1
PLEASE MAINTAIN
FLIGHT LEVEL 2-4-ZERO.
U.S. AIR 34,
YOU HAVE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION TRAFFIC
AT 12 O'CLOCK.
EXPECT HIGHER WIND. CLEAR.
1st pilot: CHICAGO,
U.S. AIR, ROGER.
CLOSE ESCROW YET?
YEAH.
TWA 45, THIS IS
CHICAGO CENTER.
YOU HAVE
A GOOD EVENING, SIR.
YEAH, BUT ANN
WANTS TO ADD ON...
A NURSERY.
OH, IT'S ABOUT TIME.
WE COULD ALWAYS USE
ANOTHER CONTROLLER.
YANKEE 20, CHICAGO CENTER,
DESCEND AND MAINTAIN
FLIGHT LEVEL 2-ZERO-ZERO.
DETROIT, ALTIMETER
2-NINER-8-3.
2nd pilot: CHICAGO CENTER,
TRANSAIR 2-NINER-ZERO.
TRANSAIR 2-9 TO CHICAGO
CENTER, GO AHEAD.
UH, CENTER,
WE HAVE A SITUATION.
WE HAVE FLAMES
ON ENGINE NUMBER 2.
TRANSAIR 290,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER.
I'M STANDING BY TO ASSIST.
YOU HAVE
EMERGENCY CLEARANCE
FOR RUNWAY NINER-RIGHT.
TWA 2-9-2,
EXPEDITE DESCENT,
MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL
1-5,000.
BONANZA TANGO 1,
TURN LEFT HEADING 1-4-ZERO.
HAWKER BRAVO CHARLIE,
TURN LEFT HEADING 1-8-ZERO,
MAINTAIN 1-5,000.
NUMBER 100 FOXTROT,
IMPERATIVE,
TURN LEFT HEADING
3-ZERO-ZERO.
JACKIE,
YOU'VE GOT AMERICAN 45.
Jackie: GOT IT.
TRANSAIR 290,
I'M STANDING BY TO ASSIST.
HOW MANY?
TRANSAIR 290,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER,
SAY, HOW MANY SOULS?
2nd pilot: UH, CHICAGO,
WE ARE COUNTING NOW.
YOU ARE CLEAR TO TURN
AND DESCEND
AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
2nd pilot: CENTER, WE ARE
LOOKING FOR NINER-RIGHT.
HERE WE GO.
HAWKER BRAVO CHARLIE,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER,
COME IN.
HAWKER BRAVO CHARLIE,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER,
YOU HAVE A TRAFFIC ALER AT 12 O'CLOCK, 5 MILES,
IMPERATIVE YOU TURN LEF HEADING 1-8-ZERO.
2nd pilot:
2-NINER-ZERO DESCENDING.
UH, GET YOUR HAND
OFF YOUR JOYSTICK, MAN.
HAWKER BRAVO CHARLIE,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER.
3rd pilot: CHICAGO CENTER,
HAWKER BRAVO CHARLIE WITH YOU.
HAWKER BRAVO CHARLIE,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER.
YOU HAVE A TRAFFIC ALER AT 12 O'CLOCK, 5 MILES,
IMPERATIVE YOU TURN LEF HEADING 1-8-ZERO.
3rd pilot: CHICAGO CENTER,
HAWKER BRAVO CHARLIE,
WE'RE TURNING.
2nd pilot: CHICAGO,
2-NINER-ZERO,
I HAVE A COLLISION ALERT.
TRANSAIR,
TRAFFIC IS CLEARING.
NOT A FACTOR.
2nd pilot:
ARE YOU SURE, CHICAGO?
AFFIRMATIVE, 290.
HAWKER BRAVO CHARLIE,
CALL YOUR HEADING.
3rd pilot: HAWKER BRAVO CHARLIE
IS AT ZERO-NINER-ZERO.
THAT GUY FLIES LIKE
MY EX-WIFE DRIVES.
2nd pilot: CHICAGO CENTER,
2-NINER-ZERO,
WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION
FOR YOU NOW.
INCLUDING CREW,
WE HAVE 174 SOULS ON BOARD.
THANK YOU,
TRANSAIR 290.
YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD.
2-NINER-ZERO, OUT OF
8,000 AND DESCENDING.
TRANSAIR 290, CONTAC O'HARE TOWER AT 127.65.
YOU HAVE A GOOD EVENING,
SIR.
2nd pilot:
GOOD NIGHT TO YOU.
COULDN'T HAVE MADE I WITHOUT YOU, CHICAGO.
THANK YOU, SIR.
TRANSAIR 90, YOU HAVE
A LOW ALTITUDE ALERT.
CHECK YOUR ALTIMETER
IMMEDIATELY.
2nd pilot:
CHICAGO, 2-9-ZERO, ROGER.
LEVEL IT. LEVEL IT!
TRANSAIR 2-9-ZERO,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER.
2nd pilot:
UH, CHICAGO, WE ARE--
MORE, MORE.
THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT.
TRANSAIR 290,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER,
DO YOU COPY? WE'VE LOS POSITIVE RADAR CONTACT.
TOWER, DO YOU HAVE HIM?
Tower: NEGATIVE.
TRANSAIR 2-NINER-ZERO,
THIS IS CHICAGO, COPY.
TRANSAIR 2-NINER-ZERO,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER, COPY?
TRANSAIR 2-NINER-ZERO,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER, COPY?
DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL IT?
TRANSAIR 2-NINER-ZERO,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER.
DO YOU COPY?
I'M GOING TO CALL IT, JACK.
TRANSAIR 2-NINER-ZERO,
THIS IS CHICAGO CENTER.
DO YOU COPY?
JACK.
TOWER, WE'VE LOST 2-NINER.
Tower: ROGER, CENTER.
WE HAVE SMOKE ON THE HORIZON.
JACK?
TO RECAP WHAT LITTLE DETAILS
WE HAVE AT THIS TIME,
TRANSAIR FLIGHT 290 CRASHED
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF
FROM CHICAGO'S O'HARE AIRPORT.
174 PASSENGERS
AND CREW ONBOARD.
IT APPEARS
THERE ARE NO SURVIVORS.
THE NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY...
HEY, JACK, IT'S T.C.
COMING.
HEY, T.C.
HEY.
HOW YOU DOIN'?
GOOD. YOU OUGH TO TRY RETURNING
A TELEPHONE CALL
NOW AND THEN.
YEAH, I'M SORRY
ABOUT THAT.
AM I INTERRUPTING ANYTHING?
NO, I'M JUST GETTING
READY TO START WORK.
OH, NO, THANKS.
I CAN'T STAY.
I JUST CAME BY
TO SEE HOW YOU WERE DOING,
SEE IF YOU WANT TO GO
TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH ME.
AND...
COME ON, MAN,
GIVE ME A BREAK.
I TRANSFERRED DOWN HERE
TO PHOENIX 6 MONTHS AGO,
I'VE SEEN YOU TWICE.
YEAH, AND BOTH TIMES
YOU COULDN'T HELP YOURSELF,
BUT BRING IT UP.
SO WHY DON'T YOU
JUST GET IT OVER WITH?
THAT'S THE TROUBLE
TALKIN' TO CONTROLLERS.
YOU'RE ALWAYS
3 MOVES AHEAD.
YOU'RE WORKING ME
LIKE I'M TRAFFIC.
THAT'S WHAT ANN USED TO SAY.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
YEAH, ME, TOO.
SO, HOW'S
THE SOFTWARE BUSINESS?
AH, IT'S JUS A BUNCH OF ONES AND ZEROS
AND ZEROS AND ONES.
I STILL FIND IT HARD TO
BELIEVE YOU'D RATHER WORK ON
AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL COMPUTER
GAME THAN CALL REAL TRAFFIC.
THE PAY IS REAL GOOD
AND PEOPLE SEEM TO LIKE IT.
THE KIDS THINK
I'M REALLY COOL.
ALL RIGHT,
HERE'S THE PITCH.
DAMN IT, JACK,
I WANT YOU ON MY TEAM.
I'M STRAPPED.
MURPHY RETIRED.
HE'S GONE.
ROBIN'S OUT ON
A PREGNANCY LEAVE.
McBAIN TRANSFERRED
TO SoCAL TRACON.
I DON'T KNOW WHA TO TELL YOU, T.C.,
BUT I DO NOT MISS
CALLING TRAFFIC.
LOOK, I'M NOT ASKING
FOR A CAREER MOVE HERE.
JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS,
THAT'S ALL.
HELP ME OVER
THE HOLIDAY HUMP.
I CAN'T. OK?
OK, I'M HAPPY
WITH WHAT I'M DOING.
I REALLY AM.
I'M--I'M HAPPY.
AND I'M LATE.
SO, WHAT ABOUT TONIGHT?
YOU GOT PLANS OR WHAT?
GOT TO WORK.
I'M GOING TO GET YOU
PLUGGED BACK IN.
YOU KNOW THAT,
DON'T YOU?
IT'S JUS A MATTER OF TIME.
NOW, I WANT YOU
TO THINK ABOUT IT.
THAT'S ALL.
OK.
HEY, T.C.
YEAH?
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
YOU, TOO, HOTSHOT.
YOU, TOO.
T.C.: UNITED 129,
CONTACT PHOENIX
1-2-ZERO-POINT-5.
Pilot: ROGER.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, PHOENIX.
ROGER, UNITED.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
TO YOU, TOO, SIR. GOOD DAY.
AMERICAN 15,
I'LL PASS YOU TO TUCSON.
HEY, EARL!
Man on phone:
GOT NO WHEELS.
MR. BRYANT--
WELL, WHAT ABOU THAT MOTORCYCLE?
DIDN'T YOU GE THAT THING RUNNING?
SID TO
ONE DELTA FOXTROT,
DESCEND
AND MAINTAIN 7,000.
AMANDA, COME ON,
YOU KNOW I CAN' ORDER YOU.
LOOK, I PROMISED MY KIDS...
SIERRA SUNDANCE, SANTA FE...
SKYWAYS 309,
PHOENIX CENTER,
TURN LEFT 20 DEGREES
FOR SEQUENCING.
MR. BRYANT,
I'M JULIE ALBRECHT--
BAD DOG 45,
PHOENIX CENTER, ROGER.
LOUIE, I DON'T CARE WHA THE UNION MEMO SAYS.
I NEED BODIES HERE.
BRYANT, WE GO THE LATEST WEATHER.
AMANDA, I'LL ROTATE YOU
OUT FIRST, I PROMISE.
MR. BRYANT--
LOUIE, WHAT'S IT GONNA BE?
WHAT'S IT GONNA BE?
BRYANT, WELL, I CAN'T MAKE IT.
I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT.
LOUIE!
TELL HIM
IF HE CAN'T GET HERE
IN AN HOUR
TO FORGET IT.
EARL, YOU'RE ON.
Louie: BRYANT? BRYANT?
HELLO?
WHO ARE YOU?
LOOK AT THIS.
L.A.'S GETTING WALLOPED.
IS THIS GOING
TO HIT US TONIGHT?
YOU TELL ME.
WHERE'S
THE GOLDEN GIRL?
UP IN HER OFFICE KISSING
SENATOR RUTHERFORD'S BUTT.
HI, I'M--
JULIE ALBRECHT.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
RIGHT...
SENATOR, IT IS SUCH
A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I PROMISE WE'LL GET YOU AWAY
AS SOON AS WE CAN.
YOU'VE GOT TO DO
BETTER THAN THAT.
I'M INTRODUCING
THE PRESIDENT LIVE
ON ALL THE NETWORKS.
WELL, UH, 5:30?
I PROMISE.
