AVIATION/ CONTROLLERS ACTIONS PUT PLANE AT RISK

A television station in Phoenix, Arizona, has uncovered behavior that has landed an air traffic controlller in hot water and may have put a flight headed to Phoenix at risk. According to ABC15 in Phoenix, documents, audio and radar video obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveal how air traffic controller’s actions affected a US AIRWAYS plane in December. On December 3, Flight 192 was on Domestic Service from Orlando to Phoenix. According to FAA audio, as Flight 192 approached Phoenix, the air traffic controller at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport called out to the Pilot. However, when the controller didn't get a response, he tried to contact the Pilot once again. But, this time, the air traffic controller referred to Flight 192 as Flight 129. According to officials, the controller was calling the wrong “data tag” because another employee in air traffic control had purposely transposed Flight 192’s number to appear as “129.” That action disrupted communication for nearly a minute. The Pilot of Flight 192 eventually realized the controller was calling the wrong number. According to the television station, the actions of that controller put the passengers and other flights in danger. One aviation expert told the station that the controller should be criminally prosecuted for playing games with people’s lives. The US Airways aircraft landed without incident. In a statement released to ABC15, the FAA said: “Following a thorough investigation, the FAA determined that on December 3, 2010 an air traffic controller at Phoenix Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) purposely changed an aircraft’s data tag to show an inaccurate call sign. The altered data tag caused a second controller to have difficulty communicating with the aircraft because he referred to the wrong call sign when attempting to radio the crew. The second controller and the flight crew resolved the error and the aircraft landed safely at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Ensuring the safety of air travelers is the mission of the FAA and this kind of unprofessional behavior will not be tolerated. The FAA is proposing to fire the controller who purposely changed the aircraft’s data tag. The controller has the right to reply to the proposal. Any reply will be considered in making a final decision".