Newark Airport's Air Traffic Control Meltdown: Is it Time to Call Saul?

Ninety Seconds of Terror: An Eternity in the Sky

Folks let me tell you in my line of work – and I've seen some things believe me – ninety seconds can make or break a deal a case or even a whole career. Now I read this news about the Newark Airport air traffic control going dark for just ninety seconds. Thirty seconds they couldn't talk to the pilots? Another minute for the planes to reappear? Well that's not just an equipment failure that's a whole dang crisis! A real "Better Call Saul" moment if you ask me. And the FAA's reaction? Sounds like they're tryin' to put a Band Aid on a gunshot wound.

Aging Towers and Windows 95: Seriously?

I'm reading here that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to announce a major upgrade plan. Great! But apparently they're still running on computers based on Windows 95! Windows 95! I had better tech in my '86 Hyundai and that thing was held together with duct tape and sheer will. And floppy disks? I haven't seen one of those since I was shredding evidence back in Cicero Illinois. Seriously this is how we're running the busiest airspace in the world? You want my advice? It's time to drag those computers to the car wash because even they can't clean up this mess.

Deadly Accidents and Finger Pointing: Who's to Blame?

Okay so nobody died in this latest Newark snafu. But this article mentions a helicopter collision. 67 people. Gone. "It took a fatal midair airline accident to occur to get everybody's attention,” says Jeff Guzzetti retired air safety investigator for the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA. That's what I call a harsh reality check. Now you'd think after something like that they'd be falling over themselves to fix the damn system. But no just finger pointing and bureaucratic blah blah. They call it a tragedy. I call it a lawsuit waiting to happen!

Newark: The Armpit of Air Travel

Newark Newark Newark. It’s always Newark isn’t it? This article points out that Newark handles fewer flights than JFK but is half the size. So it's like trying to cram a herd of cattle into a dog house. What do you expect? Chaos! And then get this the FAA moved controllers from Long Island to Philadelphia. What kind of whack a doo logic is that? I mean come on! It is time to call me. I can do some things and I am good at doing it! You don't want to call me because you don't want to get caught.

United's CEO: "It's Long Past Time to Treat EWR Like the Crown Jewel That It Is"

Ah Scott Kirby United's CEO is cryin' the blues because the cancellations are costing him moolah. Can't say I blame him. He wants capacity limits and blames the FAA for easing flight restrictions. Sounds like a business opportunity to me! Look this is classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. The FAA needs to get their act together. And Mr. Kirby should get a new PR team.

Hiring Freeze and Six Day Workweeks: It's a Controller's Nightmare

Only 10,800 air traffic controllers well short of the 3,000 they need? I smell a class action lawsuit! These poor fellas are being forced to work six day workweeks and retire at 56! Not to mention the measly $45,000 starting pay compared to the $144,580 median. What kind of incentive is that? It's time for a system upgrade and not just for the computers. We're talking salaries training and maybe a few back massages to ease the stress! Listen to me! They need a lawyer!