Traffic Controllers Suspended for Watching Samuel L. Jackson?

According to CNN, the FAA has suspended an air traffic controller and a front line manager for allegedly watching a movie while on duty.

The two employees were caught when an airline pilot heard the sound from the movie because the air traffic controller left his microphone on.


The FAA made a statement on the incident. "For a little more than three minutes, the controller's microphone was inadvertently activated, transmitting the soundtrack of the movie over the radio frequency for that airspace," it continued, "The problem was brought to the air traffic controller's attention by the pilot of a military aircraft using an alternative frequency."

The statement said the movie overheard was Samuel L. Jackson's 2007 movie "The Cleaner." The FAA says that all video, audio and other devices are strictly forbidden from being in the control tower.


If there was ever a bad time for an air traffic controller to get busted doing something wrong, it's now. In the past several weeks, seven traffic controllers have gotten caught sleeping on the job, resulting in their suspension.

In the past couple days, FAA officials and representatives started their campaign of going to the biggest city's airport to talk about the unacceptable behavior. The FAA is also looking at changing work schedules to avoid future incidents of controllers falling asleep on the job.

One change that is being considered is changing the time controllers can work between shifts. Currently, the gap between shifts is eight hours but is said to move to nine hours. Also, referring to CNN, "FAA managers will also schedule their own shifts in a way to ensure greater coverage in the early morning and late night hours."

Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood emphasized the biggest point is air traffic controllers need "to take personal responsibility " and get adequate rest during their own time.

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