senior chief petty officer darren clipper, air traffic ... · senior chief petty officer darren...

UNCLASSIFIED COMMISSION SENSITNE

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

s w z lttQ 00J ltt wQ Q ltt

wz =o r--cshyNNf-lt1 0~ ~ ltt eN o u - = lt)

~ Jlf-1 - oo E E ~ 00 = lt)- oltt 0 Q

=J tlJ5f-lu_ ~middotmiddotJ gt-c wCfshyltE- ltt~Qlr 8QWJtn N Z Qu z middotoz wo o oo shy Z EshyQgt-Eshy J ltw uu lttU- z W w shy

-~ w 00 Q~

oo c_~C QOO oo 2N lttOO ltt ~ Q lttJw - lttJ u E-o uu w z oo w_QQ- W

Event GIANT KILLER visit

Type ofevent Recorded Interview

Date Wednesday December 032003

Special Access Issues None

Prepared by Miles Kara

Team Number 8

Location GIANT KILLER

Participants- Senior Chief Petty Officer Darren Clipper Air Traffic Control leading

Chief Petty Officer

Participants ~ Commission Miles Kara Kevin Shaeffer

Observer- LT Florencio Yuzon Counsel Office of the ChiefofNaval Operations

Note Please refer to the recorded interview for further details

Background Chief Clipper started at VACAPES in 1997 as Radar Chief and moved up to the

Air Traffic Control leading Petty Officer position over the next two years Chief Clipper was qualified on all floor positions and had performed duty as a controller GIANT KILLER controls the air space out to about 120 nautical miles and from 6-12 miles off shore depending on the area

He recalled the occasional scramble prior to 911 usually on routine ~ stereo or preprogrammed routes They would not intercede or direct the scrambles NEADS would be the controllers NEADS would have taken an active air scramble from Norfolk GIANT KILLER would have kept aircraft away from the active air scramble

There is a scramble circuit on the floor and GIANT KILLER would have been aware of the scramble The Facility Watch Supervisor would have picked up the phone on 9-11 for the Langley scramble The scramble would have been logged on the facility log for that day

Flight plans for scrambles are received over the FIDO (Flight Data InputOutput terminal) system which means there would have been a flight strip generated by Langley Tower The flight strip would have been walked from the FIPO position to the Langley Sector controller

911 Chief Clipper was off the floor on 911 when events began to unfold and came the

floor later

COMMISSION SENSITNE UNCLASSIFIED

I 2

I UNCLASSIFIED

COMMISSION SENSITIVE

He was shown the actual order for the Langley scramble on 9-11 and did not recall who acknowledged for GIANT KILLER Washington Center and Norfolk Approach should have made sure there was a clear path for the fighters to go direct to HUNTRESS control based on the scramble order GIANT KILLER should not have been talking to the fighters that day

The actual flight plan 090 for 60 however put the flight in GIANT KILLER airspace To him the flight strip should have noted that the flight was an active air scramble If HUNTRESS activates a scramble it is GIANT KILLERs responsibility to

stay out of the way The onus is on the fighters and NEADS to go where they want to go It is not a GIANT KllLER responsibility to monitor the HUNTRESS frequency specified in the scramble order

Chief Clipper was provided an opportunity to listen to the FAA tape of the ATC conversation with GIANT KILLER concerning the requirement to go to Baltimore He listened to the tape twice and ultimately thought that the male GIANT KILLER voice was Petty Officer Barcas His impression was that Washington Center was not aware of the active air scramble but should have been His answer defended the actions of GIANT KILLER and held NEADS responsible for the control of the flight He again stated that GIANT KILLER should not have been talking to the flight

Norfolk Approach should not have switched the flight to GIANT KILLER frequency plain and simple We are not expected to be participants in active air scrambles he said The radialDME FIDO input is standard but he could not account for the specific 090 for 60 input except to say that there was a route off of Langley that took aircraft to GIANT KILLER airspace The 090 for 60 may make sense he said if people involved didnt take seriously the ongoing events

Chief Clipper was asked if GIANT KILLER would have just allowed the flight to keep going ifNEADS hadnt gotten GIANT KILLER involved with Washington Center Even though there was a scramble order over the circuit sometimes circumstances change GIANT KILLER will not interfere he said and would not divert a scrambled aircraft from holding at 090 for 60 even though the scramble order called for something different


