Child Directs Air Traffic At JFK, BBC, Words In The News

Child direct air traffic at JFK


Adapted for BBC, Words in the News, 5 March, 2010

Reporter: James Gordon



US officials are investigating how a child was apparently allowed to direct planes at JFK airport. Pilots heard the voice of a surprisingly young boy instructin them from air traffic control.



JFK Airport in new York is one of the largest airports in the country, handling nearly a thousand take-offs and landings a day. But just after 8pm on the 16th of February, there was somebody else in the control tower directing air traffic and giving instructions to pilots.



Recording from air traffic control:

Boy: JetBlue 171 clear to take off.

Pilot: Clear for take off JetBlue 171.



The boy was speaking to an airbus A320 heading for Sacramento. The child’s father, who us a certified controller, brought his son to work and then put him to work as well.



Recording from air traffic control:

Boy: JetBlue 171 contact departure.

Pilot: Over to departure JetBlue 171. Awesome job.



The young boy continued directing pilots for several take-offs, pilots appearing to be more amused than worried.



The federal Aviation Administration, which regulates Americas’ airports, hasn’t released the names of the controllers involved, as well as his supervisor. Both have been relieved of their duties.



Some are saying the incident is being blown out of proportion since the youngster was repeating standard, routine directions to pilots with the adults, presumably, alongside him. It’s been revealed the controller in question brought his daughter in the following evening.



The FAA has released a statement saying, “This lapse in judgment not only violated the FAA’s own policies but common sense standards for professional conduct. These kinds of distractions are totally unacceptable.”















Part A: Write TRUE or FALSE.



1. A little girl was in the control tower in the evening of 16th February. _______

2. The child was talking to the pilot of an airbus heading for New York. ______

3. The child’s father was not a certified controller. __________

4. The child directed only one pilot for take-off. ________

5. Pilots who heard the boy giving instructions were alarmed. _________

6. The FAA regulates America’s airports. ________

7. The pilot and supervisor were suspended from work . ________

8. The controller had his son and his daughter with him at work the next evening. _______

Part B: Matching.

Match each of the following sentences with the words given below.



A. the control tower B. pilots C. an Airbus A320 D. amused

E. his supervisor F. relieved of their duties

G. is being blown out of proportion

H. lapse in judgment I. violated J. distractions



1. Things that stop people from paying attention and concentrating on what they should be doing.

___________________________________________________________________

2. Broke the rules or guidelines.

___________________________________________________________________

3. Unexpectedly bad decisions.

__________________________________________________________________

4. Had their jobs taken away, are no longer allowed to work

___________________________________________________________________

5. The high building in an airport from where instructions are given to help people takeoff and land airplanes safely.

__________________________ _________________________________________

6. People who fly airplanes.

___________________________________________________________________

7. A type of airplane.

____________________________________________________________________

8. Thought of something funny.

____________________________________________________________________

9. His manager, the person who makes sure that he does his job properly, gets training to do it and that his behavior at work is acceptable. ____________________________________________________________________

10. Is being made to seem much more serious than it actually is. ____________________________________________________________________











ANSWERS

Part A

1. false 2. false 3. false 4. false 5. false 5. true 7. true 8. true.

Part B

1. distractions 2. violated 3. lapse in judgment 4. relieved of their duties

5. the control tower 6. pilots 7. an Airbus A320 8. amused

9. his supervisor 10. is being blown out of proportion.