Jonathan Stewart

I would like to add that I'm tired and I want to go take a break.

I would like to add that I'm tired and I want to go take a break.

So yes, under a lot of stress, under duress, yes, you don't want to be involved in any kind of incident where there's a loss of life.

So yes, under a lot of stress, under duress, yes, you don't want to be involved in any kind of incident where there's a loss of life.

I come here and fire off some rounds and, you know, stay proficient at using my weapon of choice, my weapons of choice. And it's just, it's a great way to relieve stress, yeah.

I come here and fire off some rounds and, you know, stay proficient at using my weapon of choice, my weapons of choice. And it's just, it's a great way to relieve stress, yeah.

I joined the Air Force to do air traffic control. I didn't do nothing about it. I just knew that I wanted to do it. It sounded cool. I got a copy of what's referred to as the Pilot Controller Glossary, which has various terminology in it. That means nothing to anybody if you're not in aviation, but I memorized a bunch of it just for fun. Yeah, that's about it, man. The rest is history.

I joined the Air Force to do air traffic control. I didn't do nothing about it. I just knew that I wanted to do it. It sounded cool. I got a copy of what's referred to as the Pilot Controller Glossary, which has various terminology in it. That means nothing to anybody if you're not in aviation, but I memorized a bunch of it just for fun. Yeah, that's about it, man. The rest is history.

I like it because it's effing fun, man. Like it, for lack of a better way to put it, like we get off on it. Like we, when I say we, the newer controllers, supervisors, line controllers, regardless, We enjoy that, man. I mean, it's an adrenaline rush and you have to, you play God because you cannot fail. You cannot make a mistake, okay?

I like it because it's effing fun, man. Like it, for lack of a better way to put it, like we get off on it. Like we, when I say we, the newer controllers, supervisors, line controllers, regardless, We enjoy that, man. I mean, it's an adrenaline rush and you have to, you play God because you cannot fail. You cannot make a mistake, okay?

So we are responsible for the lives of every single person on that airplane. And there's the old saying that an air traffic controller is responsible for more lives in one shift than a doctor or a surgeon or whatever in his entire career. And that is the case.

So we are responsible for the lives of every single person on that airplane. And there's the old saying that an air traffic controller is responsible for more lives in one shift than a doctor or a surgeon or whatever in his entire career. And that is the case.

We are the guys that are guiding your pilots home. So that means when your airplane takes off and your wheels up and your captain is told to contact departure, that's me.

We are the guys that are guiding your pilots home. So that means when your airplane takes off and your wheels up and your captain is told to contact departure, that's me.

So those are the guys that are sitting in a dark room, staring at a scope. It's like a video game, but it's like playing 3D chess at 250 miles an hour. And that's why I said we really enjoy it.

So those are the guys that are sitting in a dark room, staring at a scope. It's like a video game, but it's like playing 3D chess at 250 miles an hour. And that's why I said we really enjoy it.

The complexity is insane. I've worked in roughly 10 to 12 different facilities in my career. The Newark Area C, or Philly Area C, whatever we're calling it now, is by far the most complex operation I've ever worked. The skill set that makes you a good air traffic controller makes you bad at literally everything else. Your personal life, your wives. I think I'm on wife number, I can't remember.

The complexity is insane. I've worked in roughly 10 to 12 different facilities in my career. The Newark Area C, or Philly Area C, whatever we're calling it now, is by far the most complex operation I've ever worked. The skill set that makes you a good air traffic controller makes you bad at literally everything else. Your personal life, your wives. I think I'm on wife number, I can't remember.

It's just, it's not great. But you're very good at your job, so you take pride in that job. So the Newark Area C controllers, or Philly Area C controllers, they all love working traffic. We push it to the limit every single day.

It's just, it's not great. But you're very good at your job, so you take pride in that job. So the Newark Area C controllers, or Philly Area C controllers, they all love working traffic. We push it to the limit every single day.

The staffing is relatively... in my opinion, inadequate. And that's based on the numbers that we are told we should have versus the numbers that we do have. And that is in no way to place blame on anybody, because that is not my forte, so to speak. But it is a challenge when you have to work multiple radar sectors combined.

The staffing is relatively... in my opinion, inadequate. And that's based on the numbers that we are told we should have versus the numbers that we do have. And that is in no way to place blame on anybody, because that is not my forte, so to speak. But it is a challenge when you have to work multiple radar sectors combined.

That is going to place limitations on how many aircraft you're going to be able to effectively and safely control.

That is going to place limitations on how many aircraft you're going to be able to effectively and safely control.

I just got told that the approach lost all their radars. Three of their four radar screens went black, and they have no frequencies.

I just got told that the approach lost all their radars. Three of their four radar screens went black, and they have no frequencies.

And they want you to be advised that they may not be able to radar contact you because of the radar issues, and they may lose you for certain causes of when you're flying.

And they want you to be advised that they may not be able to radar contact you because of the radar issues, and they may lose you for certain causes of when you're flying.

Hopefully he misspoke because the controllers did not walk off the job.

Hopefully he misspoke because the controllers did not walk off the job.

Walking off the job implies that they, of their own free will, left and refused to do their job. There's not a single controller in Newark Area C, to the best of my knowledge, that does not love their job, right? We would like to have more resources to effectively do our job. Yes, that is the case. But to say that someone would

Walking off the job implies that they, of their own free will, left and refused to do their job. There's not a single controller in Newark Area C, to the best of my knowledge, that does not love their job, right? We would like to have more resources to effectively do our job. Yes, that is the case. But to say that someone would

basically game the system and take trauma leave when they were not traumatized is insulting at best and just, quite frankly, misinformed.

basically game the system and take trauma leave when they were not traumatized is insulting at best and just, quite frankly, misinformed.

Nobody walked off the job of their own free will. They had to be taken out of position and relieved of duty because they were not mentally fit to do it anymore at that point because of the trauma that was involved.

Nobody walked off the job of their own free will. They had to be taken out of position and relieved of duty because they were not mentally fit to do it anymore at that point because of the trauma that was involved.

So I had been working in the operation for roughly three hours-ish at the time of the incident. Typically, I try not to work myself or anyone else longer than two hours. It has just been my experience that after that two hour mark, your mental acuity begins to diminish a little bit because it's fatigue, you get tired.

So I had been working in the operation for roughly three hours-ish at the time of the incident. Typically, I try not to work myself or anyone else longer than two hours. It has just been my experience that after that two hour mark, your mental acuity begins to diminish a little bit because it's fatigue, you get tired.

In my mind, if we are expected to lose radar, there is an operational advantage or nay, a necessity to use a combination of the two to effectively separate aircraft and to ensure that were you to lose radar and radios again, that you're not gonna have a catastrophic event. So all that said to say, yes, you do have a certain way to do it. The way I did it was the way that worked for me.

In my mind, if we are expected to lose radar, there is an operational advantage or nay, a necessity to use a combination of the two to effectively separate aircraft and to ensure that were you to lose radar and radios again, that you're not gonna have a catastrophic event. So all that said to say, yes, you do have a certain way to do it. The way I did it was the way that worked for me.

That increased my workload, which led to me having a close call. So a nose to nose situation.

That increased my workload, which led to me having a close call. So a nose to nose situation.

My name is Jonathan Stewart. I'm an air traffic controller. I received my first rating in 2000. Excuse my voice. Apparently, I'm losing an occupational hazard. I don't think anybody wants to be involved in any sort of incident where safety is compromised. Nobody wants to be involved in that. It's not on anybody's wish list.

My name is Jonathan Stewart. I'm an air traffic controller. I received my first rating in 2000. Excuse my voice. Apparently, I'm losing an occupational hazard. I don't think anybody wants to be involved in any sort of incident where safety is compromised. Nobody wants to be involved in that. It's not on anybody's wish list.

So they were nose to nose, slightly offset when I saw it. And I expected them to be there just like that because that was the plan. I did not expect them to be at the same altitude. So we're still not sure. There will be an investigation into that. But again, that's not my forte. You caught the error. I caught the error and fixed it before it became worse. The issue was it was unexpected.

So they were nose to nose, slightly offset when I saw it. And I expected them to be there just like that because that was the plan. I did not expect them to be at the same altitude. So we're still not sure. There will be an investigation into that. But again, that's not my forte. You caught the error. I caught the error and fixed it before it became worse. The issue was it was unexpected.

