I hate feeling like I'm behind schedule. But sometimes it just
happens. A little tardiness is okay sometimes, but when an airplane
goes from being "tardy" to being overdue, it's time for Search And
Rescue (SAR) to kick in.
Pilot Report -- Direct observations of various weather
conditions during flight, coded according to established formats
and distributed via various channels.
"Air traffic controllers exist for a reason: to ensure that the
planes taking off and landing are doing so safely. Sadly, the FAA
continues to short-staff control towers in an effort to control
costs while they eschew safety. This tragedy must be a wakeup call
for the FAA to reexamine its policy and make sure that airports
have the controllers they need."
Source: Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) in a
letter to FAA Adminstrator Marion Blakey following revelations in
the wake of Sunday's crash of a Comair CRJ in Lexington, KY.