IT MAKES ME PROUD
THAT THE SYSTEM'S BES YOUNG FACILITIES CHIEF
IS RIGHT HERE
IN MY HOMETOWN.
HMM.
OH, I'M GLAD
YOU'RE HERE.
THERE'S SOMETHING
I WANT TO SHOW YOU.
I'VE ASKED WASHINGTON
FOR PERMISSION
TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE.
A REWARD SYSTEM
FOR THE TROOPS.
SAY, IF A CONTROLLER
GOES 5 YEARS
WITHOU A PHRASEOLOGY ERROR,
GIVE HIM A...
F.A.A. COFFEE MUG.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
OH, I THINK THEY'LL LOVE IT.
OK, OK, ALL AIRCRAF IN MY CENTER, LISTEN UP.
KEEP IT MOVING
AND EVERYTHING
WILL BE ALL RIGHT.
I'M GOING TO TUCK YOU IN
TIGHT LIKE A G-STRING.
BRYANT!
I'M SENDING YOU
UNITED 450, HOSS.
COME ON, STEP UP,
OR WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU
OUT BACK AND SHOOT YOU.
I GOT IT, SMART GUY.
Pilot: CENTER,
SKY ATLANTIC 9-2-5,
WE'RE REALLY GETTING
BOUNCED AROUND HERE.
CAN YOU GIVE US
AN ASCENT OF 2-5-ZERO?
Controller: 9-2-5, NEGATIVE.
HOLD YOUR ALTITUDE.
UH, PHOENIX, WE REALLY NEED
TO GET OUT OF THIS NOW.
NEGATIVE.
TRAFFIC BENEATH YOU.
BREAK OU THE BARF BAGS, BRO.
I DON'T SEE HIM ON TCAS.
I'M NOT GOING
TO RISK IT.
OH! WHAT'S GOING ON?
CHECK YOUR STRIPS.
INCREASE MINIMUM
SEPARATION TO 20 MILES.
PROBABLY ONLY A HICCUP.
QUINN?
QUINN?!
QUINN!
WHAT'S HAPPENING?!
WILL YOU TELL
MISS GOLDEN GIRL
TO BACK OFF?!
OR SHE CAN COME DOWN HERE...
GET ON HER HANDS AND KNEES
HER OWN SELF.
OK.
ALL RIGHT, LOOK,
I REALLY NEED
YOUR COOPERATION NOW.
SO I'M GOING
TO PUSH YOUR BUTTONS,
AND YOU'RE GONNA START.
OK.
THANK YOU.
OK, ALL RIGHT,
GO TO B SEQUENCE.
UNITED 3-3-3,
CONTACT K.C. CENTER
AT ONE-ONE-NINER-POINT-9-5.
WE'RE BACK ON LINE.
I WANT YOU
TO GET PLUGGED IN.
ME?
YEAH, WE'LL FIND YOU
A QUIET SECTOR.
GREAT.
ALASKA 27-37,
MAINTAIN LEVEL 300.
Pilot: PHOENIX, I'M ASSUMING
YOU MEAN 3-ZERO-ZERO.
I'M COOL.
IS THIS JOB
TOO EASY FOR YOU?
IT'S A BIG SKY, HOSS.
UH, PHOENIX 9-2-5,
WE HAVE FOUND THE SMOOTH AIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
9-2-5, ROGER.
DON'T GET COCKY.
OH, JEEZ.
RANDY.
OH, JEEZ.
OH, JEEZ!
REPEAT, DELTA 285,
SAY YOUR PRESEN HEADING AND ALTITUDE.
CENTER, I'M STILL
AT 2-8-ZERO AT 350.
AMERICA 415, SAY YOUR
HEADING AND ALTITUDE.
Pilot: 415, DOES THAT SHOW?
AND I'M SHOWING 200.
415, DESCEND TO 13,000.
DELTA 285, MAINTAIN
PRESENT ALTITUDE.
Pilot: 285, ROGER.
THEY FLIP-FLOPPED.
IT'S THE MACHINE.
TAKE A BREAK.
TAKE A BREAK?
TAKE 20.
I NEED YOU BACK STRONG.
I CAN'T WORK LIKE THIS.
Pilot: CENTER, DELTA 285,
YOU HAVEN'T ASKED MY HEADING
IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
MACHINES...
DELTA 285, EXCUSE US.
T.C.: A LITTLE EARLY
HAPPY NEW YEAR. NO PROBLEM.
I'M NOT GOING
TO REPORT THE BLACKOUT.
IT WAS A NONEVENT.
LET'S JUST MAKE SURE
IT DOESN' HAPPEN AGAIN, OK?
MM-HMM.
DID YOU KNOW THA THE ONLY OTHER TUBE LIKE THIS
IN THE ENTIRE WORLD
IS OWNED BY SOME
RETIRED NASA PENCIL JOCKEY
WHO LIVES IN
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA?
HE KEEPS I ABOVE HIS FIREPLACE.
HE CALLS IT TAMMY.
I CALL THIS BOB.
NOW, YOU WAN A PERFECT OPERATION, SO DO I.
SO, ALL I NEED
IS SOME EQUIPMENT.
IF YOU CAN FIND IT,
A BUDGET.
BOB.
HEY, OLD MAN.
IF YOU CAN TELL ME
EXACTLY HOW MANY TURNS
TO VECTOR FROM HERE
TO DUNKIN' DONUTS,
I'LL GIVE YOU
THE WHOLE BOX.
I HATE DONUTS.
EVERYBODY
LIKES DONUTS.
2 HOURS SOUTH-SOUTHWEST.
MEDICAL STREET.
OK, THIS IS WHERE WE STAND.
ON TOP OF
OUR NORMAL ROTATION,
WE'RE BEING ASKED
TO ACCEPT 50 MORE,
PLUS THE ENTIRE PACIFIC
RIM, LAX EVENING CYCLE.
LOS ANGELES IS OUT, TOO?
MM-HMM.
WALKS OFF.
ZERO VISIBILITY.
ZERO CEILING.
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
A CRUSH LIKE THIS WOULD KILL US
ON A SUNNY DAY IN JULY.
AND IF THIS STORM HITS US--
50-50.
RIGHT NOW THE FRON HAS STALLED
ABOUT 100 MILES
WEST OF HERE.
GOOD.
THEN THAT'S IT.
SO YOU'RE GONNA DO IT?
YOU GONNA TAKE THESE
ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS?
WHY SHOULD WE LE DENVER AND SALT LAKE
HAVE ALL THE FUN, BIG GUY?
EXCUSE ME.
EXCUSE ME, I HAVE AN IMPORTAN SAFETY MATTER TO DISCUSS.
EXCUSE ME!
I BELIEVE RANDY GROVES
IS STILL CALLING TRAFFIC.
IT WASN'T HIS FAULT.
I'M FILING ON HIM.
IT WAS LEVEL 2,
LOSS OF SEPARATION.
PAGE 740, APPENDIX A,
ANY AIRSPACE CONFLIC MUST BE REPORTED
AND INVESTIGATED,
AND THE CONTROLLER INVOLVED
IMMEDIATELY REMOVED.
I'M FILING ON HIM.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE
ONE OF THESE
STUCK UP YOUR ASS,
WOULD YOU?
Jack's voice:
YOU'VE REACHED JACK HARRIS.
AT THE SOUND OF THE TONE,
PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE.
THANK YOU.
T.C.: JACK,
IF YOU'RE THERE, PICK UP.
LOOK, JACK, I NEED YOUR HELP.
YOU WON'T BELIEVE
WHAT THIS NEW CHIEF
IS SHOVING DOWN MY THROAT.
I'M BEING SELFISH HERE,
BUT...I'M...
WELL, I'M STRAPPED.
COME ON, JACK,
JUST ONE NIGHT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, HOTSHOT?
COME ON, JACK,
JUST ONE NIGHT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, HOTSHOT?
RANDY?
OH, THERE YOU ARE.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH.
YOU GOOD TO GO?
I'M OK.
I'M COOL.
SO DID YOU HEAR WHAT THE GOLDEN
GIRL IS DOING TO US DOWN THERE?
Pilot: GLOBAL 56,
HOLDING AT THE ALLEY.
GLOBAL 56,
TAXI TO 2-6-RIGH VIA DELTA TO CHARLIE
AND HOLD BY MAC.
I AM SO GLAD
TO BE OUT OF THAT DUNGEON.
Pilot: TOWER, WE HIT SOME
ROADKILL ON ECHO.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO
NOTIFY MAINTENANCE.
UH, NEGATIVE, CAPTAIN.
WE'LL JUST CALL
YOUR CATERING SERVICE.
Laura: VIRGIN 105,
FLOW SAYS IT'S ANOTHER
40 MINUTES OF SNOOZE
BEFORE CHICAGO RELEASE.
MIGHT AS WELL UNBUCKLE.
AMERICAN 23,
RUNWAY 2-6-LEFT,
CLEARED TO LAND,
WINDS 2-NINER-ZERO
AT 8 KNOTS.
ALTIMETER 2-NINER-8-7.
Pilot: AMERICAN 23,
2-6-LEFT, ROGER.
ON YOUR RIGHT!
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE AIRSPACE
FROM CENTRAL TEXAS TO
THE CALIFORNIA BORDER,
ALL THE WAY TO WITHIN
5 MILES OF THE AIRPORT.
THIS IS SECTOR 14 HIGH.
YOU'LL BE HANDLING
ALL IFR TRAFFIC
ABOVE 18,000 FEET.
RIGHT.
NOW, YOU HAVE
4 PLANES HERE
THAT MATCH THESE STRIPS.
THERE'S THEIR
FLIGHT PLANS,
THEIR SQUAWK CODES...
HELL, YOU KNOW ALL THIS.
RIGHT, JUST LIKE
AT THE ACADEMY.
YEAH. WELL, YOU LOOK
TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
KEEP 'EM APART,
NO TROUBLE.
ALL RIGHT,
DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
OH, GREAT.
THE BACKUPS ARE ARRIVING.
I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.
Sam: DON'T YOU KNOW
WHO THAT IS?
Cruise: NO.
OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
HE LEFT BEFORE YOU CAME.
GLOBAL 56, TURN RIGH HEADING ZERO-8-ZERO.
I GOT A 50 SPO THAT SAYS
HE HAS A DEAL TONIGHT.
NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.
WAIT A MINUTE.
JUST...ANY KIND OF DEAL
OR SEPARATION LOST.
SOUTHWEST 30, CLIMB AND MAINTAIN
FLIGHT LEVEL 2-3-ZERO.
AH, FORGET IT.
IT'S NOT A FAIR BET.
WHY?
THAT'S 290 HARRIS.
JUST THINK, I WAS GOING
TO CALL IN SICK TONIGHT.
NO, NO, NO.
THANK YOU, SIR.
HEY. HEY!
Pilot: AMERICAN 15,
WITH YOU AT 1-5,000.
ROGER, AMERICAN 15,
MAINTAIN 1-5,000.
RESUME NORMAL SPEED.
HOW YOU DOING, T.C.?
HEY, GOOD. I KNEW
YOU WERE STILL ALIVE
IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
Pilot: HAPPY NEW YEAR.
ROGER, UPS 19 HEAVY.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU,
TOO, SIR.
I'M READY AND I'M HERE.
WHERE DO YOU WANT ME?
UH, RIGHT. WELL, UH...
YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO NEED THAT, ACTUALLY.
I WANT YOU ASSISTING
ON THE PRINTERS.
YOU WANT ME
RUNNING FLIGHT STRIPS?
SURE, MAN. I'M THERE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW
I'M GOING TO HELP YOU
GET PLUGGED BACK IN,
BUT...
