T8 B17 FAA Trips 2 of 3 Fdr- FAA Controllers- Interview Outline 13 Pg Version

8/14/2019 T8 B17 FAA Trips 2 of 3 Fdr- FAA Controllers- Interview Outline 13 Pg Version

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FAA Controllers - Interview Outl ine

I. Introduction

A. The September 11 Com mission is an independent, bipartisan Com missioncreated by Congress and the President to investigate thefacts andcircumstances surroundingthe 9-11 attacksand make recommendationstoprevent and prepare forfuture terrorist attacks.

B. We are notpart of the congressional"Joint Inquiry"whose reporthas beenin the news recently.T he Joint Inquiry'sman date is more limited andnarrower than our mandate.T h e Joint Inquiry's investigation was limitedto the review of intelligence a gencies' actions and the collection ofcounterterrorismintelligence priorto the 9-11 attacks. W e have a muchbroader mandate, namely,to review the "facts and circumstancessurrounding"the 9-11 attacks. Am ong other areasof inquiry, ou rCommissionis lookingat airport security,the FAA's interaction withthefour hijackedaircraft, the military's responseto the attacks, the nationalleadership's responseto the attacks and U.S. imm igration policies priorto9-11.

C. We are mem bers of the Comm issionstaff team fo cusing on theFAA'stracking and the military's attempted interdiction of the hijacked airliners.One of theCom mission's goalsis to create a complete an d factuallyaccurate accountof what transpiredon 9-11 when our country wasattacked bysuicidebombers using comm ercialaircraft as weapons ofmass destruction. We asked to meet with you based on thefact that youare FAA employees who had someform of interaction with one or m oreof the hijackedaircraft on 9-11. We are also very interested in yourthoughts concerning recommendationsthe Commissionmay make toprevent future terrorist attacks.

D. We are not investigatingyou personally. Moreover,we are not aprosecuting bodyand do nothave grand jury powers.

E. We will use the information thatwe obtain from you in today's interviewto assist the Commissioners prepare their report to Congress and thePresident. In this regard, we need to accurately recordthe informationyo ugive us today. For that reason,the Commission's ruleis to tape recordal linterviews. A Memorandumfor the Record ("MFR") will be createdfollowingyour interview and you w ill not be perm itted to review thisM FR becau se of the time constraintsfaced by the Commission.

F. W e appreciate you taking the time to m eet with us tod ay and tell us aboutyourjob in general as well as yourspecificjob experience on 9-11. We



trust thatyou understand the ground rulesfor the interview. Beforewebegin the interview, do you have any questions about why w e are here andwhat we aredoing? Did anyone discuss the subject m atterof today'sinterview with you prior to today? If so, who? Did anyone at the FAA orelsewhere instructyou not todiscuss or to discuss certain subject matterstoday? If so, who? W hat subject matters?

II . FAA Em ployee's Background

A. Describe your educationand training priorto becoming an FAAcontroller.

B. LENGTHOF SERVICE WITH FAA?

C. POSITIONS HELD? WH EN EACH POSITIONW AS HELD?

D. W hat classroom and/orfield training did you receive to prepare you foreach positionyou have held?

E. Describe the supervisory chain of comm and?

III. Job Description on 9-11

EXPLAIN DUTIESAND RESPONSIBILITIESFOR POSITION HELDON9-11-01.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS—EXPLAINOPERATION OF RADARSCOPE.

DESCRIBE THE TYPE OF INFORMATION YOU RECEIVE ON THERADAR SCOPE WHEN TRACKING COMM ERCIAL AIRCRAFT.

IDENTITYOF AIRLINE CARRIER? FLIGHT NUMBER?

DIRECTIONOF AIRCRAFT?

ALTITUDE?

SPEED OF AIRCRAFT?

Who else —within FAA or elsewhere — i s seeing this same information?Canother ARTCC/TRACON/ATCTfacilitiesor the Herndon Command Centeralso see this data? Will it be displayed differently?



