Antiquated air traffic control
leads to U.S. air scares
March 30, 1996
Web posted at: 9:15 p.m. ESTFrom Correspondent Greg LaMotte
LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- The air traffic control center in Los Angeles is a typical one for the United States -- right down to the age of its equipment. In many cases, the equipment the controllers use to track planes in the air is more than 30 years old.
"The radio switching boxes that we use at the L.A. center, for example, date back pre-1958. We've got placards on these that certify them from the Civil Aeronautics Authority, which pre-existed the Federal Aviation Administration back in 1958," said Bob Marks of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the air traffic controllers union.
Not only are they old enough to be considered almost antique in these days of rapid technology changes, they are breaking down. There was a total radar system power failure this week in Pittsburgh that lasted six hours. Planes had to be diverted to other airports.
Also this week, radios used to communicate with planes approaching Los Angeles International Airport failed for 15 minutes, causing two planes to fly dangerously close to one another. And last summer and fall, there were six major radar failures at the world's busiest airport, Chicago's O'Hare.
But help may be on the way. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has gotten rid of thousands of pages of regulations, including how and when new equipment should be purchased.
"We took over a thousand pages of personnel rules and regulations and condensed it to this document, 45 pages," said David Hinson of the FAA. The administration also announced a 10 percent pay raise for controllers at seven of the nation's busiest airports.
It all sounds promising, but air traffic controllers aren't holding their breath.
"The FAA has announced before that we were going to have equipment by 1985, by 1987, by 1989," Marks said. "We're still waiting for it."
Consequently, serious breakdowns continue.
Lest your fear of traveling increase, the Airline Pilot's Association says that there are so many backup systems, including onboard collision avoidance systems, that even when there are breakdowns on the ground pilots can still fly on the safe side of the red zone.
"There are always going to be an incident here or there, and these are things we have to guard against, we have to correct as soon as detected," said airline captain Barry Schiff. "But as an airline captain for a major airline, I'm not at all concerned about the safety of the skies in the United States."
Still not convinced that flying is relatively safe? Keep in mind that on all U.S. commercial flights last year, 175 people lost their lives. By contrast, almost 41,000 people were killed in automobile accidents.
Related Stories
- FAA set to hire new air traffic controllers - Feb. 23
- Air traffic controllers warn about safety - Nov. 27, 1995
- $500 million air traffic control system incomplete, outdated - Jan. 29
- The fear of flying in New York - August 29
Related Sites
FeedbackSend us your comments.Selected responses are posted daily. |
|
![[Imagemap]](/US/images/9601/navbar.gif){kind=small}
Copyright © 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