SAMPSON 750,
PHOENIX CONTROL,
DESCEND
AND MAINTAIN ONE-1,000.
I MEAN, BELIEVE ME,
THIS IS NOT THE NIGHT.
LOOK WHAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH.
I UNDERSTAND.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, I'LL
CHECK WITH YOU LATER.
I KNOW. LET'S GE A DRINK OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T DRINK.
A CUP OF TEA. WHATEVER.
YOU GOT IT, T.C.,
THANKS.
CACTUS 68, ADVISE
WHEN YOU GET THE NUMBERS.
DELTA, CLEARED TO ROLL.
WINDS 2-5-5 AT 8.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
Man: HELLO? HELLO?
CAN ANYONE GIVE ME
DIRECTIONS
TO THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
IN TEMPE?
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?
BONANZA NINER ECHO.
TRAFFIC ON A FINAL 2 MILES.
EXPEDITE YOUR CROSS,
RUNWAY 2-6 RIGHT.
Pilot: 2-6 RIGHT.
ROGER.
SKY WEST 478...
Man: HELLO?
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
HEAR WHAT?
SKY WEST 478,
CAPTAIN, WE'RE STILL WAITING
FOR WORD
FROM FLOW ON D.C.
AND BALTIMORE.
WILL ADVISE.
HELLO? PHOENIX TOWER,
THIS IS DR. SHAMAAL
MURKURGEE, M.D.,
I'M A LICENSED PILOT,
F.A.A.
ARE YOU THERE?
BECAUSE I AM HERE.
TOWER?
TOWER, REPEAT, THIS IS
DR. SHAMAAL MURKURGEE, M.D.,
LICENSED PILOT.
TO THE UNIDENTIFIED PILO ON FREQUENCY 126.7,
CONTACT PHOENIX TOWER
AT 120.7 IMMEDIATELY.
AIR MEXICO 183, PHOENIX,
MAINTAIN 2-7-0 KNOTS.
SEQUENCE FOR A BUCK?
HOW MUCH TIME DO I GET?
AMERICAN 87, PHOENIX,
TURN LEFT 10 DEGREES
DIRECT SANTA FE V-O-R.
I'LL GIVE YOU
5 SECONDS.
SHOOT.
A-15, R-30,
C-60, T-105.
NEXT 2.
EEH.
UH, E-150.
WRONG. E-165.
YOU'RE SLIPPING,
MAN.
I'M WORRIED ABOU MY CONTROLLERS.
YOUR CONTROLLERS
WILL BE FINE.
THEY'RE AMONG THE MOS HIGHLY TRAINED PEOPLE
WORKING FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I GOT WIND AT 80 KNOTS
BELOW 3,000 FEE AND ZERO VISIBILITY
HEADED STRAIGHT FOR US.
WRONG. THE STORM
STALLED.
EVEN SO, I ALREADY HAVE
TO FLY 48 PLANES
THROUGH A CRACK OF SMOOTH AIR
TIGHTER THAN YOUR BUDGET.
WE CANNOT HANDLE
THE ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS.
IF DENVER CAN DO IT,
WE CAN DO IT.
OH, DAMN IT, SUSAN, THIS
IS ABOUT THE COMMITTEE REVIEW.
THIS IS ABOUT YOU AND
YOUR FACILITY RATING.
WELL, THIS IS NO CHICAGO APPROACH, SUSAN.
THIS IS NOT NEW YORK.
NOW I KNOW WHY
YOU STEPPED DOWN
FROM CHICAGO.
YOU COULDN'T HANDLE IT,
COULD YA?
HEY, WHERE'S MY DAMN STRIPS?
I PUT THEM IN ORDER
OF ALTITUDE.
Pilot: PHOENIX, SOUTHWEST 556.
DID YOU SAY 3-5-0?
HEY. HEY. ROOKIE?
ROOKIE?
WHAT?
HI. HI. SORRY
TO BOTHER YOU.
WHAT ARE THESE JETS
DOING IN MY SECTOR?
I-I-I DON'T KNOW. I--
GET THEM OU OF MY AIR NOW.
Pilot: PHOENIX, TWA 44,
HOW ABOUT 2-4-0?
TWA 44, I CAN'T--I CAN' APPROVE THAT RIGHT NOW.
CAN YOU HOLD ON A MINUTE?
GOD, I KNOW HOW TO DO THIS.
OH, GOD. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT,
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
UM, OK.
UNITED. I MEAN, TWA--
TWA 44, PHOENIX,
FLY TO 2-NINER-0.
Pilot: TWA 44, HEADING
2-NINER-0. ROGER.
SOUTHWEST 556,
EXPEDITE CLIMB.
MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL
2-7-0. REDUCE
TO 2-5-0 KNOTS.
SOUTHWEST 556, CLIMBING
TO 2-7-0 AT 2-5-0 KNOTS.
WHY SO SLOW?
SOUTHWEST 556, WE GOTTA
UNTIE A KNOT HERE,
BUT WE WILL GET YOU
BACK TO SPEED,
AND I PROMISE A SMOOTH
TAILWIND ACROSS KANSAS.
IS THERE A TAILWIND?
I DON'T KNOW, BUT PILOTS
LOVE TO HEAR IT.
I'M SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE
INTRODUCED MYSELF SOONER.
I'M JULIE ALBRECHT.
JACK HARRIS.
CAN I GIVE YOU A TIP?
PLEASE.
PILOTS ARE KIND
OF LIKE DOGS.
YOU TELL THEM WHA YOU WANT THEM TO DO.
BUT IF THEY HEAR FEAR
IN YOUR VOICE,
THEY'RE GONNA STAR TO TAKE THINGS
INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.
SO NO MATTER HOW CRAZY
IT GETS ON THERE,
YOU KEEP YOUR VOICE
STRONG.
RIGHT. I-I-I--SORRY,
I JUST GOT DISTRACTED.
IF YOU WANT TO GE A PILOT TO DO SOMETHING,
THE MAGIC WORD
IS EXPEDITE.
EXPEDITE YOUR CLIMB
IMMEDIATELY.
EXPEDITE.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
YOUR MAJOR CONCERN
IS RIGHT HERE.
YOU'RE GONNA LOSE
SEPARATION
IN A COUPLE MINUTES.
ALL YOU GOTTA DO
IS TURN HIM,
SLOW HIM DOWN, AND
TUCK THIS ONE IN
RIGHT BEHIND HIM.
LEFT?
NO. TURN HIM FIRST.
1-8-0, AND YOU BETTER
SLOW HIM DOWN TO 300.
AMERICAN 101, TURN RIGH HEADING 1-8-0,
REDUCE TO 2-5-0 KNOTS.
THERE YOU GO.
SEE, ONE OF THE HARDES THINGS TO GRASP
IS THAT YOU'RE DEALING
WITH A 2-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE,
BUT YOU'RE ACTUALLY
DEALING WITH 3 DIMENSIONS--
ALTITUDE, DIRECTION,
AND SPEED.
WHICH MEANS TIME.
PLUS, YOU GOTTA STAY
A COUPLE STEPS
AHEAD OF THESE GUYS.
LOOK, RIGHT HERE.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
A TERRIBLE TANGLE HERE
IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES.
BUT ONCE YOU
REALIZE THAT,
THAT'S 95%
OF THE BATTLE.
WHERE?
NOW, WHOEVER'S WORKING
SECTOR 25 HIGH
KINDA SCREWS YOU BY
SENDING THIS PARADE IN
ALL MESSED UP LIKE THIS,
BUT WE'LL GET THEM
LINED UP IN NO TIME.
I SEE IT.
ALTITUDE, DIRECTION,
AND SPEED.
SO, WE'LL TURN
UNITED FIRST?
NO.
HE'S THE CLOSEST, BU HE'S GOING THE SLOWEST.
ALL RIGHT.
SOUTHWEST 60,
TURN LEFT HEADING
0-NINER-5. BREAK.
CONTINENTAL 923, TURN
RIGHT HEADING 2-7-0.
BREAK. PHOENIX AIR 394,
REDUCE TO 2-5-0 KNOTS
FOR TRAFFIC OVERTAKING
YOUR 12 O'CLOCK,
7 MILES.
WE ALL RIGHT HERE?
OH, YEAH, WE JUS UNTIED A KNOT.
TAKE YOUR BREAK.
THANK YOU.
YEAH.
WELL?
SHE RAN INTO A JAM.
YOU WANT TO STAY
WITH THIS SECTOR?
I THINK I CAN SWING IT.
Pilot: CENTER, VANGUARD 939
WITH YOU AT X-RAY.
ROGER, VANGUARD 939.
I'LL PLUG IN RIGHT NOW IF YOU
WANT TO GO BACK TO THE STRIPS.
NO, I'D LIKE TO STAY.
THOUGHT YOU MIGHT.
THANKS.
VANGUARD 939,
WELCOME TO MY AIRSPACE.
WE'LL TRY AND GIVE YOU
SOME SMOOTH AIR TONIGHT.
GOOD EVENING, PHOENIX.
IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
GOOD EVENING
TO YOU, SIR.
GET ME MISTER--
IF THIS IS ABOUT RANDY,
I TOLD YOU--
DO I NEED TO GE MY EYES CHECKED,
OR DOES JULIE ALBRECH NEED A SHAVE?
WHO IS THAT ON 14 HIGH?
DO YOU EVER GO HOME?
IT'S JACK HARRIS.
FLIGHT 290 HARRIS?
WHERE'S HIS PAPERWORK?
I KNOW, MURRAY, IT'S MY FAULT.
YOU'LL GET IT.
I WON'T SIGN THEM.
THIS MAN COULD BE
A THREA TO AIRSPACE SAFETY.
THAT IS MY SINGLE
CONCERN.
ITEM ONE...
I WAS THERE THE NIGH OF THE CRASH.
NO ONE IS QUESTIONING
HIS QUOTE,
HEROISM, UNQUOTE.
I'M REFERRING WHEN HE
TRANSFERRED TO PHOENIX
AND TRIED TO RETURN
TO DUTY--
MURRAY, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHA WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE TONIGHT?
MARCH 1994.
SUBJECT ARRIVED
INTOXICATED AT WORK.
OHH. HE COMPLETED
ALCOHOL REHAB PROGRAM.
JULY 1995. SUBJEC VERBALLY ABUSED
COWORKERS, HAD
TO BE RESTRAINED.
AND THE COMPLAIN WAS DROPPED.
LOOK, I KNOW HOW I MAY LOOK ON PAPER,
BUT I'VE KNOWN JACK HARRIS
FOR 10 YEARS.
HE IS THE BEST CONTROLLER
I'VE EVER SEEN.
NOVEMBER 1996.
AFTER A LEVEL 2
LOSS OF SEPARATION,
SUBJECT PHYSICALLY
ASSAULTED
FACILITY CHIEF.
AND GOT A STANDING OVATION.
I NEED HIM. HE'S STAYING.
I'M TAKING THIS UP
WITH THE REGIONAL
INSPECTOR GENERAL.
YOU KNOW WHAT THA COULD MEAN FOR YOU.
I'VE SEEN YOUR FILE,
TOO, MURRAY.
DID YOU KNOW...
THAT IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY
OF THE F.A.A.,
YOU'RE ONE OF ONLY
3 CONTROLLERS
TO EVER VOLUNTEER
FOR THAT JOB?
PHOENIX APPROACH,
AT 127-POINT-55.
Radio: POINT-55,
GOOD EVENING.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING,
TOO, SIR.
JUST LIKE RIDING
A BICYCLE, HUH?
OK, ARE YOU READY
FOR YOUR FIELD
CERTIFICATION TEST?
SURE, WHY NOT?
ALL RIGHT. WHAT'S OUR
CONTROL AIRSPACE?
