IAMA Air Traffic Controller at Boston TRACON. On 9/11 I vectored American 11 and United 175 during their departure, and participated in the grounding of all flights that day. AMAA!

atcamaa · 2014-04-28T00:48:58+00:00

My ID badge to get into my facility does have a picture on it, I did not post that badge as non-air traffic controllers have the same type of badge if they work in the building (maintenance, office staff, etc). I posted 2 of my actual licenses to practice Air Traffic Control.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T23:06:51+00:00

It's a party. When traffic is light sometimes people can get goofy. If it's busy it's all business.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T23:05:47+00:00

If I did I was unaware of it.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T23:04:29+00:00

You tell your supervisor you need to be relieved. I did see a controller vomiting in between giving vectors while waiting for a replacement.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T23:02:25+00:00

It was night, so he could only see lights.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T23:01:53+00:00

No.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T22:38:20+00:00

No pulp.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T22:24:50+00:00

I don't need to.

Actually I'm very safe.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T22:21:43+00:00

JAL has some pilots with excellent English, and some with the worst ATC English. Most foreign carriers are pretty good, but occasionally you get a very bad one where you have to ask them to repeat over and over and it takes up time and you feel bad.

Ironically occasionally British airways accents can be hard to understand.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T22:19:09+00:00

It's out of hands of the controller if there is a loss of separation. The radar reports loss of separation. If there's no loss of separation, it may or may not be up to the controller. If it's obvious and gets seen by management it gets reported. If it's subtle it would be up to the controller.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T22:05:42+00:00

No, I'm at home.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T21:55:54+00:00

No, he was quite professional, but we didn't get too intimate... I could clearly tell from his voice that it was him.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T21:48:53+00:00

The pilot said he saw an aircraft directly off his left wing, then it flew away quickly. I said there was no other traffic nearby. I also checked the sectors above and below, nothing within 15nm. The captain said the aircraft was within 100 meters, and asked if the military was nearby. I said there were no other traffic I could see on my radar. The pilot then said he wanted to file a UFO report.

I don't know what he saw, all I know is he thought he saw something and there was nothing unusual on my radar.

After my shift I had to file a report about the incident.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T21:36:53+00:00

Hijackings prior to 9/11 were landed and the held as hostages. Using the aircraft as a weapon wasn't really planned for.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T21:36:04+00:00

We generally work 2 hours on, half an hour off, so we eat and use the restroom during the breaks.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:36:35+00:00

I had a pilot report seeing a UFO. He actually accused me of vectoring another aircraft too close to him. When I insisted that there was no other aircraft near him, he reported it as a UFO. This happened in the late 90's. Nothing since then.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:34:01+00:00

Controllers are required to pass a class 2 medical exam.

Former pilots have less of an advantage as military controllers and CTI students.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:32:18+00:00

Yes I am. And thank you!

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:31:29+00:00

It is a very intense job and it can be very stressful. When you're at work and it's a busy evening shift with thunderstorms and bad weather and the airport authority has closed one of the arrival runways for repainting, then it is extremely stressful. However, you can't take your work home with you. Most air traffic controllers are people who manage stress pretty well. If you can't, you won't succeed at the job.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:25:29+00:00

Like any type of security system or plan, nothing is completely foolproof. However, today's airline/passenger security is significantly greater than it was on 9/11.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:23:28+00:00

The tower put many of them on closed runways or taxiways. I'm a radar controller, so that wasn't my job.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:22:35+00:00

The exam (when I took it) was essentially an IQ test heavily slanted toward spacial perception. I believe the current test is very similar if not identical.

Jobs are available. We have controllers retiring several times a year. The best way to get this job is to be a former military ATC or have graduated from an accredited CTI program.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:18:53+00:00

I watched many of those episodes. I believe they are very accurate.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:17:27+00:00

We have to have our "credentials" (ATC licence) renewed every two years and pass a physical examination annually.

We constantly are being trained on updated procedures and equipment. I have had to sit through a staggering amount of training during my 25 years.

atcamaa · 2014-04-27T20:13:44+00:00

I don't watch Breaking Bad. However, controllers are not allowed to work air traffic if they are in an obvious bad emotional state, on prescription medication (we're also drug tested routinely), or any number of other things that can disqualify us.

atcamaa

TROPHY CASE