Newark Controller Blows the Whistle

NATCA says veteran Newark Tower air traffic controller Ray Adams is striking back against harsh intimidation and retaliation tactics used by the FAA to try and silence both his safety concerns regarding procedures for departures and flight paths hastily implemented earlier this year as part of airspace redesign efforts rushed into use without controller involvement. Adams has filed for federal whistleblower protection with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. At issue is Adams’ insistence on doing his job, ensuring pilots’ safety by providing the most complete information to pilots departing Newark as they received last minute and unpublished route changes due to FAA failures. Local management and supervisors suspended Adams after an incident in February in which he dared to ask a pilot if they understood the new heading they were assigned. After attempting to answer questions, the supervisor ordered Adams to "just clear them for takeoff.” This despite the fact that the FAA has taped evidence of many pilots telling controllers in the tower – while waiting to take off – that they do not understand the new procedures. The Air Line Pilots Association defended controllers’ actions to do everything possible to ensure that pilots had the most complete understanding of the new airspace changes, headings and procedures. ALPA President Capt. John Prater said “pilots need complete understanding of an air traffic controller’s directions to provide safe separation, especially when the planned procedure is modified at a critical phase of flight.”