_ __

3 -middot

II bullI ~ _ IW_~ o - ~~~c- ~c--~ ~gt ol -

-- ---- - -middotmiddotmiddot ~middot0~--gt~ -~ middot -~~~ gt Jl

_ -~ __ 5gt~o-~ __ttvvplusmn __ __ -- - -- L-- -middot - middot~ P~--middot- ---~- -=l -- ~ -middot middot middot middotmiddot middotmiddot ~-~

(_ gt gtmiddot ~

bullmiddotmiddotbullbullmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot-~middotmiddotmiddot middot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot~ middotmiddot bullbullbullbullbullbull bullbull ~middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot~ ii~~~~--bullbullbullbullbullbullbull-- middotmiddotmiddotbullbull bullbullbullbullbullbull -middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbull ~ ~-middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot-middot middot bullmiddot~~middotmiddotmiddot middot middotmiddotmiddotbullbullbull-middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotbullbull-bull bullmiddotbullbullbullbullmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot e~~ -- -~~~middotmiddotmiddot-- _)-Zt14 ~ -

- ____- --middotmiddot -middot ---- -- ------ ---middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot- ----middot -middotmiddot- ----- ------ --- -- ------------- ------------- middot--middot- ---------- -- ---- -~- - ------------middotmiddot-middotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddot- -- middotmiddotmiddotmiddot -middotmiddot-middot--- ---middot -- --- -middot - middotmiddot- ~-- --middot--middot -- --- middotmiddot--middotmiddot

bull - ---- ---middot --middot -- ----- ---------- -middotmiddotmiddot-middotmiddotmiddot- -middot------middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot- -- -- ---middotmiddot-middot--middotmiddotmiddot--middotmiddotmiddotmiddot-middotmiddot---- -------- --- --middot--- - _ --- ------- -- --middotmiddotmiddotmiddot - ----- --~--~ middotmiddotmiddot -middot-middotmiddotmiddot-middot -- middotmiddot------ ---- ____ ___ _ _______-- ---middot-middotmiddotmiddot- _ middot---middot middot- -middot middotshy

bull

- ~ N~gt -middot ~~~-~- M6 ___h _- - - - ~C V~ amp~ -- middot middotmiddot -- -- -~~ __ )J _~-- - - n~ - ~~-~ - - --~ - - -~- ~~~

middot ~ - ~-- -~~ - -~~ _~ -br bullCr-~ - --~ - - _ L~ L~~ --middotmiddot middot-middotmiddotmiddot----middotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot-- - _ - -- ------ middotmiddot middot-middotmiddot ---middot middot - -- - ~ --------- -- - ---- middot-- middotmiddot----- ---- ---- middot--------- -- -- - ~middotmiddot middot

-----middot- ----middotmiddot -middot middot --- middot -- - middot- -- - =~- --F1~ti et~ - d~plusmn ___~_ k ___ __ __ ~----- t-u - _( _ (~ middot - middot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddot -middot-middotmiddot - - middot __ middot- -middot middotmiddotmiddot-- ---- --middot-middot --- ____ ---- -middot middot - _ middot-

______ __ __ ~~ -~ --e~-- -~--vtC~ - bull- -middot-middot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot

~ middotmiddot - -~-- - middot- ----- t~ ~-~-~l- - tgt~~ ~~~- k gt~v~ middotmiddot ___ ____ _

4

____ ___ ____ ttic ~-f_

-middot---ltfz- N u0~-- + --- tttL ___ __ __(_ _~~- - - - -~~ -middot -~-o plusmn____ _________ _ --~- -- --- -middot- - --~-~----- -- ( f~9---~~--- - -- - -~( -- --- ----shy

- --~--- ----~-- -- 8gt-~5 -- gt- ~) middot------ -middot--shy

middot-- middot ---- - -- -- middot ------- -- --- --- - ------- ------~---- - -middotL---t --- t --middot~1 ___ ~ --- --middotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middot---middotmiddotmiddotmiddot--middotmiddot ----middotmiddotmiddotmiddot--fmiddot-----------shy

c ~ N~tvt - P1--- --~middot-~c~-- --~----~~~-~--- -- ---~~---r middot ----------- ----- ------- --shy

middot--- - middot-- middot ___________ - ----middot-middot-middotmiddotmiddot

5

- ltc L laquo ~ = krLc rcr ~ s ~- middotmiddot middotmiddot___ _()_ lt-~~--- h -------middotmiddotmiddot -- middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot-middot ---- middotmiddotmiddotmiddot middot middotmiddotshy

