FAA OK's ATC Weather Radios (after banning them)

Radios that alert listeners to severe local weather became a flight safety issue after a tornado whipped through Daytona Beach International Airport (DBIA) on Christmas Day while two controllers remained in the glass-enclosed tower, unaware of the impending storm. Four months prior to the FAA's recent reversal of policy on banning the radios, weather radios were allegedly a distraction for controllers. FAA spokeswoman Diane Spitaliere said that controllers have adequate weather information already available. However weather-radar systems in many smaller airports indicate only rain levels. They do not show wind shear, tornadoes or other dangerous weather. "These are people whose offices are 250 or more feet off the ground surrounded by windows. If anyone should have a weather radio to warn them of a tornado, it's these people," said Doug Church, national spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "They're the most vulnerable." At DBIA, a Comair passenger jet was on a collision course with the 120-mph tornado, and had no warning of the severe weather. Since the FAA ban, air-traffic controllers in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Toledo and Denver have been working in towers while unaware of nearby tornadoes and funnel clouds. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., sent a letter to the FAA administrator after a tornado obscured by rain touched down north of the Oklahoma City airport. He was joined by Florida Sens. Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson in urging the FAA to allow weather radios in towers to enhance timely warnings to local traffic. The FAA has now promised to enumerate the reasons behind their recent change of mind. But the radios won't be mandatory and each facility will have to purchase their own.