ATC. ATC? WAKE UP!!!!

[mikea]

ATHENS (Reuters) - Two airplanes due to land on the Greek island of Lesbos had to circle above the Aegean sea for more than half an hour because an air traffic controller overslept, police said on Monday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080929/lf_nm_life/us_greece_flights_oversleep

Maybe they outsourced ATC and this wasn't a profitable tower?

 

[ejensen]

I circled outside the San Angelo D for about 10 minutes one day. When he finally answer, he apologized and said he was 'down the hall'. Thought there were always two but it was lunch time and real quiet trafficwise.

 

[Teller1900]

I circled outside the San Angelo D for about 10 minutes one day. When he finally answer, he apologized and said he was 'down the hall'. Thought there were always two but it was lunch time and real quiet trafficwise.

I've heard stories of guys in the pattern getting cleared for multiple landings so the controller could run to the restroom.

 

[CJones]

Coming back from 6Y9 this year, I am almost certain that we woke up one of the MSP Center controllers. And he wasn't very happy about it either.

 

[Bob Bement]

What would happen if you just went ahead and landed?

 

[mikea]

What would happen if you just went ahead and landed?

Look for "TWR frequency is CTAF when tower not in operation" in the airprot info and you're all set.