-- ~middot middotmiddot ~---~- ----middotmiddotmiddotmiddot--- middot - - - - ---- --- - middotmiddot -middotmiddotmiddot- - middot -- -- -------middot-middot---middotmiddot middot middot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot middot middotmiddot--middot----- - - middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middot-middot middot middot- -middot--- - -middot- -- - --middot-middot-middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddot --- - middot middotmiddot middot- ----- middot-- middot middotmiddot middot shy

middotmiddot middot__ _~- -- -k~s -ltt ~--- middotmiddot CrL - ~ ~- - middot ~ __~plusmn --- - fl~ e~~-- -YkJ- -- - middot middot - --- ---~ --- --middot --- -- -- --middotmiddot middotmiddot middot middotmiddotmiddot ~ -- -------- - - ----- ---------- -- middotmiddot -middotmiddot

- N~ middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot ---middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotgt middotmiddotmiddot -middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot -middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot-- middotmiddot-middot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot-middotmiddotmiddot--middotmiddot-middot-middot -- ---middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot-- middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middot-middot-middot - -middot middotmiddot --

~ - -- - -middot~-- --- middot - --- - ---- middotmiddot middot - - middot middot- ---middot middot ---middotmiddotmiddot middot middot- --- - middotmiddot-- QVr middotmiddotamiddot bulloL~

fi_ ~~ klA b ~ I---~ ~----I~~=-- - ~-~~~ middotmiddotmiddot~bull t~=~~ middot ~ L~- -

-

-- - -

middotmiddotmiddotmiddot ~_ N~bi~~middot e=_ middot s~ middot-middotmiddot~ t-~ 6middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotbullbullbullmiddotbull middot middotmiddot middot middotmiddot -middotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot middot middotmiddotmiddot middot middot ~ltJT c~~ -~t

middotmiddotmiddot -----~middot-~- - -~-~~~- --~---~~~-~-middot ~middotmiddot middot middot-middotmiddot-middotmiddotmiddotmiddot-~-middot~- -middot-~-middot ~-middot- __ - - - ~-~middotmiddotmiddotmiddot----~~-~middotmiddotmiddot-middot--middotmiddot middotmiddot-_middot___ - middot_middot~-~- --middotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddot--middot-- --- middot - ~-~-- - -middot- bullbullbull _--middotmiddot

middot

middotmiddot

- middot - - middotmiddot

-middotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotbull bull bull middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddot

middotmiddot middot middot

middot--middotmiddotmiddot middot --- middotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot-middotmiddot

middotmiddot

----- ---- ---

-

-middotmiddotmiddot middot-----middot middot --- bull -middot-middot --

6

-middotmiddot middot middot 0 o00o o0 oHbullmnoo U Oo bull p oo oo0oobullH-obull h

-middot f( t -c~L s V N~ ~ Y5 -~~--- - -~--- A-s L

-~~-~p~-~-~-~-~~-~---~~~-~-~-~~-~~-h-middot~-~~~RI~L~~~-~---middotmiddotmiddot - -~_-~-~- -middot-- middot -H~-- ---~-- middot middot --~~~-J~~~L ~-Y-------~--~------b (tJC

_middot -_ middot middot~- pound_~_ kiC_-- I~middotmiddot~JCb~~~~--_ ~-~~-middotmiddot middot~-

middotmiddot--middotmiddot ~-~~0 0-- middot ~ middotmiddot--middot middot

--~~ ~~-~- middot ~_-_ _

middot~- =-~=~-middot

middot middotmiddot--middot---middotmiddot------middotmiddot~- -middot-~middotmiddot middot middot middot - middot-middotmiddot-- middot-- middot-middotmiddotmiddot----middotmiddot------- ---middotmiddot----~------- ~- - middot--middotmiddotbull-__ ___--- ----- middot-middotmiddotmiddot-middotmiddot --middotmiddot--middotmiddot-middot-middot--------~--------------- ---middot-middot-

_ ~~---- - -~f-~b~_Z ___-middot-----middot---middot-----_ --middot------- ___------middot-middotmiddot--------middotshy

~ ~- J2~- -~-~~~--~~ -~ =~~~ - ~=~=rI-_middot-=zb_cmiddot ---middot-middot--~---~- ~-~-middot -middot---~ middot sa _ __e ~_L~-middot-rmiddot l~ y_~~---- middot----- middot-- ---- middot---middot-----