Describeto me what happens when thereis a technical failure and you losedata display? Does this happenfo r individualflight informationof would thewhole system g o down?Describeother circumstances where you may loseflight tracking data?

How is your C enter organized?

Role of supervisors/managers?

Role and dutiesof Radar Associate?

How/when do youinteract withthe airlines?

How /when do you interact with the Command Center? W ith HQ ?

How many aircraft do you typically handleon any given weekday m orning?

IV. Pre-9-11 Training and Procedures Related to Nordo Aircraft

HOW DID YOU HANDLE NORDO AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO9-11?

FAA SOP?

WRITTEN GUIDELINES?

REACTION TO NORDO AIRCRAFT BASED ON JOB EXPERIENCE?

DESCRIBE METHODS USED TO CONTACT NORDO AIRCRAFT.

HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU ENCOUNTER NORDO AIRCRAFT PRIORTO 9-11?

WH AT WAS TYPICAL LENGTH OF TIME THAT AIRCRAFT WO ULDREMAIN NORDO PRIOR TO9-11?

REASONS FOR NORDO AIRCRAFTYOU ENCOUNTERED PRE- 9-11?

MECHANICALFAILURE? ELECTRICAL FAILURE?

PILOT NOT PAYING ATTENTIONTO CONTROLLER?

COCK PIT INTRUSION?

HIJACKING?



V. Pre-9-11 Training an d Procedures Related to Non-Transponding Aircraft

H O W DID YOU HANDLE AIRCRAFT THAT LOST TRANSPONDER

SIGNAL PRIOR TO 9-11?

FA A SOP?

WRITTEN FAA GUIDELINES TO GUIDE REACTION TO LOSS OFTRANSPONDER?

DID JOB EXPERIENCE GUIDE YOUR RESPONSE TO AIRCRAFTTHAT LOST TRANSPONDER SIGNAL?

NOTIFICATION TO SUPERVISOR? WHEN?

DESCRIBE METHODS USED TO CONTROL AIRCRAFT THAT LOSTTRANSPONDER SIGNAL.

H O W OFTEN WOULD YOU ENCOUNTER AIRCRAFT LOSS OFTRANSPONDER SIGNAL PRIOR TO 9-11?

W H AT WAS TYPICAL LENGTH OF TIME THAT AIRCRAFT WOULDREMAIN WITHOUT TRANSPONDER SIGNAL PRIOR TO 9-11?

REASONS FOR NON-TRANSPONDING AIRCRAFT YO UENCOUNTERED PRE- 9-11?

MEC HAN ICAL FAILURE? ELECTRICAL FAILURE?

COCKPIT INTRUSION?

HIJACKING?

HOW CAN YOU DETERMINE ALTITUDE OF AIRCRAFT WITHOUT

TRANSPONDER SIGNAL? NORDO A ND WITHOUT TRANSPONDER?

W H AT ABOUT SPEED OF AIRCRAFT?

V I. Pre-9-11 Training and Procedures Related to Aircraft Course Deviations

C O N T R O L L E R RESPONSES TO AIRCRAFT THAT DEVIATED

SIGNIFICANTLY FROM IT S INTENDED COURSE PRIOR TO 9-11?

WHAT W AS FAA SOP?

WRITTEN GUIDELINES?



DID YOU HAVE ANY ON THE JOB EXPERIENCE THAT EXPLAINEDHOW TO DEAL W ITH AIRCRAFT THAT D EVIATEDSUBSTANTIALLY FROM ITS INTENDED COURSE?

HOW OFTEN DID THIS HAPPEN PRIOR TO 9-11?

WHAT WERE THE REASONS?

WEATHER RELATED?

MECHANICAL FAILURE?

HIJACK?

NOTIFICATION TO SUPERVISORS? WHEN ? WHO? HOW ?