50-MILE RADIUS,
HAND OFF TO TOWER
AT 5 MILES,
ALL VFR AND IFR
AT 2,000 FEET.
AND OUR RUNWAY
CONFIGURATION?
ROGER, TOWER.
DELTA 39,
WE NEED YOU TO SLOW
DOWN YOUR APPROACH
DUE TO GROUND
TRAFFIC.
REDUCE TO 1-4-0
KNOTS.
RUNWAY
CONFIGURATION--
Radio:
DELTA 39, ROGER.
TWIN EAST-WEST,
BOTH 7,000 FEET,
RATED LEVEL ONE,
ALL-WEATHER,
STANDARD LOCALIZER
AND GLIDE SLOPE,
SECONDARY
NORTH AND SOUTH
AT 6,200 FEET.
FIELD ELEVATION?
2-NINER-8-7,
ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
AND OUR HAND-OFF
SOUTHBOUND?
WEST LOS ANGELES,
SECTOR 39,
AT FREQUENCY 1-5-8
POINT 7,
EAST EL PASO,
1-3-5 POINT 5,
AND NORTH
KANSAS CITY,
1-2-NINER POINT 8.
RIGHT-O.
I SHOULD'VE
THROWN THIS AWAY
A LONG TIME AGO,
BUT I DIDN'T.
JESUS CHRIST.
WELCOME BACK, HOTSHOT.
THANKS.
MERCURY 4-7-7,
WE NEED YOU
TO TURN RIGHT,
HEADING 1-0-0.
Radio: MERCURY 4-7-7,
WE'RE TURNING.
GOOD EVENING
TO YOU, PHOENIX.
YOU HAVE A GOOD
EVENING, TOO, SIR.
THE GUY IS NOT HERE.
HE'S GOT ONE FOO AT THE CONSOLE,
HE'S GOT ONE FOO IN THE SKY.
SHUT UP.
I'M TELLING YOU,
THE GUY'S A SPOOK.
WHO YOU CALLING
A SPOOK?
YOUR BUDDY,
290 HARRIS.
AT LEAST HE'S A BODY.
WE NEED ALL THE HELP
WE CAN GET.
THAT'S RIGHT, BUT THIS
IS NOT THE PLACE,
AND TONIGH IS NOT THE NIGH TO REHABILITATE
A CAREER.
WE STUDIED
THE CRASH OF 290.
I MEAN, YOU HEARD THE TAPES.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU, ME,
OR ANYBODY ELSE COULD'VE DONE.
IT WASN'T HARRIS' FAULT.
YOU'RE ENTIRELY
MISSING THE POINT.
FORGET THE CRASH.
LOOK IN HIS EYES.
WHERE IS HE?
A GOOD CONTROLLER
NEVER THINKS
THAT THOSE
ARE PEOPLE UP THERE.
HE NEVER THINKS THA LIVES ARE AT STAKE.
YEAH, RIGHT. YOU'RE SO
FULL OF SHIT.
DO YOU WANT TO END
UP LIKE HARRIS?
DO YOU WANT TO BE
A DRUNK?
OR LIKE, WHAT THE...
THE WHITE GUY.
WILKINS FROM MIAMI.
YOU ARE SUCH A RACIST.
THIS GUY HANGS HIMSELF
WITH HIS OWN BELT.
OK, LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW WHERE I'M
GOING? TO CHICAGO,
AND I'M GOING TO PULL IN
THE BIG MONEY.
YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW?
OK, YOU GET A SKY
FULL OF JETS,
YOU GET BAD WEATHER--
NIGHT LIKE TONIGHT.
AND YOU HANDLE IT.
PERIOD.
IF YOU THINK
THAT THOSE JETS
ARE FULL OF PEOPLE,
YOU'RE GOING TO CHOKE.
THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE TIME, SPACE,
AND SPEED PROBLEMS.
THEY'RE BLIPS
TO BE PROCESSED,
CONTROLLED,
AND ORDERED.
THAT'S IT.
HUMAN LIVES HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
AMANDA, HOW LONG
HAVE YOU BEEN OFF?
I KNOW.
WHY DON'T YOU
DO SOMETHING?
DON'T YOU WORK HERE?
BITE ME!
SO HAVE YOU, UH,
CHECKED OU THE TWIN TURBOS
ON THE NEW CESSNA
BY ANY CHANCE?
YEAH.
SHE'S KIND OF SEXY.
FLIGHT 69,
YOU ARE NOW
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.
EXCUSE ME.
MAKE SURE YOUR
TRAY TABLE'S
IN THE UPRIGH POSITION.
HOW YOU DOING?
I'M CRUISE,
BY THE WAY.
I JUST WANTED TO,
UH...
I'M SORRY ABOU BEFORE.
I JUST--YOU KNOW.
YOU GOT TO KEEP
YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW.
LITTLE LIGH READING. ALL RIGHT.
UH, HEY, IF YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS STUFF,
IF YOU HAVE ANY--
IF YOU NEED--
NEED HELP AT ALL,
YOU COME TO ME, OK?
THANKS, I'LL KEEP THA IN MIND.
OK, YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE IT'S TRICKY,
YOU KNOW,
THERE'S SOME NIGH TAKEOFFS, YOU KNOW?
UH, HORIZONTAL
SEPARATION.
UH...
JUST CRANKING
THE AC IN HERE,
IT'S JUST AMAZING.
SO, UM, YEAH.
CM-80 FLIGHT MANUAL.
THIS IS GREAT.
HAVE YOU CHECKED OU THE CHAPTER
ON DEICING
BY ANY CHANCE?
YEAH. IT COMES
RIGHT AFTER THE CHAPTER
ON FAILED APPROACHES,
I THINK.
YEAH.
YEAH. THAT WEN SURPRISINGLY WELL,
YOU KNOW?
LIKE IN A FIRST-DATE
KIND OF WAY.
LIKE A--YEAH.
Harris: PACIFIC 4-7-7,
CONTAC KANSAS CITY CENTER
AT 2-NINER POINT 8.
Radio: KANSAS CITY,
HERE WE COME.
ROGER.
GOOD NIGHT, PHOENIX.
YOU HAVE A GOOD
EVENING, TOO, SIR.
TWIN CESSNA,
4-2-5 GULF,
CLEARED
TO SANTA BARBARA
V.A. AFTER BLYTHE.
DIRECT MAINTAIN
FLIGHT LEVEL 2-0-0.
TAKEOUT?
APPETIZERS ARE GREAT.
THEY'RE ONLY 5 BUCKS.
THANKS.
LET ME KNOW.
Radio: CENTER,
UNITED 3-8-3,
CLIMBING TO 3-0-0.
UNITED 3-8-3,
EXPECT CONTINUOUS
LIGHT CHOP.
CLIMB THROUGH
FLIGHT LEVEL 2-8-0,
THEN OCCASIONAL
LIGHT CHOP
AFTER THAT.
NAVY 7-24,
CONTACT LOS ANGELES
AT 1-3-3 POINT 2.
BRYANT--
Radio: NAVY 7-24,
ROGER.
YOU, UH--
YOU WANT ME TO KEEP
AN EYE ON HIS SECTOR?
WHOSE SECTOR?
DO YOUR JOB.
UNITED 23, PHOENIX.
EXPECT ROUGH AIR AHEAD,
BUT YOU'LL MISS I IF YOU CLIMB
TO FLIGHT LEVEL
3-5-0.
Radio: PHOENIX,
UNITED 23. ROGER.
Pilot: INCLUDING CREW,
WE HAVE 174 SOULS ON BOARD.
UH, CHICAGO,
WE ARE COUNTING DOWN.
Radio: PHOENIX,
REPUBLIC 186
WITH YOU.
REPUBLIC 1-8-6, TURN LEFT,
HEADING 0-NINER-0.
INTERCEPT THE SCOTTSDALE
2-3-4 RADIAL INBOUND.
ROGER, PHOENIX.
BREAK.
THANKS.
CESSNA 4 ROMEO GULF,
YOU ARE 2 MILES INSIDE
ACTIVE MILITARY AIRSPACE.
SUGGEST YOU FLY HEADING
0-NINER-0 IMMEDIATELY.
RANDY GROVES, RIGHT?
PICKED A HELL OF A NIGH TO COME BACK, HARRIS.
YOU KNOW, YOU--
YOU WERE GOING TO BE
MY HERO.
HOW'S THAT?
WELL, YOU WERE OUT.
YOU HAD IT MADE.
LIFE AFTER CONTROLLING.
LOOK AT ME.
TOTAL MESS.
YOU HAD A DEAL
TONIGHT, DIDN'T YOU?
IT WASN'T MY FAULT.
SYSTEMS ERROR.
I USED TO REALLY
LOVE THIS.
I WAS REALLY GOOD, TOO.
IT WAS SO EASY.
NOW I'M ON THE BOARDS,
AND I DRIFT.
I MEAN, I THINK ABOU MY WIFE AND MY KID.
I'VE LOST IT.
THE SCREEN IS A MESS,
SNITCHE'S GOING OFF.
I HAVE ANOTHER DEAL.
ONE STEP
CLOSER TO THE AX.
YEAH.
Laura: UNITED 44,
CONTACT GROUND.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
SKY ATLANTIC 62,
PHOENIX TOWER.
CAPTAIN,
YOU NEED TO DO A 360.
Radio: DAMN IT,
TOWER. DO YOU KNOW
HOW IT COSTS THIS
AIRLINE 2 GRAND
IN FUEL EVERY TIME
WE CIRCLE?
SKY ATLANTIC 62,
GIVE ME $4,000 WORTH.
PACIFIC 10, TURN LEF NEXT TAXI WAY.
GROUND POINT NINER.
Murkurgee:
HELLO. HELLO.
WHO CAN READ ME NOW?
WHOEVER'S CALLING
PHOENIX,
SAY CALL SIGN.
PHOENIX TOWER,
THIS IS DR. SHAMAAL
MURKURGEE, M.D.,
I'M A LICENSED PILOT,
F.A.A.
DO YOU HAVE THIS GUY?
NEGATIVE ON HIM.
SAY YOUR HEADING
AND ALTITUDE.
THE DIRECTION IN WHICH I AM
CURRENTLY FLYING MY PLANE IS...
FORWARD.
DON'T WORRY.
HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
MANDER-SIERRA-ROMEO
NINER,
CROSS DURANGO
AND MAINTAIN 8,000.
Pilot: ROGER, CENTER.
DURANGO AT 8,000.
Pilot:
CENTER, SOUTHWEST 328,
CAN WE TURN TO 2-5-0?
SOUTHWEST 328,
DEVIATION LEFT OF COURSE
APPROVED.
WHEN ABLE FLY HEADING 2-5-0
AND ADVISE.
TRAFFIC AT YOUR 3 O'CLOCK,
8 MILES.
SAME DIRECTION,
FLIGHT LEVEL 2-2-0.
87-37.
Pilot:
THANK YOU, PHOENIX.
CESSNA 31 VICTOR,
TRAFFIC ALERT,
2 O'CLOCK,
7 MILES SOUTHBOUND,
MODE C,
INDICATES 7,100,
APPEARS TO BE
DESCENDING.
15, NEGATIVE.
MAINTAIN HEADING,
TRAFFIC 2 MILES
AT YOUR ONE O'CLOCK.
Radio: UH, PHOENIX,
TWA 44,
LEAVING 8,000.
ROGER THAT, TWA 44,
WE'RE HANDING YOU OFF
TO TOWER.
FREQUENCY 1-3-4
POINT 6-2.
GOOD DAY, PHOENIX.
GOOD DAY TO YOU, SIR.