-A ~ r ~

middot-middot-~

_

- --

t-lf-Y~---middotmiddot----middot ________ ~- - ____ _____- - J

middotmiddot --middot middotmiddot --middot-- -middot middotmiddotmiddot middot - ~ -~-middotmiddotmiddotmiddot --middotmiddot-middot ---- _~ - -middotmiddotmiddot-middot middotmiddotmiddot-middotmiddotmiddotmiddot- -- middot-middot -middot------ middot----middot - middotmiddot -- middotmiddot-middot~--middot- -middot--middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot______

middot-middotmiddotmiddotmiddot middot-~-------

--middotmiddotmiddot middotmiddot-- ~-~~---~-- ___

- ~ _ middot--_- middotmiddot middot middot

middot-middotmiddot--middot-middotmiddot-

middot----

~- --middot_=- bull -_-------- ---

middot- ~- -middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot--middotmiddot middot~middot middot--

-Hm

Withbeld from public release by National Archives and RecQrds Administration under 36 CFR sect 125656

7

kl6A--~- -middot ---- -middotmiddot middot shy

- ~---~- -middot middot middot middot -~ ~~ ~

l I( 11--tt ~~

_

6 y~~~-

J~~-b b~

--~----

CLL~L~ J t- _ I _A

V~ middot middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot ---~ middot -middotmiddot - - -~~-~L

0

0

middotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot-- --middotmiddot-- ------ - ------- _____ ___ -middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

-~------------ ---~- -- ---middotmiddot-

- -

8

0 - G 1AIST k JJiQ_ j )~ 3~

middot~s~~_ 9

~~~~ middotmiddot

--l~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~- - ~ ~~ -~) - --middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot middotmiddotmiddotmiddot --middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

middot~ ~ ---- ~~~ -~ -

~- lt0~ ~)~ ~~-

~ -~ d-~~- ~~--- -

ss~ ~~s~ )~ ~ S-J~OM

~~ Jirl~ ~~~~~~

I 2

I UNCLASSIFIED

COMMISSION SENSITIVE

He was shown the actual order for the Langley scramble on 9-11 and did not recall who acknowledged for GIANT KILLER Washington Center and Norfolk Approach should have made sure there was a clear path for the fighters to go direct to HUNTRESS control based on the scramble order GIANT KILLER should not have been talking to the fighters that day

The actual flight plan 090 for 60 however put the flight in GIANT KILLER airspace To him the flight strip should have noted that the flight was an active air scramble If HUNTRESS activates a scramble it is GIANT KILLERs responsibility to

stay out of the way The onus is on the fighters and NEADS to go where they want to go It is not a GIANT KllLER responsibility to monitor the HUNTRESS frequency specified in the scramble order

Chief Clipper was provided an opportunity to listen to the FAA tape of the ATC conversation with GIANT KILLER concerning the requirement to go to Baltimore He listened to the tape twice and ultimately thought that the male GIANT KILLER voice was Petty Officer Barcas His impression was that Washington Center was not aware of the active air scramble but should have been His answer defended the actions of GIANT KILLER and held NEADS responsible for the control of the flight He again stated that GIANT KILLER should not have been talking to the flight

Norfolk Approach should not have switched the flight to GIANT KILLER frequency plain and simple We are not expected to be participants in active air scrambles he said The radialDME FIDO input is standard but he could not account for the specific 090 for 60 input except to say that there was a route off of Langley that took aircraft to GIANT KILLER airspace The 090 for 60 may make sense he said if people involved didnt take seriously the ongoing events

Chief Clipper was asked if GIANT KILLER would have just allowed the flight to keep going ifNEADS hadnt gotten GIANT KILLER involved with Washington Center Even though there was a scramble order over the circuit sometimes circumstances change GIANT KILLER will not interfere he said and would not divert a scrambled aircraft from holding at 090 for 60 even though the scramble order called for something different


_ __

3 -middot




(_ gt gtmiddot ~




bull






4

____ ___ ____ ttic ~-f_






5







-

-- - -



middot

middotmiddot





middotmiddot

----- ---- ---

-


6






--~~ ~~-~- middot ~_-_ _





-A ~ r ~

middot-middot-~

_

- --







middot----

~- --middot_=- bull -_-------- ---


-Hm


7



l I( 11--tt ~~

_

6 y~~~-

J~~-b b~

--~----

CLL~L~ J t- _ I _A


0

0


-~------------ ---~- -- ---middotmiddot-

- -

8


middot~s~~_ 9