PRE 9-11 EXPERIENCES REALTEDTO HANDLING COMMERCIALAIRCRAFT THAT: 1) WERE NOR DO AND HAD LOST THETRANSPONDER SIGNALAND

2) WER E NORDO, LOST TRANSPONDER SIGNAL AND HADDEVIATED SIGNIFICANTLY FROMITS INTENDED COURSE?

VII. Pre-9-11 Training and Procedures Related to Hijacked Aircraft

Procedures on 9/11

WHAT W ERE HIJACK PROCEDU RES AND PROTOCOL IN PLACE ON 9-11? How did you know that this was the protocol? W as thissubject "taught" orincluded as part of your training? Please describe.

WHAT W AS YOUR UNDERSTANDINGOF THE ROLE YOU WERESUPPOSED TO PLAY IN RESPONDING TO A HIJACKING SITUATION?

FAA STANDARD PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW? WRITTEN FAAGUIDELINES?

EXPLAIN PROCEDURES FOR DECLARING A HIJACK?

EXPLAIN PROCEDURESFOR NOTIFYING SUPERVISORS? WHO DOYOU NOTIFY? HOW? WHEN?

On 9/11, what were the manuals/documents you would have turned to forguidance?



On 9/11, ho w would yo u have detected a hijacking situation?

Nordo Aircraft

Non-Transponding Aircraft

Course Deviation

EXPLAIN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF FAA PROCESS FORNOTIFICATION OF A HIJACKING TO THE MILITARY?

WAS THERE AN FAA SOP OR PROTOCOL FOR REQUESTING MILITARYASSISTANCE?

WERE YOU AWARE OF ANY FAA MANUALS OR WRITTENGUIDELINES THAT GOVERNED HOW FAA WAS SUPPOSED TO NOTIFYTHE MILITARY OF A HIJACKED COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT?

HOW ABOUT THE PROTOCOL FOR REQUESTING MILITARYASSISTANCE/INTERVENTION? WAS THIS WRITTEN DOWNSOMEWHERE?

W A S THE MILITARY SUPPOSED TO ESCORT THE HIJACKEDAIRCRAFT?

WHAT FAA EMPLOYEE POSITION(S) WAS RESPONSIBLE FORNOTIFYING THE MILITARY? REQUESTING MILITARY ASSISTANCE?

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH NEADS AND THE ROLE IT WOULD PLAY INA MILITARY RESPONSE TO A REPORTED HIJACK?

DID YOU KNOW HOW TO CONTACT NEADS? DID YOU KNOW W HOTO CONTACT AT NEADS?

WHAT ABOUT NORAD?

DID YOU KNOW HOW TO CONTACT NORAD? DID YOU KNOW WHOTO CONTACT AT NORAD?

ON 9-11, WHAT DID YOU THINK WAS THE NEAREST MILITARY BASETHAT COULD OFFER ZNY ASSISTANCE IN RESPONDING TO AHIJACKING?

ON 9-11, HOW WOULD AN FAA CONTROLLER DIRECT OR VECTOR AMILITARY AIRCRAFT TO ESCORT A HIJACKED AIRCRAFT THAT WASNORDO AND HAD ITS TRANSPONDER OFF?



HOW DO YOU DETERMINE ALTITUDE?

PRE-9-11 HIJACK EXERCISES

(1 ) Prior to 9-11,what typeof exercises- sponsoredby either FAA, FEMA, DoD,or some com binationthereof- related to hijackings haveyou ever participatedin?If you have never participated in an exercise involving a hijack scenario, are youaware of others who have? W hat aboutafter 9-11 (i.e. today)?

(2) Prior to 9/11, had youheard of or were you aware that others w ithinFAAwere aware of the potential for a suicidehijacking scenario?

VIII . The Events of 9-11

W H E NDID YOUR SHIFT STARTON 9-11?

WHAT POSITIONWERE YOU ASSIGNED TO ON9-11?

