AVIATION/ NYC CONTROLLERS SUBJECT OF FAA COMPLAINT

A front-line manager at the New York ARTCC in Long Island has sent complaints to the FAA and the Office of Special Counsel alleging some controllers work just 3 hours per shift, and sometimes watch movies or send text messages while they should be monitoring air traffic. The whistleblower raised the issue 3 days after an AMERICAN AIRLINES Boeing 777 nearly collided with 2 USAF C17 Globemasters over the Atlantic Ocean on January 14. The 777 came within 200 feet vertically and 2000 feet horizontally from the military aircraft. The NTSB is investigating that incident. In the managers letters, he alleges that the controllers, whom he says are union employees, are not properly supervised at the center. He said 2 or 3 controllers often track as many as 15 aircraft at a time, while others will socialize, relax, or play games or movies on their laptop computers despite an FAA prohibition against electronic devices in the workplace. He alledged that sometimes stations are closed down, and that most controllers only work on average 3 hours of their assigned 8 hour shifts. According to a New York City media report, his claims are corroborated by other air traffic control personnel. One told the paper that the situation was "just the tip of the iceberg".