BRAVO DELTA NINER,
CONTACT KANSAS CITY
CENTER
AT 1-2-6-4-7.
GOOD EVENING, SIR.
Radio: 1-2-6-4-7.
GOOD EVENING.
SUN AIR 700
TO CENTER,
MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL
6-0-0-0.
Radio: SUN AIR 700.
ROGER, 6,000.
HOW'S THE RIDE AHEAD?
WE'VE GOT SOME CHOP,
BUT WE WILL
GET YOU THROUGH.
Pilot: UH, CENTER,
WE HAVE A SITUATION.
CENTER, WE HAVE
A SITUATION.
UH, CHICAGO,
WE ARE COUNTING NOW.
WE HAVE THA INFORMATION FOR YOU NOW.
INCLUDING CREW,
WE HAVE 174 SOULS ON BOARD.
HEY, YOU GOING
TO CALL THAT?
HEY.
Radio: PHOENIX,
ALASKA 2-7-1.
GOING TO CALL IT?
CALL IT, ACE.
UNITED 15,
TRAFFIC ALERT.
TURN LEFT IMMEDIATELY
AT 2-7-0,
DESCEND TO FLIGH LEVEL 2-2-0, BREAK.
ALASKAN 2-7-1,
TRAFFIC ALERT.
TURN RIGHT IMMEDIATELY
AT 0-NINER-0,
THEN ASCEND
TO FLIGHT LEVEL 2-8-0.
Radio: ALASKA 2-7-1
DESCENDING.
SORRY.
WHAT HAPPENED?
YOUR FRIEND ALMOS SCREWED THE POOCH.
CLEAR OU HIS SECTOR,
I'LL COVER YOURS.
NORTHWEST 29,
EL PASO ALTIMETER
2-NINER-7-4.
Radio: THANK YOU,
PHOENIX.
CENTER,
WHAT'S AHEAD OF ME?
ALPHA 7-90, YOU ARE
10 MILES IN-TRAIL
BEHIND A 757.
WE STUDIED YOUR CASE
AT THE ACADEMY.
USED TO BE A HELL
OF A CONTROLLER.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
SHIT.
HEY.
HEY, WHAT'S UP?
I CAN'T DO THIS.
THIS WAS A MISTAKE.
OH, COME ON.
YOU'RE DOING FINE.
I'M NOT DOING FINE.
LOOK, YOU JUST DON' UNDERSTAND.
I DO UNDERSTAND.
I UNDERSTAND I GO TOO MANY PLANES TO LAND
WITH A SKELETON CREW
AND A STORM THAT'S ABOU TO ROLL OVER US
LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN.
I NEED YOU, MAN.
"A" SIDE,
PASSING OUT STRIPS.
I DON'T CARE
IF YOU GET COFFEE
OR GO CLEAN
THE BATHROOM.
T.C.,
I CAN'T SEE IT,
I CAN'T HEAR IT,
I CAN'T DO IT.
BULLSHIT.
YOU'RE GIVING UP.
I'M NOT GIVING UP.
LOOK, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
I'M SORRY.
LOOK, IT'S MY FAULT.
I SHOULD'VE LEFT YOU
ON THE STRIPS.
NOBODY COMES BACK
AFTER A LONG BREAK
AND CALLS A BUSY SECTOR
BY HIMSELF.
NOW, GODDAMN IT,
GET YOUR ASS
BACK IN THERE.
GET IN THERE.
FRONT'S MOVING IN.
WE JUST GOT ISSUED
A FLASH FLOOD
WARNING.
AIR PERU 35, I CANNO UNDERSTAND YOU.
PLEASE REPEAT.
YOU'RE A ROCK.
YOU'RE PRUDENTIAL.
I'M COOL.
I'M COOL.
DID YOU TALK TO MURRAY?
NEGATIVE, AIR PERU.
THAT'S A NEGATIVE.
YOU HAVE TRAFFIC
BENEATH YOU.
HOLD ALTITUDE.
HOLD ALTITUDE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND,
AIR PERU?
Radio: PHOENIX
CONTROL CENTER,
I AM PEDRO
REQUESTING
PERMISSION
AND CLEARANCE
TO DESCEND.
DO YOU COPY ME,
MISTER PHOENIX?
COPY AND OVER.
AIR PERU 35,
DOES ANYONE IN YOUR
PRUDENTIAL.
LISTEN, I MAY HAVE BEEN
A LITTLE TOO AMBITIOUS
IN OUR CAPABILITIES
TO ACCEP THE FINAL 50 AIRCRAFT.
THE, UH, WEATHER
CONDITIONS
HAVE SEVERELY
DETERIORATED,
AND I DON'T THINK--
RIGHT.
NO, I UNDERSTAND.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST.
I WANT TO THANK YOU
AGAIN.
NO PROBLEM.
CAN I BUM
A CIGARETTE?
OH, SURE.
CAN I ASK YOU
A COUPLE QUESTIONS?
SURE.
TONIGHT'S SO INTENSE
FOR ME. I--
I FEEL LIKE I BARELY
KNOW WHAT I'M DOING,
YOU KNOW?
I--I WASN'T SCHEDULED
TO PLUG IN
FOR ANOTHER
COUPLE OF WEEKS.
YOU MUST'VE QUIT, HUH?
YEAH. I GOT A PRETTY
NICE OPPORTUNITY
WITH A COMPUTER
SOFTWARE FIRM--
I MEANT QUIT SMOKING.
YEAH. I QUIT A FEW
MONTHS AGO.
I DON'T THINK
I'M GOING TO QUI ANYTIME SOON.
I--I JUST HAD NO IDEA
HOW DIFFEREN CALLING TRAFFIC WOULD BE
COMPARED TO THE SIMULATORS.
CAN'T REALLY FAIL
THIS TEST.
BUT THE PILOTS,
THEY TALK SO FAST,
AND THE RADIO
CUTS OFF CALLS,
AND THE--THE SCREEN'S
CONSTANTLY MOVING,
AND JUST WALKING
INTO THAT ROOM,
IT'S JUST SUCH A RUSH,
YOU KNOW?
PROBABLY NO FOR YOU, THOUGH,
IT'S JUST ROUTINE,
RIGHT?
SO HOW--HOW LONG
HAVE YOU BEEN CONTROLLING?
ABOUT 8 YEARS.
AN INSTRUCTOR
AT OKLAHOMA CITY,
HE, UH,
HE WOULD COMPARE
CONTROLLERS TO ATHLETES,
LIKE BASEBALL PLAYERS,
AND HE WOULD SAY,
DON'T THINK ABOU HITTING THE BALL,
JUST HIT THE BALL,
YOU KNOW.
AND THEN HE'D JUS GO ON--
ARE YOU OK?
I'M SORRY, YOU--
YOU DON'T LOOK TOO GOOD.
I'M FINE.
I'M NOT. I'M WIRED.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY.
I'M TALKING
A MILE A MINUTE AND--
IS IT STILL EXCITING
FOR YOU?
IS IT STILL A CHALLENGE?
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER
THE FIRST NIGH I PLUGGED IN.
FIRST NIGH ON THE BOARDS.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S A GREAT JOB.
THERE'S NO OTHER JOB
LIKE IT ON EARTH.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
SAID,
ONE THING YOU GO TO REMEMBER
ABOUT SPORTS,
HARDEST THING TO DO
IS HIT A FASTBALL.
TRUE.
YOU STILL LOVE IT,
THOUGH, RIGHT?
YEAH.
YEAH,
I STILL LOVE IT.
YOU'RE DOING GREA TONIGHT.
THANKS.
PHOENIX, APPROACH AT 126.47.
GOOD DAY, SIR.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU STAYING.
NEVER AGAIN.
YOU OWE ME FOR THIS.
Pilot: PHOENIX CENTER, THESE
HOLDING DELAYS ARE BULLSHIT.
WHO SAID THAT?
ATTENTION ALL FLIGHTS
IN THIS SECTOR,
WHO SAID THAT?
WHO SAID THAT WORD?
Pilot: AMERICAN 484,
NEGATIVE ON THE BULLSHIT.
TWA 933, NEGATIVE
ON THE BULLSHIT.
CONTINENTAL 64,
NEGATIVE ON THE BULLSHIT.
DELTA 282,
NEGATIVE ON THE BULLSHIT.
TEXAS 77,
NEGATIVE ON THE BULLSHIT.
I WANT YOU SET UP
FOR BOTH APPROACH SECTORS.
YOU GOT IT, HOSS.
EAST-WES APPROACH CHANNELS,
NICE AND CLEAN,
HAND THEM OFF TO RANDY.
YOU GOT IT.
I'M SERIOUS.
WE GOT A SNARLY
BITCH-BEAR COMING.
CAKE.
GOD.
SOUTHWEST 4-12,
CONTACT KANSAS CITY.
1-3-5 POINT 6-5.
Radio: ROGER, PHOENIX,
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
ROGER, SOUTHWEST.
SAME TO YOU.
T.C.:
NORTHWEST 29,
EL PASO ALTIMETER
2-NINER-O-4.
I'LL DO ANYTHING
I CAN TO HELP
EXCEPT CLEAN
THE RESTROOMS.
STRIPS.
YOU GOT IT.
THANKS.
UH, REPEAT,
NORTHWEST 29,
EL PASO ALTIMETER
2-NINER-0-4.
GODDAMN IT.
Pilot:
WHERE'S PHOENIX?
LISTEN UP, PHOENIX,
ARE YOU THERE?
T.C.: ALL RIGHT,
PEOPLE, SIT TIGHT.
WAIT FOR
THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS.
Sam: CAN I TAKE
MY BREAK NOW?
I HAVE NO IDEA.
I THINK THE POWER
COMPANY
LOST A TERMINAL
SOMEWHERE.
OH, CURTIS.
NOT SO CLOSE.
LISTEN, REBOO THE SYSTEM, OK?
NO. COME BACK HERE.
ALL RIGHT, LISTEN.
ONCE YOU GE THE JUICE,
YOU COME BACK HERE
AND YOU TELL ME WHY
THOSE BATTERIES
GAVE OUT AGAIN, OK?
QUINN.
AS SOON AS I KNOW
THE RULES,
YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE
THIS GAME.
OK, COME ON.
WATCH YOUR STEP.
PHOENIX, WE'RE JUS GOING TO FLY
RIGHT ON IN
AS FAST AS WE WANT,
DO YOU READ?
PHOENIX?
THIS?
THAT.
T.C: QUINN, YOU ARE
KILLING US UP HERE.
OW. OW.
YOU OK?
YEAH.
LOOK AT THIS.
KENNEDY IS SENDING
TROOPS
TO SOMEPLACE CALLED
SOUTH VIETNAM.
ARE YOU HOLDING
YOUR BREATH?
UH-HUH.
WELL,
WE'RE PARTIALLY BACK.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
IT MEANS THAT WE DON' HAVE ENOUGH JUICE,
SO IT'S EITHER
YOUR COMPUTERS
OR THE COOLING SYSTEM.
YOU CAN'T HAVE
A COOL CENTER
AND HAVE YOUR COMPUTERS
WORK AT THE SAME TIME.
HOW LONG CAN WE RUN
WITHOUT AC?
I'D SAY AS SOON AS I REACHES 105 DOWN HERE,
THE COMPUTERS
WILL CRASH.
SUSIE,
DON'T USE
ALL YOUR LIGHTS.
Laura:
TO ALL FLIGHTS
HOLDING FOR PHOENIX
ARRIVAL,
LISTEN UP,
AND PAY ATTENTION,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
OR SOMETHING'S
GOING TO HAPPEN
NONE OF US
WANTS TO SEE.
WE'RE SENDING YOU
INTO TWIN LANES
FOR SLAM DUNKS
AS FAST AS WE CAN.