~~~~ middotmiddot


middot~ ~ ---- ~~~ -~ -

~- lt0~ ~)~ ~~-

~ -~ d-~~- ~~--- -

ss~ ~~s~ )~ ~ S-J~OM

~~ Jirl~ ~~~~~~

_ __

3 -middot




(_ gt gtmiddot ~




bull






4

____ ___ ____ ttic ~-f_






5







-

-- - -



middot

middotmiddot





middotmiddot

----- ---- ---

-


6






--~~ ~~-~- middot ~_-_ _





-A ~ r ~

middot-middot-~

_

- --







middot----

~- --middot_=- bull -_-------- ---


-Hm


7



l I( 11--tt ~~

_

6 y~~~-

J~~-b b~

--~----

CLL~L~ J t- _ I _A


0

0


-~------------ ---~- -- ---middotmiddot-

- -

8


middot~s~~_ 9

~~~~ middotmiddot


middot~ ~ ---- ~~~ -~ -

~- lt0~ ~)~ ~~-

~ -~ d-~~- ~~--- -

ss~ ~~s~ )~ ~ S-J~OM

~~ Jirl~ ~~~~~~

4

____ ___ ____ ttic ~-f_






5







-

-- - -



middot

middotmiddot





middotmiddot

----- ---- ---

-


6






--~~ ~~-~- middot ~_-_ _





-A ~ r ~

middot-middot-~

_

- --







middot----

~- --middot_=- bull -_-------- ---


-Hm


7



l I( 11--tt ~~

_

6 y~~~-

J~~-b b~

--~----

CLL~L~ J t- _ I _A


0

0


-~------------ ---~- -- ---middotmiddot-

- -

8


middot~s~~_ 9

~~~~ middotmiddot


middot~ ~ ---- ~~~ -~ -

~- lt0~ ~)~ ~~-

~ -~ d-~~- ~~--- -

ss~ ~~s~ )~ ~ S-J~OM

~~ Jirl~ ~~~~~~

5







-

-- - -



middot

middotmiddot





middotmiddot

----- ---- ---

-


6






--~~ ~~-~- middot ~_-_ _





-A ~ r ~

middot-middot-~

_

- --







middot----

~- --middot_=- bull -_-------- ---


-Hm


7



l I( 11--tt ~~

_

6 y~~~-

J~~-b b~

--~----

CLL~L~ J t- _ I _A


0

0


-~------------ ---~- -- ---middotmiddot-

- -

8


middot~s~~_ 9

~~~~ middotmiddot


middot~ ~ ---- ~~~ -~ -

~- lt0~ ~)~ ~~-

~ -~ d-~~- ~~--- -

ss~ ~~s~ )~ ~ S-J~OM

~~ Jirl~ ~~~~~~

6






--~~ ~~-~- middot ~_-_ _





-A ~ r ~

middot-middot-~

_

- --







middot----

~- --middot_=- bull -_-------- ---


-Hm


7



l I( 11--tt ~~

_

6 y~~~-

J~~-b b~

--~----

CLL~L~ J t- _ I _A


0

0


-~------------ ---~- -- ---middotmiddot-

- -

8


middot~s~~_ 9

~~~~ middotmiddot


middot~ ~ ---- ~~~ -~ -

~- lt0~ ~)~ ~~-

~ -~ d-~~- ~~--- -

ss~ ~~s~ )~ ~ S-J~OM

~~ Jirl~ ~~~~~~

7



l I( 11--tt ~~

_

6 y~~~-

J~~-b b~

--~----

CLL~L~ J t- _ I _A


0

0


-~------------ ---~- -- ---middotmiddot-

- -

8


middot~s~~_ 9

~~~~ middotmiddot


middot~ ~ ---- ~~~ -~ -

~- lt0~ ~)~ ~~-

~ -~ d-~~- ~~--- -

ss~ ~~s~ )~ ~ S-J~OM

~~ Jirl~ ~~~~~~

8


middot~s~~_ 9

~~~~ middotmiddot


middot~ ~ ---- ~~~ -~ -

~- lt0~ ~)~ ~~-

~ -~ d-~~- ~~--- -

ss~ ~~s~ )~ ~ S-J~OM

~~ Jirl~ ~~~~~~

senior chief petty officer darren clipper, air traffic ... · senior chief petty officer darren...

Documents