Just when you think

things cannot get more absurd... guess what? They get really dumb!

The big outrage today is that "kids were directing air traffic!" OMG! The former director of the NTSB said "The absence of an accident does not mean there was no danger!"

Apparently, a professional, veteran air traffic controller brought his kids to work. The kid sat there for some time listening to his/her dad chat with the pilots. As a one-time pilot, I can testify that these chats are almost universally pleasant, and absolutely always professional.

Once in a great while a pilot gets impatient when a controller follows rules that inconvenience the pilot a little. I remember an incident when a controller, feeling safety necessitated that he delay a landing by a few moments, directed a pilot to make a 360.... a 360º turn... a big loop in the sky to use up a few minutes of time. The pilot snapped in reply, "Are you aware that it will burn $500 worth of fuel to make a 360 in this aircraft?" The controller replied, "Affirmative. Please give me a $500 left turn."

But that is rare... controllers generally will do everything they can to accommodate pilots. And as a pilot, I can attest that it is a comfort to concentrate on landing your aircraft and not have to worry so much about other air traffic because the controller is watching out for you.

I recall an incident from my broadcast days. A very pretty young woman and I were guests at an Air force bombing range. The grading officer in the tower would, in turn, call each plane in for its bombing run. We listened for some time, and caught on to the lingo. Finally, the novel of having a pretty girl in the tower, presented a special opportunity for the airmen. The controller handed his mike to the young woman and instructed her to call the next plane in for its bombing run.

In those days of an essentially all-male Air Force, one can only imagine the surprise of that F-105 pilot in hearing a pleasant female voice directing him. We'll never know... that plane, roaring past the observation tower at 500 miles per hour, was a shattering blur. Flying in at treetop altitude, the plane flew straight at its target, released its bomb, then turned straight up, roaring out of sight vertically. Very exciting!

Back to the present. It is apparent that this controller had mentioned to one or more pilots that his kid was at his side in the tower. We can imagine a pilot radioing his hello to the visitor. And, it went from there. Pilot or controller asked the kid to repeat his father's instructions. The kid did as told. Both controller and pilots enjoyed the exchange.

Does anyone think, for an instant, that the controller or any pilot was taking their eye off the ball? Give me a break. These are the most professional of professionals. They are also dads and moms - humans, if you will.

But some jerk - the politician or journalist who would ignore corruption and fraud - is coming down on the controller. And probably someone unloaded a heap of wrath on one or more pilots!

What will we feel outraged about next?