PHOENIX HAS SUSPENDED
DEPARTURES,
SO GROUND TRAFFIC
WILL BE MINIMAL.
YOU FLIGHTS
ON THE NORTHEAST RING,
PASS OUT MORE PEANUTS,
YOU'RE THE CABOOSES.
Radio: CENTER,
SILVER AIR 4-9-4,
YOU'RE GOING TO RUIN
OUR ON-TIME RECORD.
T.C.: SILVER AIR 4-94,
NEGATIVE, SIR.
PLEASE HOLD
YOUR PRESENT SPEED.
HEY.
FOR THE RECORD,
YOU WERE RIGHT.
I CALLED
NATIONAL FLOW
AND TRIED
TO GET THEM TO--
THE JETS ARE COMING.
WE'RE GOING TO LAND THEM.
WHO'S LAST IN?
TRANS GULF 47.
REGULAR RUN FROM DALLAS.
HUSH. HUSH.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
UH, MISS?
CAN I GET ANOTHER
JACK DANIELS, PLEASE?
SHH. SHH. SHH. SHH.
YES, SIR.
I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY.
SHH.
AMERICA WEST 46,
DESCEND AND MAINTAIN
ONE-4,000.
Pilot:
ONE-4,000, ROGER.
SO IS IT TRUE
WHAT THEY SAY
ABOUT CONTROLLERS
BURNING OU BY THEIR MID-30s?
THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY.
SO WHY ARE YOU BACK?
I'M NOT BACK.
BRYANT NEEDED
SOME HELP TONIGHT,
SO I'M HERE.
OH.
I LOST RADIO.
COMPILE A LIS OF FLIGHTS
AND FUEL LEVELS.
WE GOT TO TURN
THEM AWAY.
YOU'RE RIGHT. THANKS.
CRUISE,
ALERT L.A. CENTRAL.
RANDY,
CALL KANSAS CITY.
OK.
AMANDA.
YEAH?
SEE IF YOU CAN GE A HOLD OF THE DUTY OFFICER
AT THE AIR FORCE BASE.
SEE IF THEIR TOWER
CAN BE OF ANY HELP.
YES, I NEED CENTRAL
AIR OPERATIONS
FOR ALL THE MAJOR
AIRLINES.
RRR!
ALL SECTORS, FLIGHT STRIPS
DOWN HERE ASAP.
Harris:
FUEL ESTIMATES. JULIE.
Julie: SIR.
TAKE DOWN
THESE NUMBERS:
F-L-2-9-7-2,
6,500 POUNDS.
ALPHA JULIE 5-6-7-3,
7,900 POUNDS.
SECTOR 13,
I NEED YOUR STRIPS NOW.
ALL INBOUND AIRCRAFT.
BRYANT, PALMDALE
HAS RADIO CONTACT,
BUT NO RADAR.
T.C.:
CAN THEY TAKE THEM?
NEGATIVE.
WELL, THE NEARES ALL-WEATHER RUNWAY
IS LAS VEGAS.
HOW MANY CAN MAKE IT?
NO. VEGAS IS OUT.
THEY GOT SEVERE
WINDS, HEAVY RAIN,
AND ZERO VISIBILITY.
DENVER'S NEAREST.
LET'S SEE. UM,
THESE FLIGHTS HAVE
GOT ENOUGH FUEL
TO MAKE IT.
MAYBE DELTA 41,
BUT I WOULDN' RISK IT.
ALL RIGHT, CRUISE,
GET ON THE HORN
TO PALMDALE
AND TELL THEM TO SEND
THE FOLLOWING JETS
TO DENVER,
US AIR 88,
SOUTHWEST 438,
UNITED 21,
CONTINENTAL 838,
TWA 44, TEXAS 493,
CACTUS 21.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST?
WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
THERE'S McCLAIN MUNICIPAL,
THERE'S THE NATIONAL
GUARD STRIP NEAR SONOMA,
AND THE AIR FORCE BASE.
NO, THE LONGES RUNWAY
OF THE 3 OF THEM
IS 6,000 FEET.
SONOMA DOESN' EVEN HAVE
EMERGENCY CREWS.
WELL, IF QUINN DOESN' GET US BACK ONLINE,
WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
SHIT.
COME ON, HELP ME
CLEAR OFF THE DESK.
OK, THIS
IS OUR RUNWAY,
HERE ARE OUR
THUNDERSTORM CELLS
RIGHT HERE.
OK, NOW,
ALL THE GUM PIECES
ARE OUR AIRCRAF ABOVE 15,000 FEET,
AND THE BATTERIES
REPRESENT AIRCRAF ON INBOUND MARKER
UNDER 10,000.
QUINN,
THE RADIO FIRST.
I KNOW. I KNOW.
5 SECONDS.
OK.
NORTHWEST 3-9-3
WILL BE RIGHT THERE.
MAN, I HATE
THOSE AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROLLERS.
I MEAN, WHAT DO THEY
REALLY DO?
JUST SIT THERE.
WHO NEEDS THEM?
WHAT'S F.A.A.
STAND FOR?
All: FUCKED AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
NOW.
NO.
NOW.
NOT YET.
COME ON.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
ISN'T IT FUNNY?
THIS THING WAS ON MY
REQUISITION FORM
ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO.
I'M GOING TO THE HARDWARE
STORE. WANT TO COME?
CAN YOU FIX IT? I NEED
TO MAKE A DECISION.
SUSAN, I WILL KNOW
IN 20 MINUTES.
WHY DO YOU ALWAYS
SAY THAT?
P.A.:
YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE.
WILL PASSENGER
MADISON PERSELL
PLEASE PICK UP
THE NEARES WHITE COURTESY PHONE?
NO, UNACCEPTABLE.
I'M GOING TO DIRECT-DIALOGUE
THE SENATOR
AND BI-LINK CONFERENCE
YOU IN TWO.
SIR, I'VE JUST LEARNED THA DULLES AND NATIONAL ARE OPEN,
BUT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS
TO REPLACE YOU
WITH THE SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE.
THEY DON'T THINK
YOU CAN MAKE IT IN TIME.
IT'S GOING TO BE A P.R.
CATASTROPHE.
CHRISTINA, HERE IS
ANOTHER REASON
WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE
ATTENDED WEST POINT.
YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY FAILED TO
MASTER COMMAND AND CONTROL
IN A CRISIS SITUATION.
JEEZ.
I'M COOL.
Radio: PHOENIX--NORTH--
3-9--DO YOU COPY?
CENTER, ARE YOU THERE?
YES. WE HAVE RADIO.
NORTHWEST 3-9-3,
ROGER.
SORRY WE LEFT YOU.
MAINTAIN
FLIGHT LEVEL 3-5-0.
Cruise:
THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM.
IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
JUST WATCH.
WE SPLIT THEM
INTO ODDS AND EVENS,
RIGHT, THESE NORTHERN
FLIGHTS BECOME THE ODDS,
THEY DESCEND TO 7.
EVENS DESCEND TO 6,
ODDS BEND BACK,
FOLD INTO ONE LINE
5 MILES IN-TRAIL.
YEAH, BUT--
JUST SHH.
STAY WITH ME.
HANG WITH ME, PLEASE.
THIS CAN WORK.
THE ODDS BEND
LIKE AN "S," RIGHT?
SLOWS THEM DOWN,
BACK BEHIND
THE PARADE, AND IN.
THE FINAL APPROACH
WILL BE A SLAM DUNK.
WHY WASTE TIME
WITH THIS--
THIS SQUARE DANCE
THING?
JUST HAVE THEM
HOLD AND CIRCLE
AND THEN WE'LL
JUST PEEL THEM OFF
ONE BY ONE.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO ENOUGH FUEL.
PHOENIX, NORTHWEST 393 HEAVY.
REQUESTING CLEARANCE
FOR DIRECT TO THE AIRPORT.
NORTHWEST 393, TURN RIGHT,
HEADING 2-7-0.
INTERCEPT 2-6
LEFT LOCALIZER.
MAINTAIN 7,000
AND EXPECT I.L.S. APPROACH.
ROGER.
RANDY...
HERE COMES NUMBER ONE.
I'M READY.
Laura: WHAT ABOU THE BACKUP?
NEGATIVE AGAIN.
WE'VE LOST THE I.L.S.
WHERE'D THEY GO?
ALL SECTORS
HOLD ALL ARRIVALS.
PHOENIX, NORTHWES 3-NINER-3 HEAVY,
WE GOT A MAJOR PROBLEM
HOLDING.
NORTHWEST 393,
REMAIN IN HOLDING.
WE ARE AWARE OF
YOUR FUEL SITUATION.
YOU WILL RECEIVE VECTORS TO
THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE
IF NECESSARY.
THIS IS ALL LIT UP.
SO WHAT DOES THA SAY TO YOU?
THIS SAYS TO ME
EVERY SYSTEM IS WORKING.
QUINN, WE ONLY HAVE
8 MINUTES.
WE ONLY HAVE 8 MINUTES.
THAT'S IT.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
UH, PHOENIX, WE HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 7 MINUTES
UNTIL WE DECLARE
A FUEL EMERGENCY.
OHH...
UNBELIEVABLE.
I HOPE YOU CAN
SEE THIS, STRATTON.
I CAN READ
YOUR LIPS, QUINN.
SORRY, BUT THE GOLDEN GIRL
NEVER CLIMBS STAIRS.
UNBELIEVABLE.
IT'S DEAD.
NO KIDDING.
ALL RIGHT, TALK TO ME.
UH, WE'RE AT THE DISH.
AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE IT.
THEY STILL AIN'T GOT IT.
WE'RE RUNNING
ON FUMES AT THIS POINT.
NOW OR NEVER.
UH, PHOENIX, NORTHWES 3-NINER-3 HEAVY.
GIVE US THE VECTORS
TO THE AIR FORCE BASE.
AAH!
HE DID IT.
CLEAR THE SKY.
NORTHWEST 393, YOU ARE
CLEARED OUT OF HOLDING.
DESCEND TO 4,000.
EXPECT I.L.S. APPROACH.
RUNWAY 2-6 ROMEO. BREAK.
U.S. AIR 45, TURN LEF HEADING 0-5-0 VECTORS
TO THE APPROACH COURSE.
DESCEND TO 6,000. YOU'RE
2 OUT OF 5. BREAK.
UNITED 325, TURN RIGHT.
HEADING 2-7-0.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWING
TRAFFIC 3 MILES
AT YOUR 9 O'CLOCK.
HOO HAH.
WHERE'S STRATTON?
I'VE BEEN SITTING ON
A HARD PLASTIC SEA DRINKING BAD COFFEE
FOR THREE HOURS.
I WAS PROMISED THAT MY FLIGH WOULD LEAVE HERE BY 5:30.
IT IS NOW 7:30.
EXCUSE ME, SIR.
COULD YOU PLEASE STEP OUTSIDE?
YOU DON'T TELL ME
TO STEP OUTSIDE.
I CAN HAVE ALL YOUR ASSES
ON A PLATTER.
TO WHOEVER
CAN HEAR MY VOICE,
THIS IS DR. SHAMAAL
MURKURGEE, M.D.
LICENSED PILOT.
I BELIEVE IT WOULD
BE PRUDEN FOR ME TO LAND
THE PLANE NOW.
HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY,
I STILL CANNO SEE THE GROUND.
IF YOU HAVE A TRANSPONDER,
TURN IT ON SO WE CAN
SEE YOU ON RADAR.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
TRANSPONDER?
NO. WHERE THE HELL
DID THIS COME FROM?
THAT'S IT.
TAKE IT EASY, RANDY.
