Based on what they actually let the kid do, I don't really see a problem with it, as long as it doesn't become a common occurrence. He was not giving aircraft movement instructions, and besides that, he had a professional controller (the father) AND a supervisor there to make sure everything went smoothly. It was a very, very controlled situation, with what I believe to be ZERO chance of risk.

Again, I wouldn't want them to make a habit out of bringing the kid in, but for a one or two time occasional thing, it didn't seem to harm anything. Adding to that, everyone involved in the moment (pilots, controllers, etc.) seemed to really enjoy it, and to specify again, according to the article, all he was doing was giving handoff instructions after being told exactly what to say.

The only 'bad points' I can see is the 'adios amigo' and the giggling in the background. Besides that, the job got done.

I mean, rules are rules. You shouldn't let your young child drive your car around even though he was being supervised by two people. He shouldn't have been there, but no harm was caused.

While I do believe this story is getting blown way out of proportion, i think if this guy would have stopped to think about what he was doing, and WHERE he was doing it, he might have made different choices.  If this had happened at some backwoods airport control tower, no one would have noticed or cared, but at JFK?     This day in age, with the media as it is, one must always be aware of appearances, and how seemingly innocent actions can be made out to be criminal.

Good evening all...

Having thought this over a number of times and reminiscing the past and believe me that was the most difficult part I have to agree with the above post.

I think "C" you put it into perspective. 

I remember the day when we could allow members of the immediate family and close friends into the cockpit of an aircraft while in flight.  I guess those days are gone for many.  Sad really.   
Did 911 bring that on, no not really, it was something that was going to happen sooner or later however these sort of things have a short life span, believe me, I have been around aviation too long and seen this before. Closing off the cockpit or tower does not stop someone committed to blowing up an airplane, it only serves to aid the terrorist propaganda machine. 

If I had a question on this it would be:
Asking the difference between "Stupidity" and "Security".

Cheers..Happy Landings..Doug

Most of what I heard, were the scripted broadcasts even GA pilots are familiar with..

"cleared for takeoff"  ..  "contact approach"  etc.

All the "controlling" had already been done. Pilots don't even pay special attention to those broadcasts, other than listening for something OTHER than what they  KNOW the controller will be saying.

So long as he wasn't issuing clearances.. and interpreting read-backs.. or handling spacing and seperation directions..

WHO  CARES  !?

And even if it were something other than routine..  a bright kid with two experiened adults looking over his shoulder is probably safer that a tired controller at the end of a long shift.

This is more about the media's need to make news... and a government bureaucracy posturing for an ignorant public's benefit.   

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Yeah  *sigh*..  I wish he hadn't done it.. but I wish even more, that it could all be taken in context.

I don't want bureacratic robots in a tower, anymore than I'd want them running a police department. I trust his decision to do this, as much as I trust the decision of a police officer to not issue a speeding ticket to everyone going 1mph over the limit.

I personally think this is awesome, haha. I think on that day, a dream could've been sparked, so was it all worth it, yeah, in the sense that seeding hopeful dreams in a young kid is a great experience. Now, I kinda don't think that it should have been done at JFK, but if it had been done at some smaller airport, I think that's great. I mean, my airport here in Canada isn't really busy, even on a busy day, haha. If the Tower controller brought his kid to work and I got to talk to him or her over the radio, that would make my day, and it would probably make the kids day too. Overall, I think that kid is pretty lucky, I never got to sit in a cockpit when I was a kid, and I certainly never got to go in tower either. I also never went to work with my dad, which could possibly be why I decided to do something different career wise, haha. I don't believe any harm was done, it was not out of control, and I think that guy is a pretty cool dad, I hope he doesn't catch too much flak from this.