So it caused me a great deal of stress. And then it made me angry because where I'm guaranteed to fail. That doesn't make any effing sense. So that was the situation I was in. And due to that, I took myself out of that situation and have taken some time off to try to get my head where it's supposed to be.

So it caused me a great deal of stress. And then it made me angry because where I'm guaranteed to fail. That doesn't make any effing sense. So that was the situation I was in. And due to that, I took myself out of that situation and have taken some time off to try to get my head where it's supposed to be.

You go straight into survival mode to separate those aircraft and make sure they don't hit. And then when that's over, then it really hits you. Then it hits you almost. have done something terrible.

You go straight into survival mode to separate those aircraft and make sure they don't hit. And then when that's over, then it really hits you. Then it hits you almost. have done something terrible.

Well, me personally, it's not good for your health. That lack of sleep coupled with stress is a killer. It's not good for you. And in my situation, and other people are out on trauma leave, You do have acute PTSD, and you do have situations where you will have a recurring dream about the incident, and then that will make you uncomfortable enough to where you don't want to go back to sleep.

Well, me personally, it's not good for your health. That lack of sleep coupled with stress is a killer. It's not good for you. And in my situation, and other people are out on trauma leave, You do have acute PTSD, and you do have situations where you will have a recurring dream about the incident, and then that will make you uncomfortable enough to where you don't want to go back to sleep.

So that can be a little bit of an issue as well.

So that can be a little bit of an issue as well.

They are taking steps in the right direction to fix this. It is a top priority from everybody that I'm aware of to get the situation taken care of, be it the equipment issues as well as the staffing issues. It is being handled at the highest level and it is the highest priority, as it should be.

They are taking steps in the right direction to fix this. It is a top priority from everybody that I'm aware of to get the situation taken care of, be it the equipment issues as well as the staffing issues. It is being handled at the highest level and it is the highest priority, as it should be.

I would like to add that I'm tired and I want to go take a break.

So yes, under a lot of stress, under duress, yes, you don't want to be involved in any kind of incident where there's a loss of life.

I come here and fire off some rounds and, you know, stay proficient at using my weapon of choice, my weapons of choice. And it's just, it's a great way to relieve stress, yeah.

I joined the Air Force to do air traffic control. I didn't do nothing about it. I just knew that I wanted to do it. It sounded cool. I got a copy of what's referred to as the Pilot Controller Glossary, which has various terminology in it. That means nothing to anybody if you're not in aviation, but I memorized a bunch of it just for fun. Yeah, that's about it, man. The rest is history.

I like it because it's effing fun, man. Like it, for lack of a better way to put it, like we get off on it. Like we, when I say we, the newer controllers, supervisors, line controllers, regardless, We enjoy that, man. I mean, it's an adrenaline rush and you have to, you play God because you cannot fail. You cannot make a mistake, okay?

So we are responsible for the lives of every single person on that airplane. And there's the old saying that an air traffic controller is responsible for more lives in one shift than a doctor or a surgeon or whatever in his entire career. And that is the case.

We are the guys that are guiding your pilots home. So that means when your airplane takes off and your wheels up and your captain is told to contact departure, that's me.

So those are the guys that are sitting in a dark room, staring at a scope. It's like a video game, but it's like playing 3D chess at 250 miles an hour. And that's why I said we really enjoy it.

The complexity is insane. I've worked in roughly 10 to 12 different facilities in my career. The Newark Area C, or Philly Area C, whatever we're calling it now, is by far the most complex operation I've ever worked. The skill set that makes you a good air traffic controller makes you bad at literally everything else. Your personal life, your wives. I think I'm on wife number, I can't remember.

It's just, it's not great. But you're very good at your job, so you take pride in that job. So the Newark Area C controllers, or Philly Area C controllers, they all love working traffic. We push it to the limit every single day.

The staffing is relatively... in my opinion, inadequate. And that's based on the numbers that we are told we should have versus the numbers that we do have. And that is in no way to place blame on anybody, because that is not my forte, so to speak. But it is a challenge when you have to work multiple radar sectors combined.

That is going to place limitations on how many aircraft you're going to be able to effectively and safely control.

I just got told that the approach lost all their radars. Three of their four radar screens went black, and they have no frequencies.

And they want you to be advised that they may not be able to radar contact you because of the radar issues, and they may lose you for certain causes of when you're flying.

Hopefully he misspoke because the controllers did not walk off the job.

Walking off the job implies that they, of their own free will, left and refused to do their job. There's not a single controller in Newark Area C, to the best of my knowledge, that does not love their job, right? We would like to have more resources to effectively do our job. Yes, that is the case. But to say that someone would

basically game the system and take trauma leave when they were not traumatized is insulting at best and just, quite frankly, misinformed.

Nobody walked off the job of their own free will. They had to be taken out of position and relieved of duty because they were not mentally fit to do it anymore at that point because of the trauma that was involved.

So I had been working in the operation for roughly three hours-ish at the time of the incident. Typically, I try not to work myself or anyone else longer than two hours. It has just been my experience that after that two hour mark, your mental acuity begins to diminish a little bit because it's fatigue, you get tired.

In my mind, if we are expected to lose radar, there is an operational advantage or nay, a necessity to use a combination of the two to effectively separate aircraft and to ensure that were you to lose radar and radios again, that you're not gonna have a catastrophic event. So all that said to say, yes, you do have a certain way to do it. The way I did it was the way that worked for me.

That increased my workload, which led to me having a close call. So a nose to nose situation.

My name is Jonathan Stewart. I'm an air traffic controller. I received my first rating in 2000. Excuse my voice. Apparently, I'm losing an occupational hazard. I don't think anybody wants to be involved in any sort of incident where safety is compromised. Nobody wants to be involved in that. It's not on anybody's wish list.

So they were nose to nose, slightly offset when I saw it. And I expected them to be there just like that because that was the plan. I did not expect them to be at the same altitude. So we're still not sure. There will be an investigation into that. But again, that's not my forte. You caught the error. I caught the error and fixed it before it became worse. The issue was it was unexpected.

So it caused me a great deal of stress. And then it made me angry because where I'm guaranteed to fail. That doesn't make any effing sense. So that was the situation I was in. And due to that, I took myself out of that situation and have taken some time off to try to get my head where it's supposed to be.

You go straight into survival mode to separate those aircraft and make sure they don't hit. And then when that's over, then it really hits you. Then it hits you almost. have done something terrible.

Well, me personally, it's not good for your health. That lack of sleep coupled with stress is a killer. It's not good for you. And in my situation, and other people are out on trauma leave, You do have acute PTSD, and you do have situations where you will have a recurring dream about the incident, and then that will make you uncomfortable enough to where you don't want to go back to sleep.

So that can be a little bit of an issue as well.

They are taking steps in the right direction to fix this. It is a top priority from everybody that I'm aware of to get the situation taken care of, be it the equipment issues as well as the staffing issues. It is being handled at the highest level and it is the highest priority, as it should be.

Hopefully he misspoke because the controllers did not walk off the job. Walking off the job implies that they, of their own free will, left and refused to do their job. There's not a single controller in Newark Area C, to the best of my knowledge, that does not love their job. We would like to have more resources to effectively do our job. Yes, that is the case. But to say that someone would

Hopefully he misspoke because the controllers did not walk off the job. Walking off the job implies that they, of their own free will, left and refused to do their job. There's not a single controller in Newark Area C, to the best of my knowledge, that does not love their job. We would like to have more resources to effectively do our job. Yes, that is the case. But to say that someone would

basically game the system and take trauma leave when they were not traumatized is insulting at best and just, quite frankly, misinformed. No way, shape or form was that what happened. Nobody walked off the job of their own free will. They had to be taken out of position and relieved of duty because they were not mentally fit to do it anymore at that point because of the trauma that was involved.

basically game the system and take trauma leave when they were not traumatized is insulting at best and just, quite frankly, misinformed. No way, shape or form was that what happened. Nobody walked off the job of their own free will. They had to be taken out of position and relieved of duty because they were not mentally fit to do it anymore at that point because of the trauma that was involved.

You go straight into survival mode to separate those aircraft and make sure they don't hit. And then when that's over, then it really hits you.

You go straight into survival mode to separate those aircraft and make sure they don't hit. And then when that's over, then it really hits you.