PASS Technicians to the Rescue at Potomac TRACON

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Published: September 23, 2013

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Last week, the skill and dedication of PASS members was on prominent display at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility where the incredible need for adequately trained staff at facilities became clear.

On September 17, a “power bump” at the facility resulted in the failure of the main input breaker which could have resulted in major disruptions to air traffic. Luckily, a quick-thinking PASS member  and Environmental Support Unit (ESU) technician was able to respond immediately to the situation despite not being trained on the system. Within minutes, additional PASS technicians at the facility came to his assistance to address the issue. 

This situation emphasizes the skill of these FAA employees, as well as the commitment to ensuring aviation safety. Unfortunately, the incident also casts light on a scenario that could have had a far different conclusion. “We commend the action of the systems specialists on duty who ensured restoration to service, but warn that training issues at facilities nationwide must be thoroughly examined in order to make sure an adequate number of trained employees are on the job,” said PASS President Mike Perrone.

“Kudos to the PASS members for making the best out of a difficult situation and bringing safety back to the system,” said Region I Vice President Luke Drake. “I am hopeful that near misses such as this will serve as a warning to the agency to address training issues before something catastrophic occurs.”