I'M NOT TAKING
IT EASY.
YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME.
EVERYBODY JUS STAY AWAY FROM ME.
NOW, STRATTON,
I KNOW FOR A FAC THE WASHINGTON AIRPORTS
ARE OPEN.
SO WHAT AM I GONNA TELL
THE PRESIDEN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
HERE TONIGHT?
MOVE, MOVE, MOVE.
MOVE IT.
SIR, WE'RE HAVING
A VERY DIFFICULT EVENING.
IF YOU CARE TO DISCUSS IT,
WE COULD STEP OUTSIDE.
NOT UNTIL YOU TELL ME
WHEN I WILL BE IN THE AIR.
GO TO THE TOWER AND JUMP.
I'LL CLEAR THAT FLIGHT.
SIR, YOU ARE DISRUPTING
A VERY DELICATE OPERATION.
I AM NOT LEAVING UNTIL
YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION.
I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
LEAVE MY FACILITY.
WHEN YOU RELEASE
MY FLIGHT.
I CAN'T HEAR!
LEAVE, OR I'LL HAVE YOU
ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE ONE OF
OUR UP-AND-COMERS, STRATTON.
I TRIED TO TURN THEM.
THEY'RE HEADING
STRAIGHT FOR EACH OTHER.
TRY AGAIN.
FLIGHT 560, TURN LEFT AND
DESCEND IMMEDIATELY. BREAK.
FLIGHT 34, TURN RIGH AND CLIMB IMMEDIATELY.
NO RESPONSE.
DID YOU TRY--
NO, NO. THANK YOU, NO.
GET THIS GUY AWAY FROM ME.
IT'S OK. IT'S OK.
JESUS.
HOLY SHIT.
WHERE'D HE COME FROM?
MOM, MOM, I SAW
AN AIRPLANE OUT THERE.
WHEW. 20 YEARS
OF CALLING TRAFFIC,
I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
FORGET ABOUT IT.
PILOT ERROR.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH. GOT THESE THUNDERSTORM
CELLS RIGHT HERE.
WE JUST GO EAST/WEST LEFT.
CAN YOU DO IT?
HEY, IT'S ME.
THIS IS GONNA
BE PRETTY TIGHT.
IS THERE ENOUGH
FUEL TO RESTAGE?
WATCH AND LEARN, HOSS.
I CALL THIS THE
MARY LOU RETTON FLIP.
I KNOW YOU'RE
GONNA PULL ME.
YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN
LONG GONE.
NO, NO.
IT WASN'T MY FAULT.
AND YOU'RE NO GOING TO REPORT ME
BECAUSE IT WAS
THE MACHINE.
YOU'RE MAKING IT WORSE.
WHO INVESTIGATES
THE MACHINE?
I'M GOING TO ADD
A PSYCH EVALUATION.
YOU'RE LOOKING
AT 120 DAYS.
NO.
WHO MONITORS THE SYSTEM?
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO WITH THAT?
WHERE ARE THE TAPES?
GIMME THAT THING.
WHERE ARE THE TAPES?
NO INVESTIGATION.
NO REPORT.
NO INVESTIGATION
AND NO REPORT.
NO INVESTIGATION
AND NO REPORT!
NO REPORT!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
LET GO OF THE CLUB.
FORGIVE ME FOR SAYING
I TOLD YOU SO.
MURRAY, GO HOME.
LET GO OF THE GOLF CLUB.
HELP HIM
OUT OF HERE.
I'M OK.
COME ON.
I'M OK. I'M OK.
DO YOU SMOKE?
NO.
NEITHER DO I.
MARY LOU RETTON.
NEXT TIME, I'LL SHOW YOU
MY MICHAEL JORDAN SLAM.
NO, THANKS, HOSS.
NO, THANKS.
I SUPPOSE A BLOWJOB
IS OUT OF THE QUESTION.
T.C.: ALL RIGHT, PEOPLE,
WE'RE OUT OF THE WOODS.
TERRIFIC JOB. WELL DONE.
OH, IT WAS, UH,
NICE WORKING WITH YOU.
THANKS. GOOD LUCK
WORKING HERE.
YOU DID GREAT TONIGHT.
THAT WAS FUN.
YEAH, AND WE GET TO DO I ALL OVER AGAIN TOMORROW.
HEY, SWEETIE.
MOMMY'S COMING HOME.
ALL RIGHT, BYE.
HEY, EVERYBODY, HOLD UP.
A TOAST. NEW YEAR'S.
GOT ANY BIG PLANS
FOR THE NEW YEAR?
NO, NOT REALLY.
JOIN US?
NO ALCOHOL
IN THE FACILITY.
GOTCHA. YEAH.
HERE WE GO.
HEY, SAM, HOW MANY
YOU DROP TODAY?
THAT'S LOW FOR YOU.
I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE A TOAST.
TO HELL WITH CHICAGO.
TO HELL WITH NEW YORK.
YOU ARE THE BES CONTROLLERS IN THE WORLD.
HEAR, HEAR.
MMM.
AHH...
BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.
YOU GUYS HUNGRY?
WANT ANYTHING BEFORE
I UNPLUG MR. GOURMET?
UH, NO, THANKS, CONNIE.
NOTHING PERSONAL,
CONNIE,
BUT YOUR COFFEE'S
GOT MORE OCTANE
THAN THE FUEL
IN THIS PLANE.
I'LL TAKE THAT AS A NO.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THE CAPTAIN HAS TURNED ON
THE FASTEN SEAT BELT SIGN.
IF YOU WOULD,
PLEASE MAKE SURE
THAT YOUR SEAT BACKS
AND TRAY TABLES
ARE IN THEIR FULL, UPRIGHT,
AND LOCKED POSITION
FOR OUR DESCEN INTO PHOENIX.
THANK YOU.
I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE
THAT GAME.
THE CHIEFS AS A TEAM
HAVE ONE PURPOSE--
TO BUM ME OUT.
THINK YOU GOT PROBLEMS?
DAMN DODGERS
HAVEN'T WON SINCE '88.
HEY, PAL, LET ME
SUFFER HERE.
I MEAN, THEY HAD HOME FIELD
ADVANTAGE IN ARROWHEAD. THEY--
FUSES ARE FRIED.
HELLO.
NO AVIONICS.
AND NO RADIO.
THERE GOES
THE BLOOD SUPPLY.
SWITCHING TO BACKUP.
NEGATIVE.
OTHER PUMP.
NEGATIVE.
ONCE AGAIN.
UH-UH.
CONTACT CENTER.
USE YOUR CELL PHONE.
GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE.
GOOD NIGHT, AMANDA.
RADAR ROOM.
PHOENIX, TRANS-GULF 47.
WE'VE LOST RADIO.
I'LL PATCH YOU THROUGH
TO YOUR CONTROLLER.
CRUISE, IT'S FOR YOU.
TRANS-GULF 47, GO AHEAD.
ROGER, PHOENIX.
WE'VE TOTALLY LOS HYDRAULICS AND AVIONICS.
NO RUDDERS, NO FLAPS.
NO WAY TO TURN.
WE'RE FLYING BLIND.
WE'D BE HARD-PRESSED
TO MAKE THE RUNWAY.
TRANS-GULF 47, HOW MUCH FUEL?
HOW MANY SOULS ON BOARD?
WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUEL.
WE'LL HAVE TO GET BACK
TO YOU ON THE COUNT.
I UNDERSTAND.
THE WEATHER'S
DETERIORATING RAPIDLY.
ROGER. CONTACTING E.T.C.
FOR ADVICE.
PLEASE STAND BY.
ROGER, PHOENIX.
NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
BRYANT...
WE'VE GOT A SITUATION.
Susan: THE E.T.C.
HAS NO ADVICE.
THEY CAN'T BELIEVE
IT'S STILL FLYING.
INITIATE PHASE ONE
EMERGENCY CRASH RESPONSE.
PUT 'EM ON THE SPEAKER.
TRANS-GULF 47, WE HAVE
NO FURTHER ADVICE AT THIS TIME.
ROGER, PHOENIX.
JUST KEEP US AWAY
FROM THE CITY.
WE GOT ABOU 40 SECONDS TO DECIDE
WHETHER WE WANT 'EM
TO DITCH IN THE DESERT.
THE ALTERNATIVE?
AFTER THAT, IT'S SUBURBS,
THEN DOWNTOWN.
RIGHT. SO WE SLOW 'EM
DOWN RIGHT HERE.
WITHOUT HYDRAULICS,
HOW WILL THEY GET DOWN?
GRAVITY. JUST REDUCE POWER,
GLIDE IN, AND DROP.
THERE'S GOT TO BE
A FREEWAY--
THERE ARE 4 ACCESS ROADS
IN THIS 5-SQUARE-MILE AREA.
AT NIGHT? NO VISIBILITY?
IN A STORM?
I KNOW. IT'S SHEER LUCK,
BUT IT'S HIS ONLY CHANCE.
LOOK, THIS PLANE
IS GOING DOWN.
THE ONLY DECISION
WE HAVE TO MAKE IS WHERE.
THE DESERT.
IT'LL PRODUCE
THE MOST SURVIVORS.
47...REDUCE SPEED
AS MUCH AS PRACTICAL.
ROGER, PHOENIX.
WE UNDERSTAND.
BRYANT, THERE'S
ANOTHER WAY.
BY ALTERNATING THRUSTS,
WE CAN GIVE 'EM
A NO-GYRO APPROACH.
SUSAN, WE HAVE
ANOTHER OPTION. TELL HER.
WHEN I WAS IN THE NAVY
CONTROLLING,
WE HAD A TOMCA LOSE ALL HYDRAULICS.
WE REGAINED
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
BY ALTERNATING
THE THRUSTS
ON THE LEF AND RIGHT SIDES.
TRY IT.
WHAT'S THE POINT? WHAT AM I
SUPPOSED TO TELL HIM?
TELL HIM WE CAN
GET HIM TO TURN
BY REDUCING POWER
IN ONE ENGINE. YOU AND I--
WE TIME THE TURN
BY, SAY, 30 SECONDS.
ONE DEGREE PER SECOND.
THEN WE CAN CALCULATE.CALL IT.
WHAT'S THE POINT?
EVEN IF WE CAN TURN 'EM,
WHERE ARE WE GONNA SEND 'EM?
HE'S GOT NO HYDRAULICS,
NO GLIDE SLOPE, NO LOCALIZER.
WE'LL BE HIS EYES.
CALL IT.
TRANS-GULF 47...
WE RECOMMEND TURNING
BY ALTERNATING THRUSTS.
WE'LL TRY TO ESTABLISH
A CONSISTENT TURN RATE
AND HELP YOU CALCULATE
A NO-GYRO APPROACH.
WE UNDERSTAND.
3...
2...
DIDN'T WORK.
OH, COME ON. THERE'S
A 10-SECOND DELAY ON THE RADAR.
HE TURNED 23 DEGREES.
ALL RIGHT. NOW WHERE?
HOLD ON. I THINK
I GOT SOMETHING.
SOUTH BY SOUTHEAST,
TOWARD THE BORDER,
AWAY FROM THOSE STORMS.
IT'S LOW. IT'S FLAT.
LOW POPULATION.
Susan: WHAT ABOU MEDICAL RESPONSE?
IT CAN'T BE
TOO ISOLATED.
TRANS-GULF 47, WE ARE TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT OUR NEXT MOVE.
DO YOU HAVE
ANY PREFERENCES?
SOMEPLACE FLA AND HARD.
ROGER, 47.
OK, THERE'S
AN ARMY BASE HERE.
THEY CAN HELP WITH
SEARCH AND RESCUE.
STRAIGHT ROADS
HERE AND HERE.