WH AT W ERE YOUR DUTIESAND RESPONSIBILITIESAS AN FAA(E.G., CONTROLLER, AREA SUPERVISOR,

OPERATIONS MANAGER,TMU SPECIALIST)ON THAT DAY?

FOR AT CONTROLLERS: What region of airspace were you responsible foron 9-11? Whataltitude did youcontrol?

From 8:00 a.m. to appro ximately 10:00 a.m., approxim ately how m anyaircraft were you scheduled to control? W as this a normal workload?

Describe in your own words wha t happened in this Center on9/11?

SITUATIUONALAWARENESS WITH REGARDTO AAL 11:

WHEN DID YO ULEARN THATAAL 11 W AS HEADED TOWARDSNEW YORK CENTER'S AIRSPACE?HOW DID YOU LEARN AAL11 WAS COMING TOWARDS N.Y.?

W HO NOTIFIEDYOU ABOUTAAL 11?

WHAT WEREYOU TOLD ABOUTAAL 11?

WERE YOU ADVISED IT WA S NORDO?

WERE YOU TOLD AAL 11 LOST ITS TRANSPONDER SIGNAL?



WERE YOU ADVISED ABOUT THE COCKPIT CONVERSATIONSTHAT WERE OVERHEARD?

WERE YOU TOLD AAL 11 WAS A HIJACK IN PROGRESS?

WHAT WAS YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS REGARDING ANY

REQUESTS FOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE?

DID YOU KNOW THAT BOSTON CENTER HAD REQUESTEDMILITARY ASSISTANCE W/R/T AAL 11?

DID THERE COME A TIME WHEN YOU LOST THE PRIMARY RADARFOR AAL 11?

WHAT DID YOU THINK HAPPENED TO AAL 11?

WHEN YOU HEARD THAT WTC 1 WAS HIT BY AN AIRCRAFT, DIDYOU IMMEDIATELY THINK THE IMPACT WAS FROM AAL 11?

IF NOT, WHAT DID YOU THINK CAUSED THE IMPACT INTO WTC 1?

EXPLAIN THE NOTIFICATIONS MADE WHEN YOU LOST THE

PRIMARY RADAR FOR AAL 11?

WHO DID YOU NOTIFY? FAA ROC—ANE; FAA WOC; FAA

COMMAND CENTER AT HERNDON?

WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM HAPPENED WITH RESPECT TO AAL11?

(SEE TIMELINE THAT SAYS "MAYBE NOT AAL 11 INTO WTC PERMCCORMICK" AT 9:35 A.M.)

EXPLORE INTERVIEWEES KNOWLEDGE OF ANY REPORTS THATAAL 11 WAS STILL AIRBORNE AFTER WTC 1 WAS STRUCK.

SITUATIUQNAL AWARENESS WITH REGARD TO UAL 175:

DID YOU HANDLE ANY ASPECT OF THE CONTROL OF UAL 175

AFTER IT ENTERED NEW YOURK'S AIRSPACE FROM BOSTON'SAIRSPACE?

(DAVE BOTTIGLIA AT RADAR POSITION 42 HAD LAST NORMALCONTACT WITH UAL 175 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:42 a.m. ATAPPROXIMATELY 8:52 a.m., BOTTIGLIA ASKS UAL 175 TO



RECYCLE ITS TRANSPONDER AND TO RESPOND BY RADIO ANDUAL 175 NEVER RESPONDS).

WHEN DID YOU NOTICE THAT UAL 175 WAS NORDO?

WHAT DID YOU DO IN RESONSE? DID YOU NOTIFY ANYSUPERVISORS? IF SO, WHO DID YOU ADVISE?

WAS UAL 175 STILL ON ITS INTENDED COURSE WHEN IT WENTNORDO?

WHEN DID YOU OBSERVE THAT UAL 175 WAS NOTTRANSPONDING?

