NATCA Email COVID-19

[CF]

EWR traffic hasn’t let up at all yet, but they told us today that’s going to change in the next few days. TEB departures rivaled Thanksgiving for a while, but I don’t know if that was because spring break time of year or “escape from New York”

I’d bank on escape from New York and spring break mixed with just generally higher biz jet traffic since rich people don’t want to be in the cattle cars of major airlines.

 

[fknlo]

EWR traffic hasn’t let up at all yet, but they told us today that’s going to change in the next few days. TEB departures rivaled Thanksgiving for a while, but I don’t know if that was because spring break time of year or “escape from New York”

We were asking airplanes how full they were yesterday and the answer was generally half or less. So passengers have been down while flights haven't. That's obviously changing shortly.

 

[CF]

Ground stop midway. Guessing the rest of the controllers banged in when they found out.

 

[liter a cola]

Ground stop midway. Guessing the rest of the controllers banged in when they found out.

Fuck! Beat me to it. That strip printed out on my last session

 

[ClearanceClarence]

ATC Zero about to be declared at MDW. Shit just got real.

The FAA had better do something now. There shouldn’t be anyone in facilities who isn’t certified on positions at this point.

 

[32andBelow]

wow.

Listening to: KMDW Clearance/Metering | Chicago, Illinois, United States | LiveATC.net

www.liveatc.net

MDW atis

 

[njeezy08]

According to CNBC "several" controllers tested positive at Midway

Not sure if they are mistaking the tech ops guys or if actual controllers also got tested and are positive

 

[GulfBravoPapa]

We literally knew this hours ago guys.... As soon as everyone airborne landed at MDW they were going ATC-0. The official report per a Great Lakes region email is that two tech ops employees tested positive. Everyone on shift will be tested and they are closed until the facility is deep cleaned

 

[RunTheBall_Pete]

A skywest pilot said c90 might take over at 2245 on live atc.

 

[Hissmeowra]

From a source at MDW. There are 4 people at MDW that have tested positive. They are all tech ops, NOT controllers. Only a matter of time until a controller gets it though.

 

[32andBelow]

A skywest pilot said c90 might take over at 2245 on live atc.

No reason they can’t. It’ll be pretty slow going.

 

[liter a cola]

No reason they can’t. It’ll be pretty slow going.

All you need is one airline pilot to get run in there and not cancel ifr.... He'd be my hero.

 

[sizziano]

All you need is one airline pilot to get run in there and not cancel ifr.... He'd be my hero.

Yeah I bet they will be "highly encouraging" pilots to cancel in the air.

Wait 121 can't even fly VFR with pax nvm lol

 

[PushingTin]

Yeah I bet they will be "highly encouraging" pilots to cancel in the air.

Wait 121 can't even fly VFR with pax nvm lol

Yeah I was gonna say...no way the Air Carriers will take off VFR in the middle of C90 airspace. That place must be gridlock right now. What a fucking shitshow this virus is. I am so relieved that they are taking action to protect controllers though. In a perverse way its a great development, because infections were inevitable to happen.

I wonder if they did this proactively... or their hand was forced by sick leave hits

 

[32andBelow]

All you need is one airline pilot to get run in there and not cancel ifr.... He'd be my hero.

That’s what the centers like haha

 

[sizziano]

People are actually departing MDW using the CTAF. Shits crazy lol

 

[32andBelow]

People are actually departing MDW using the CTAF. Shits crazy lol

Why not lol? They can prolly get IFR out of 1000 if they fly the departure.

 

[sizziano]

Why not lol? They can prolly get IFR out of 1000 if they fly the departure.

It's just weird haha. Little vans blasted out of there. Must be nice with no SWA to deal with lol.

 

[32andBelow]

It's just weird haha. Little vans blasted out of there. Must be nice with no SWA to deal with lol.

If it’s VFR I bet SWA would go. I don’t see why not.

 

[PushingTin]

If it’s VFR I bet SWA would go. I don’t see why not.

Looks like SWA is screwed and this is causing all kinds of hell ?