Airplane Crashes Caused By Air Traffic Controller Negligence In California

In the course of a normal day in California, a single air traffic controller can oversee hundreds of flights, depending on the volume of the airport or airspace. According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there are nearly 5,400 flights in the air at peak times during the day, managed by roughly 520 air traffic control towers nationwide.

Contact Maison Law’s Experienced California Airplane Accident Lawyers

With such volume and traffic, it’s extremely critical that air traffic controllers are properly trained and understand how to effectively manage these flights. When that doesn’t happen, it frequently leads to accidents.

At Maison Law, our team of experienced California airplane accident lawyers can help you and your family navigate the aftermath of these unfortunate events. Whether caused by negligence on the part of an air traffic controller or anyone else involved with your flight, an airplane accident can seriously alter your life. Don’t wait to get the help you need, contact us today for a free consultation.

What Are the Requirements For Being an Air Traffic Controller in California?

Given the challenging nature of shepherding airplanes, other aircraft, and flights across crowded airspace, it’s not surprising that the requirements for becoming an air traffic controller are quite stringent. Generally speaking, the training and requirements for becoming an air traffic controller are set by the FAA, and include:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national.
• You must be at least 18 years old to apply.
• A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required. However, some candidates may be eligible with work experience or a combination of education and experience.
• You must pass a thorough medical examination to ensure you meet the physical and mental standards necessary for the job.
• You will undergo a background check and must be able to obtain a security clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
• You need to complete an FAA-approved air traffic controller training program. This training typically takes place at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.
• You must pass the Air Traffic Standardized Aptitude Test (AT-SAT) to demonstrate your ability to handle the demands of the job.
• While not always mandatory, having prior experience in aviation, such as as a pilot or in a related field, can be advantageous.
• Air traffic controllers are required to undergo ongoing training and re-certification throughout their careers to stay current with changing procedures and technology.

Once you meet these requirements, you can indicate your preference for working at specific FAA facilities, including those in California, but final placement is determined by the FAA based on their needs. Regardless, meeting these strict requirements are necessary due to the extremely important nature of the work you’ll do as an air traffic controller.

What Are the Responsibilities of an Air Traffic Controller in California?

Being an air traffic controller isn’t for everyone. In fact, being an air traffic controller can be an extremely stressful job, especially in high-traffic airports or areas like California. That said, the overriding job duties and responsibility of every air traffic controller is maintaining the safety of all the aircraft they oversee. While this is indeed a tall task, the various requirements that have to be met on top of the training virtually ensures that only those that are qualified will ultimately end up in these positions. Still, a typical air traffic controller has a number of other responsibilities at their position, like:

• Guiding airplanes and other aircraft – Air traffic controllers provide instructions and clearances to pilots for takeoff, landing, and navigating through airspace. They ensure that aircraft maintain safe distances from each other to prevent collisions.
• Monitoring – Controllers continuously monitor the position, altitude, and speed of aircraft within their sector using radar and other tracking systems. They maintain situational awareness and identify potential conflicts or hazards.
• Communications – They are responsible for clear and effective communication with pilots, providing information about weather conditions, air traffic, and runway availability. They also relay messages between aircraft and other relevant parties.
• Clearances – Controllers issue takeoff and landing clearances, as well as instructions for taxiing on runways and airport grounds. They ensure that aircraft follow prescribed routes and procedures.
• Emergency response – In case of emergencies, such as engine failures, medical issues on board, or weather-related problems, air traffic controllers provide guidance to pilots and coordinate emergency services as needed.
• Monitoring the weather – Controllers keep track of weather conditions within their airspace and inform pilots of significant weather events, including thunderstorms, turbulence, and low visibility.
• Coordination – They work closely with adjacent control sectors to ensure the seamless transfer of aircraft between different regions of airspace. Coordination is vital to maintaining the flow of air traffic.
• Traffic management – Controllers manage the flow of traffic to avoid congestion and delays. They may implement holding patterns or ground stops during peak traffic times or adverse weather conditions.
• Operating equipment – Controllers operate and maintain radar and other air traffic control equipment, ensuring that it functions correctly and accurately.
• Training and Certification – Air traffic controllers undergo regular training to stay current with evolving procedures and technology. They must also pass certification exams to demonstrate their competence.

Airplane Accidents Caused By Air Traffic Controller Negligence in California

Obviously, there are a number of decisions and responsibilities that come with being an air traffic controller. With that said, the sheer volume of air traffic and overriding responsibilities that every air traffic controller deals with on a daily basis can sometimes be overwhelming, which can lead to incidents caused by different forms of negligence:

• Miscommunication – Failure to convey crucial information to pilots or misunderstanding pilot instructions.
• Coordination errors – Lack of coordination between different air traffic control facilities or personnel.
• Controller fatigue – Fatigue can impair an air traffic controller’s judgment and decision-making abilities.
• Equipment failure – Malfunctions in radar systems or communication equipment can lead to dangerous situations.
• Failure to monitor or detect weather hazards – Not alerting pilots to adverse weather conditions or failing to reroute flights when necessary.
• Runway incursions – Allowing aircraft to enter a runway while another aircraft is taking off or landing.
• Failure to maintain proper separation – Allowing aircraft to get too close to each other in the airspace, increasing the risk of collisions.

When there’s an airplane accident in California–or anywhere else–that was the result of negligence on the part of air traffic control, victims have the legal right to file a claim for damages. However, this requires experience and knowledgeable legal guidance to make sure you’re able to navigate the process successfully.

How Do You File a Claim For Air Traffic Controller Negligence in California?

Whenever there’s a plane accident, someone–or something–is at-fault for causing it. Legally speaking, when an accident is caused by the negligence of an air traffic controller, you have the right to file a claim for damages against them. However, because they are employed by the FAA, it involves filing a claim against them in their purview as a federal agent. While you can still pursue damages, the procedure differs slightly.

First and foremost, the claim must be filed in federal court, not California’s civil court system. Then, there are other procedural differences:

• You must file a Form 95 with the federal government, which initiates a claim for damages.
• Under the Federal Torts Claim Act (FTCA), a judge decides the case rather than a jury.
• Punitive damages aren’t awarded for these types of claims.

With this procedure in place, you can then pursue certain damages against the FAA and the air traffic controller for their negligence:

• The medical costs associated with the accident.
• Income lost due to the accident.
• Potential loss of future earnings in case of permanent injury.
• Expenses linked to the repair or replacement of your personal property.
• Costs connected to the pain and suffering endured.
• Expenses related to the psychological trauma resulting from the accident.
• The diminished quality of life or companionship experienced.

Please note that these damages are general in nature and not an exhaustive list. The amount you can recover in your airplane accident claim depends on the unique circumstances of your case.

Experienced Legal Guidance From Maison Law in California

At Maison Law, our top priority is ensuring your health and well-being are restored. Accidents involving negligence on the part of air traffic controllers can undoubtedly present challenges, but with our team of experienced airplane accident lawyers supporting you, you stand the best chance of obtaining financial support for your recovery.

If you’ve been involved in an accident with an airplane or any other aircraft in California, don’t hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation.