LaGuardia controller staffing may have violated procedures
Air traffic controller staffing at LaGuardia airport on the night an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck may have violated the facility's procedures by combining roles before midnight, according to a document seen by Reuters.
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LampLighter
Joined 2013/04/13Visited 2026/04/01
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More from the article ...
... The crash at the New York airport at about 11:37 p.m. ET on March 22, which killed both pilots, has revived concerns over U.S. air traffic control staffing shortages and the workload of controllers across the country. ... The National Transportation Safety Board said last week that as part of its crash investigation, it was seeking information on the duties being performed by each controller. If the controller involved in the crash was performing both air and ground duties, that would be inconsistent with the LaGuardia tower's standard operating procedures. An NTSB final report on a 1997 collision at LaGuardia between a private jet and a vehicle referenced new procedures being put in place afterward to ensure "local and ground positions shall not be combined prior to" midnight at the New York airport. As of 2023, the rule remained in place, according to a LaGuardia Tower Standard Operating Procedures document seen by Reuters. "Positions at LaGuardia Tower are not to be consolidated to one position prior to midnight local time or 90 minutes after the start of the shift, whichever is later," said the 2023 document, which people familiar with the matter said remained current in 2026. ...
The National Transportation Safety Board said last week that as part of its crash investigation, it was seeking information on the duties being performed by each controller.
If the controller involved in the crash was performing both air and ground duties, that would be inconsistent with the LaGuardia tower's standard operating procedures.
An NTSB final report on a 1997 collision at LaGuardia between a private jet and a vehicle referenced new procedures being put in place afterward to ensure "local and ground positions shall not be combined prior to" midnight at the New York airport.
As of 2023, the rule remained in place, according to a LaGuardia Tower Standard Operating Procedures document seen by Reuters.
"Positions at LaGuardia Tower are not to be consolidated to one position prior to midnight local time or 90 minutes after the start of the shift, whichever is later," said the 2023 document, which people familiar with the matter said remained current in 2026. ...
#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-01 12:11 AM | Reply
There seems to be little doubt that the air traffic to ATC support ratio is out of balance. At least in the busier airspaces.
#2 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-04-01 12:44 AM | Reply
@#2
imo, ever since fmr Pres Reagan fired 10,000+ air controllers back in the day, there has been an ATC issue.
#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-01 12:48 AM | Reply
There's that, but the whole traffic control system has taken a long time for the technology to get caught up. Beacon-hopping flight paths are not very efficient, as an example.
#4 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-04-01 12:53 AM | Reply
@#4 ... the whole traffic control system has taken a long time for the technology to get caught up. ...
While I cannot disagree, I will also say that is not the sole reason for the current ATC issues.
So, if our ATC system seems to need a major personnel and technology overhaul, what is (fmr MTV reality star) Sec Duffy doing to that end?
#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-01 01:13 AM | Reply
Nina Gordon -- Tonight and the Rest of My Life (2000) www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
genius.com
... [Verse 1] Down to the earth I fell with dripping wings Heavy things won't fly And the sky might catch on fire And burn the axis of the world That's why I prefer a sunless sky To the glittering and stinging in my eyes [Chorus] I feel so light This is all I wanna feel tonight I feel so light Tonight and the rest of my life Tonight and the rest of my life [Verse 2] Gleaming in the dark sea I'm as light as air floating there breathlessly When the dream dissolves I open up my eyes I realize that everything is shoreless sea A weightlessness is passing over me ...
[Chorus] I feel so light This is all I wanna feel tonight I feel so light Tonight and the rest of my life Tonight and the rest of my life
[Verse 2] Gleaming in the dark sea I'm as light as air floating there breathlessly When the dream dissolves
I open up my eyes I realize that everything is shoreless sea A weightlessness is passing over me ...
Interesting tune ...
#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-01 01:18 AM | Reply
what is (fmr MTV reality star) Sec Duffy doing to that end?
Funding NTSB investigations?
#7 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-04-01 01:18 AM | Reply
@#7 ... Funding NTSB investigations? ...
So... looking for problems?
What is he doing to resolve the problems the investigations may discover?
OK, I found this ...
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System (May 2025) www.transportation.gov
So, how's he doing according to his plan?
#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-01 01:29 AM | Reply
His sole job is to to attend Cabinet meetings, and then, when it's his turn, tell Lewzer what an honor and privilege is is to serve under his greatness. And then say no more.
#9 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-04-01 01:39 AM | Reply
@#9 ... His sole job is to to attend Cabinet meetings, and then, when it's his turn, tell Lewzer what an honor and privilege [it] is to serve under his greatness. And then say no more. ...
So... you've watched the broadcasts of the Cabinet meetings.
And, yep, agreement abounds.
#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-01 01:51 AM | Reply
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