IT'S WORTH A SHOT.
YOUR CALL.
WHAT DOES HE NEED TO DO
TO HEAD 2-7-0?
IN THIS PLANE,
AT HIS CURRENT SPEED,
I'D HAVE TO DO
A COUPLE OF TEST TURNS,
BUT I'M SURE
I CAN GET HIM
GOING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
FUEL?
12 MINUTES
AT CURRENT SPEED.
DO IT. FIND OUT WHO'S
IN CHARGE AT THE BASE--
WAIT A SECOND.
WAIT A SECOND.
I THINK WE CAN GET 'EM
BACK TO THE AIRPORT.
WHAT?
NO. A SERIES
OF LEFT-HAND TURNS
AT A CONTROLLED
RATE OF DESCENT.
HE BURNS HIS FUEL, DROPS
UNDER THE CEILING--
NO. WE GET HIM
NEAR THE AIRPORT.
WE DROP HIM LOW, TREETOP LEVEL.
BRING HIM IN UNDER THE CLOUDS.
AND IF YOU'RE WRONG,
HE'S RIGHT OVER THE CITY.
YOU'RE SENDING A 737
SKIDDING INTO A STORM
WITH NO VISUALS,
NO HYDRAULICS--
I DON'T HAVE TIME
FOR THIS. TALK TO ME.
A SERIES OF
LEFT-HAND TURNS
IN A CONTROLLED
RATE OF DESCEN IN A TIGHTENING SPIRAL
BRINGS HIM
RIGHT INTO OUR RUNWAY.
WITH A LOT OF LIVES
IN THE EQUATION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BRYANT?
WITH HIS FUEL, WE GOTTA
GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
WE'RE OFF A DEGREE--
NO. WE BROUGHT THE TOMCA BACK TO THE KITTY HAWK
IN 30-FOOT SWELLS,
AND I GOTTA TELL YA,
OUR RUNWAY'S A HELL OF A LO BIGGER THAN AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.
LOOK, THIS MIGHT NOT BE
EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENS,
BUT WE CAN
TALK HIM DOWN.
Pilot: PHOENIX,
THIS IS TRANS-GULF 47.
WE ARE WAITING
TO HEAR FROM YOU.
TRANS-GULF 47,
PLEASE STAND BY.
CRUISE, YOU CALL IT.
HARRIS, YOU ASSIST HIM
WITH THE NUMBERS.
BRYANT, ALERT ALL
EMERGENCY GROUND SUPPORT.
MA'AM...
MA'AM, I'M SORRY.
THIS IS NOT GONNA WORK.
NO, NO. HE'S OK.
I CAN HOLD HIM.
MA'AM, I CAN'T LET YOU
KEEP BOTH OF THEM.
NO. PLEASE. WE'RE NO GONNA CRASH, ANYWAY.
MA'AM, YOU CANNOT HOLD
BOTH OF THEM.
LET ME TAKE ONE.
LET ME HELP. LET ME HELP.
OH, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
WE GOT 'EM. WE GOT 'EM.
WE GOT 'EM.
OK, OK.
ALL AVAILABLE
RESCUE UNITS,
WE'RE SHOOTING
FOR RUNWAY 2-6 LEFT.
E.T.A. 10 MINUTES.
TRANS-GULF, THIS IS
PHOENIX CONTROL.
YOUR FLIGHT 47 HAS LOS HYDRAULICS AND AVIONICS.
THEY ARE NOW COMMUNICATING
BY CELLULAR PHONE.
WE HAVE A 15-SECOND
RIGHT ENGINE BURN
IN 25 SECONDS.
SHIT.
IT'S JUST A HICCUP.
IT'S JUST A HICCUP.
COME ON, COME ON,
COME ON.
15-SECOND BURN,
10 SECONDS.
THAT'S TOO FAR.
IT'LL PUT 'EM AT--
15-SECOND BURN, 5...
4..
3...
2...
ON MY MARK.
NOW.
PHOENIX, REPEAT.
SHIT! MISSED IT.
UH...OK, WE CAN
COMPENSATE
WITH A 55-SECOND BURN
IN 30 SECONDS.
LOOK, MAN, YOU'VE
GOTTA CALM DOWN.
ALL I WANNA
HEAR FROM YOU
IS THE NUMBERS, OK?
TRY IT NOW.
ALMOST.
COME ON, BABY.
PHOENIX, THE AILERON'S BACK.
WHAT'S OUR NEXT MOVE?
47, WE ARE
WORKING ON IT.
MAINTAIN HEADING.
COME ON, COME ON.
COME ON.
15-SECOND BURN
IN 10 SECONDS.
47, ON MY MARK,
A 50-SECOND BURN--
NO, NO. 15-SECOND--
CORRECTION, 47.
WAIT, WAIT. SLOW DOWN.
SAY AGAIN.
CALM DOWN. REMEMBER, YOU'RE
TALKING TO A MAN UP THERE.
47, ON MY MARK,
15-SECOND BURN,
RIGHT THRUS TO 1-4-0.
NOW.
NOW.
AND STOP.
LEVEL OUT.
GOT IT, PHOENIX.
WHAT'S NEXT?
MAINTAIN HEADING
FOR 75 SECONDS.
MAINTAIN HEADING
FOR ONE MINUTE 15.
GOOD WORK.
DON'T TELL ME HOW
TO TALK TO PILOTS.
I'VE NEVER LOST A PLANE.
I HAVE A PERFECT RECORD.
CRUISE, STEP AWAY.
WHAT?
HARRIS, YOU CALL IT.
BRYANT...
TAKE A BREAK. NOW.
KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.
YOU READY, JACK?
LET'S DO IT.
TRANS-GULF 47,
SORRY FOR THE DELAY.
BEAR WITH US, AND WE WILL
GET YOU DOWN.
10 SECONDS.
Man: WHAT ABOU THE COMPUTERS?
STOP THE BURN IN 5...
4...
3...
2...
STOP.
TRANS-GULF 47,
MAINTAIN HEADING
FOR...30 SECONDS.
RADIO'S BACK.
GOOD WORK.
Sir, we have
138 souls onboard.
UH, PHOENIX,
OUR RADIOS ARE BACK.
AND INCLUDING CREW,
WE HAVE 138 SOULS ONBOARD.
Man:
CHICAGO CENTER, 2-NINER-0.
WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION
FOR YOU NOW.
INCLUDING CREW, WE HAVE
174 SOULS ONBOARD.
Pilot: PHOENIX,
DO YOU COPY?
138 SOULS.
Trans-gulf pilot:
LEVELED OFF.
I REPEAT,
WE'VE LEVELED OFF.
UH, PHOENIX CONTROL...
THIS IS TRANS-GULF 47.
NO.
47, WE ARE CALCULATING
YOUR LAST TURN.
IT'S GONNA BE A LONG,
SLOW, 60-SECOND BURN.
BRING YOU RIGHT INTO
RUNWAY 2-6.
7,000 FEET LONG.
OPEN FIELDS BEYOND.
EVEN WITHOUT FLAPS,
YOU WILL BE SMILING.
READY. ON YOUR MARK.
COPY.
5...
4...
3...
2...
1. BURN.
OHH, COME ON.
STEVE...
STEVE, WILL YOU
HANDLE THAT? OHH--
TRANS-GULF 47, COME IN.
TRANS-GULF 47, COME IN.
TRANS-GULF 47, COME IN.
WE'VE LOST POSITIVE
RADAR CONTACT.
TOWER, DO YOU HAVE HIM?
Tower:
NEGATIVE. NOTHING.
TRANS-GULF 47, COME IN.
I'M GONNA CALL IT.
NO, DON'T YOU CALL IT.
MY CALCULATIONS WERE RIGHT.
HIS COORDINATES WERE CORRECT.
TRANS-GULF 47, COME IN.
DAMN IT.
TRANS-GULF 47, COME IN.
GOD DAMN IT, THEY WERE RIGHT.
GOD DAMN IT!
COUNTY RESCUE,
THIS IS STRATTON,
PHOENIX AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROL CENTER.
WE'VE HAD A CRASH.
THOSE OF YOU
WITH TOMORROW OFF,
THE N.T.S.B.
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS
WILL BE HERE
AND SO WILL YOU.
BRYANT, YOU BETTER
GET UP HERE.
HARRIS JUS RAN BY MY DOOR.
JACK...
THE COORDINATES
WERE RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
MY CALCULATIONS
WERE CORRECT.
I KNOW THEY WERE.
A SERIES OF LEFT-HAND TURNS
IN A TIGHTENING SPIRAL
BRINGS 'EM RIGHT INTO
THIS GODDAMN RUNWAY!
JACK,
COME ON IN NOW.
NO!
JACK, COME ON IN.
LISTEN.
YOU DID ALL YOU COULD.
NOW COME ON IN.
WAIT A SECOND.
DO YOU HEAR THAT?
IT'S COMING FROM OVER THERE.
HE'S RIGHT.
SHIT.
I HAVE POSITIVE RADAR CONTAC 5 MILES OUT.
HEADING 2-6-0
AT 1-5-5 KNOTS.
Pilot: UH, PHOENIX,
TRANS-GULF 47.
WE, UH, HAD A LITTLE
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
HOPE WE DIDN'T SCARE YOU.
TRANS-GULF 47,
NO SCARE HERE.
YOU SHOULD BE APPROACHING
THE OUTER MARKER.
WE GOT IT.
PHOENIX, CAN YOU CONFIRM
OUR WHEELS ARE DOWN?
LOOKS GOOD FROM HERE.
TRANS-GULF 47,
YOU ARE TOO FAR LEFT.
TRANS-GULF 47, YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO COME AROUND AGAIN.
IT'S OK. IT'S OK.
TRANS-GULF 47, POWER UP.
MORE POWER.
JESUS CHRIST.
TRANS-GULF 47,
YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD.
Pilot: HEY, PHOENIX,
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
HARRIS.
WHAT'S YOURS?
DAVID DONNELLY.
LET ME BUY YOU A COLD ONE.
DAVID, I'LL BE BUYING
THE COLD ONES.
YOU'RE DOING
ALL THE WORK UP THERE.
DAVID...
YEAH, HARRIS.
CAN YOU SEE
THE RUNWAY YET?
NO, NOT ANYMORE.
OK. YOUR LAST TURN'S
GONNA BE APPROXIMATELY
20 SECONDS
ON MY MARK.
CORRECTION.
LAST TURN WILL BE
EXACTLY 22 SECONDS
ON MY MARK.
3...2...1.
MARK. RIGHT ENGINE THRUST.
HE'S TOO FAR LEFT.
HE'S TOO FAR LEFT.
HE'S RIGHT.
SHIT. DAVID, CAN YOU
COME AROUND AGAIN?
CAN'T DO THAT.
WE ARE COMMITTED.
I CAN DO THIS.
MOVING OVER TO RUNWAY 1-8.
LAURA,
CLEAR THAT RUNWAY.
GOT IT, BRYANT.
COME ON. HOLD ON.
SHH.
DAVID, MORE POWER.
YEAH!
OUTSTANDING.
OUTSTANDING.
DAVID, WELCOME
TO PHOENIX.
WELCOME TO PHOENIX.
HARRIS, THAT TOMCAT MISSED
THE CARRIER, DIDN'T IT?
YEAH, BUT WE SAVED
THE CREW.
HEY, CRUISE...
YOU KNOW, MY WIFE'S HERE
TO PICK ME UP.
IF YOU EVER TELL HER
WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH,
YOU'LL NEVER
FLY WITH ME AGAIN.
OUR SECRET.
HI.
OH, HONEY.
FEELS GOOD TO HI A FASTBALL, DOESN'T IT?
YEAH.