott Bloch said there was documentation of Whiteman's allegations that supervisors failed to investigate some cases. In other cases, the radar approach control investigated errors but did not notify the Federal Aviation Administration (search) as required, he said.

The investigation also showed the radar approach control underreported errors.

For example, the control center reported two operational errors in the first half of 2004, but the Office of Inspector General for the Transportation Department found that in the last half of 2004, there were 36 errors, including 28 of moderate severity, the report found.

In one of those cases, two airplanes came dangerously close to each other as they neared a runway, according to the report. Each was 300 feet apart vertically and about a half-mile apart horizontally — but federal minimums require vertical distances of 1,000 feet and horizontal distances of three miles when they are within 40 miles of Dallas-Fort Worth.

A Dallas-Fort Worth airport spokesman referred all questions to the FAA.

"We take these charges very seriously," FAA spokesman Greg Martin said. "As we became aware of them, we took immediate and thorough action."

D-FW Terminal Radar Approach Control was put on probation for two years while inspectors conducted checks unannounced. Some employees were reassigned, decertified or placed on probation. It is unclear how many were disciplined.

"Their performance has vastly improved, and they're now in compliance with strict FAA procedures," Martin said.

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by cazman on Jun 24^th, 2005, 4:52pm

with that whos flying to texas ?

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by Jonny on Jun 24^th, 2005, 4:55pm

on 06/24/05 at 16:52:49, cazman wrote:

with that whos flying to texas ?

July 14...DFW....Here I come, if your gonna go... go when your high ;;D

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by Redd715 on Jun 24^th, 2005, 5:11pm

on 06/24/05 at 16:55:48, Jonny wrote:

July 14...DFW....Here I come, if your gonna go... go when your high ;;D

agreed!!

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by E-Double on Jun 24^th, 2005, 6:50pm

on 06/24/05 at 17:11:14, Redd715 wrote:

agreed!!

indeed!

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by Charlie on Jun 24^th, 2005, 9:57pm

Made reservations for the 15th this afternoon.

Hey! Take a fucken' chance.....

Charlie http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/drive1.gif

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by burnt-toast on Jun 25^th, 2005, 6:32am

A few years back were were taxiing down a runway at Houston's Intercontenental airport with the stewardess giving flight instruction.

The pilot suddenly slammed on the breaks launching the flight crew into the air. The stewardess giving flight instruction was slammed into bulkhead between coach and first class and injured. The plane filled with smoke from burning tires as we came to an abrupt halt.

Seems an arrriving flight was taxiing to the terminal and given permission to by traffic control to cross directly in front of our plane as we were powering up for takeoff. Only the immediate response from our pilot saved a few hundred lives.

The point - Mistakes happen every day at every airport even the smaller ones. Yet somehow they manage to keep the safety levels high. An individual is still more likely to meet with disaster driving cross country than flying.

Tom

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by Donna_D. on Jun 25^th, 2005, 7:17am

http://www.dfwairport.com/mediasite/pdf/04/04/runways-040504.pdf

DFW has enjoyed a tremendous track record with federal regulators who
govern aviation safety. The Airport works closely with the FAA to
maximize efficiency of aircraft using the airfield, while prioritizing nonaviation
activities such as maintenance and construction to assure safe
and efficient movement of aircraft. DFW has not experienced a serious
category incursion since August 2001, more than 200 million flights later.
In 2002, DFW won the FAA's Southwest Region Safety Award for its
industry-leading efforts to operate a safe airfield. Airports around the
world have adopted a number of DFW Airport’s safety training and
operations regulations.

No worries folks, it has just been a slow news week in Dallas.

Thanks for the great PR, Frank. What time is your flight arriving? ;)

DD

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by Charlie on Jun 25^th, 2005, 10:31pm

In 1966, when I was 20, I flew to Oakland to see one of my best friends. It was a TWA flight and somewhere over the midwest and we lost an engine. They started to serve lots of drinks while on the way to an emergency landing in Denver. I'm glad that at the time I bought their it's not a real problem shit. http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/willy.gif

On the way back they changed the flight I was to catch in Chicago. It ran off the runway somewhere in Wisconsin, I was told. I figure that I've had my close calls and that nothing will happen.

Charlie

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by Jonny on Jun 26^th, 2005, 11:45am

Hee hee hee ;;D

http://www.killsometime.com/Video/video.asp?video=Plane-Crashes

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by purpleydog on Jun 27^th, 2005, 4:15am

A mother and her son were flying Southwest Airlines from Kansas City to Chicago.

The son (who had been looking out the window) turned to his mother and asked, "If big dogs have baby dogs and big cats have baby cats, why don't big planes have baby planes?"

The mother (who couldn't think of an answer) told her son to ask the stewardess.

So the boy asked the stewardess, "If big dogs have baby dogs and big cats have baby cats, why don't big planes have baby planes?"

The stewardess responded, "Did your mother tell you to ask me?"

The boy said, "Yes she did."

"Well, then, tell your mother that there are no baby planes because Southwest always pulls out on time. Have your mother explain that to you."

Title: Re: DFW Flyers! SCARY!!
Post by Frank_W on Jun 27^th, 2005, 9:16am

LMAO, Chris!!

Sorry, Donna. I didn't mean anything by posting that article. Forgive me... :-/