DID YOU KNOW THAT UAL 175 HAD CHANGED ITS TRANSPONDERCODE? HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS UAL 175 ON A NEWMODE 3 TRANSPONDING CODE?

WAS UAL 175 STILL FOLLOWING ITS INTENDED FLIGHT PATHWHEN IT SWITCHED ITS TRASPONDER CODE?

DID UAL 175 DEVIATE SIGNIFICANTLY FROM ITS COURSE PRIORTO IMPACT?

DID THERE COME A TIME WHEN YOU DETERMINED THAT UAL 175HAD BEEN HIJACKED? WHEN?

DID SOMEONE AT ZNY OFFICIALLY DECLARE UAL 175 HIJACKEDPRIOR TO ITS IMPACT INTO WTC 2? WHEN?

WHAT FACTORS LED YOU TO DETERMINE THAT UAL 175 WASHIJACKED? (NORDO, CHANGE OF TRANSPONDER SIGNAL,COURSE DEVIATION, FIRST REPORT THAT AIRCRAFT CRASHEDINTO WTC 1)

WHO WAS ADVISED THAT UAL 175 WAS HIJACKED?

WHEN WERE THEY ADVISED THAT UAL 175 WAS HIJACKED?

WAS THE NEW YORK ROC ADVISED? IF SO, WHO W AS TOLD?WHEN WERE THEY TOLD?

WAS FA A HEADQUARTERS (I.E., THE WOC) ADVISED? IF SO, WHOWAS TOLD? WHEN WERE THEY TOLD?



WAS FAA COMMAND CENTERAT HERNDON ADVISED THAT UAL175 WAS HIJACKED? IF SO, WHO WAS TOLD? WHEN WERE THEYTOLD?

WOULD YOU HAVE CONCLUDED THAT UAL175 WAS HIJACKEDABSENT YOUR AWARENESS THATAAL 11 WAS HIJACKED?

WOULD YOU HAV E CONCLUDED THAT UAL175 WAS HIJACKEDABSENT YOUR AWARENESS THATAN AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTEDTO HAVE STRUCK WTC 1?

WHAT ACTIONS DID YOU TAKE WHEN YOU DETERMINED THATUAL 175 HAD BEEN HIJACKED?

DESCRIBE NOTIFICATIONSTO SUPERVISOR(S).

IF YOU ARE AWARE, WHAT ACTIONS DID YOU SUPERVISORSTAKE?

WHAT ACTIONS, IF ANY, DID YOU OR ANYONE ELSE AT ZNYTAKE TO NOTIFY THE MILITARY THAT UAL 175 WAS HIJACKED?

DID ANYONE AT ZNY ASK FOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE (e.g.,AMILITARY ESCORT) WITH RESPECTTO UAL 175?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT NEADSIS AND WHAT ROLE IT WOULDPLAY IN RESPONSE TO A REPORTED HIJACK?

WHAT ABOUT NORAD?

WHO AT THE FAA COORDINATED WITHNORAD/NEADS SO THEMILITARY COULD RESPONDAND PINPOINT THE LOCATION OFUAL 175 TO IDENTIFY AND ESCORT IT? WHAT ABOUT AAL11?

How come NORAD/NEADS could not find AA 11 on its radar scopes?

Did someone FROM Boston Center, the FAA WOC or the ATCSCC (i.e. theCommand Center) advise youthat the hijackers aboard A AL11 said "WEHAVE SOME PLANES"?

Had you ever participated in an exercise (i.e., test drill) concerning the controlof a commercialaircraft that was NORDO for more than five minutes?

Had you ever participatedin an exercise (i.e., test drill) concerningthe controlof a commercialaircraft that was NORD O and hadlost its transponder signal?

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FACTORS UNDERLYING DECISION TO GROUND DEPARTURES AND TO

DECLARE ZNY ATC ZERO

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GROUND STOP ALL AIRCRAFTSCHEDUL ED TO DEPART FROM WITHIN YOUR CENT ER? Describethe specific facts andcircumstances that influenced the timing of your FAAcenter's decisionto ground al l departures?

WHAT FACTORS LED YOU TO DECLARE A ZNY GROUND STOP?

Describe the specific facts and circumstancesthat influenced the timing ofyour FAA center's decision to declare ATC zero?

Was there established protocolfor these decisionson 9-11? If so, did yourfacility practice fo r this scenario? If not, is there protocol todayto governthese decisions and are they practiced?

Discuss aspects of FAA HQ Order to Ground Stop allaircraft. Was there aprotocol or plan in place that explained how to implement a NATIONALground stop order? If not, describe how the NA TION AL ground stop wasachieved without any incidents or accidents. Is there a written plan today? Isit practiced today?

Discuss aspects of FAA Order to Ground all airborneaircraft. Was there aplan in place to implement the order to ground alltraffic? If not, describe howthe ORDER TO GROUND A LL AIRBORNE AIRCRAFT was achievedwithout any incidentsor accidents. Did someone devisean ad hoc plan on 9-11 to ground all traffic? Is there a written plan today? Is it practiced today?

Explore witness' knowledgeof SCAT ANA.What is your understandingof the SCAT ANA procedure? Haveyou everparticipated in aSCATANA exercise? Prior to9-11? Post 9-11?

Explore witness' involvement in any military exercises prior to9-11? After9-11? Describe nature of exercises and witness' role.

Explore whether w itness participatedin or had knowledge of any militaryexercises that may have occurred on 9-11? If the answer is yes, explorewhether the military exercise addedany confusion to the real worldhijackings.

Do you believe the FAA system in place on 9-11 to control aircraft andrespond to a potentialhijacking contained the mecha nisms (e.g., training,equipment, technology, etc.,) necessaryto effectively respond to the events of9-11? If not, explain. What kindsof training, equ ipment,etc., do you believewas not in place?

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What lessons, if any, did you learnfrom the events of 9-11 as they im pactedyourjob?

In term sof crisis managementand response, whatdo you think w orked wellon 9/11? Whatfailures do you seethat occurred that day?

How would you describe FAA's preparedness todayfo r another hijackingincident? Whatare the outstanding weakn esses? (e.g.,are you, as acontroller, adequately prepared and trained to deal with events today similar tothose that transpired on9-11? If not, explain.

Do you believe that your role as an FAA controller today has changedfromwhat that rolewas on themorningof 9-11? If so, how hasyour role changed ?(Safety vs . Security)Are you adequately preparedan d trained to deal withyour role today? If not, what are you lacking?

Do you believe the FAA is arm ed with all the av ailable technology andequipm ent to help you track anaircraft today if it was hijacked by terrorists?W hat changes, if any, wou ld you m ake within the FAA to better defendagainst terrorists w ho plan to useaircraft as weapons of m ass destruction?

If you were a memberof the 9/11 Commission, lookingat the aviation issues,what recom m endation(s) wouldyo u have to make the system safer?

ADDITIONALDOCUMENTS—Are you aware of any after-action reports orassessm ents that were done aboutthe events of the day? ANY TIMELINESCREATEDBY YOU REFLECTING EVENTSOF 9-11? ANY PERSONALNOTES CREATED AFTER9-11 REFLECTINGTHE DAY'S EVENTS?

Describe the relationshipand thenature of interaction betweenthe FAA andthe M ilitary (e.g., NEAD S) p riorto 9-11? What is your view todayof theFAA's relationship with NORAD?

If you recall any inform ationafter today 's interview that you did not discusswith us today, you believe is im portant or think the Com m ission should knowabout, please contact m e and let m e know .Is there anything that you would like to discuss with m e orinform theCom m ission about that you have chosen not to discuss because of thepresenceof the FAA minder?

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T8 B17 FAA Trips 2 of 3 Fdr- FAA Controllers- Interview Outline 13 Pg Version

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