ZDC INTERVIEWS 12/3/03 - Washington D.C.

Enroute Center

Issue of recording interviews comes up. Raised by David Weigand and Kenneth (ZDC
Union Rep). End result, interviewee has right to object to recording, though will not be
coached by either FAA GC or Union Rep.

Janelle Branower (on worked Quit 25 at Rl 1 "Irons")

- Objected to it being recorded.
- Hired in Dec 89, came to ZDC in April 1990. ZDC ever since.
Area 7, Bay 7
Sits all positions in Area 7
- 9/11: Working the 7am - 3pm shift. Assigned to the User Request Evaluation
Tool (URET) area (new equipment being installed, she was conducting training
with a workgroup on it.) When word got around on the attacks, she went to Bay 7
Rl 1 "Calvert" to see if she could assist.
- Pre-9/11 training: with Washington Consulting Group (WCG) hired trainers,
usually off of the floor. "HJs/Mode C intruders/suspect ac" required annual
training. Usually training at a simulator scope. AC would squawk 7500, or loss
of comms. MODE C INTRUDER = an untracked target, somebody in the
airspace not tracking or emitting an incorrect Mode C. AC is in the system, but
with no ID-track tag or incomplete tag (ie. Incomplete data block like ac name,
altitude, etc) Like if the data tag is clearly wrong in relation to what the ac is
actually doing/tracking. Not the same as a primary only target. Doesn't happen
often.
When I sat down at "Calvert" my supervisor told me to look for "untracked"
targets. He did not say turn on Primary. I was asked only to look for "untracked"
targets. I was looking for ac with "limited" data tag or "Mode C Intruders" - my
primary was already on because our sector is low altitude and we're required to
have it on. But his instruction was also interpreted by JB to check unknown
primary targets.
- Ever trained to work a hj where there were no comms with pilot? No.
Work Pautexant NAS airspace, but not Oceana.
- Pautexant restricted airspace is coordinated with their airspace controllers. Is
different from Giant Killer.
- 9/11: Saw news of WTC in cafeteria. Went to Center Sat down. Looking for
untracked targets. Not sure for how long, things going by quickly. Supervisor
then came by and said that an ac had hit the Pentagon. Was shortly thereafter told
that all ac needed to land.
- I actually don't remember interacting with the Langley fighters (Quit 25). I was
working in the Quality Assurance Office and another co-worked listened to a 9/11
tape with here voice interacting with Quit 25. Occurred in August 2003.
- In Calvert sector we often work a lot of military ac. Routine.
Pre-9/11 comms with Huntress were only in coordination with POTUS travel.
Post-9/11 comms and coordination is often done with Huntress - coordinating
CAPs, etc.
Handled Pautexant Advisories on a daily basis.
Got handoff from R23 (JC Mitchell) who says "the world has gone mad."
Could you have seen the Quit 25 flight plan? I don't recall, probably yes. But we
can today. I don't recall calling up a flight plan readout to determine Quit 25's
flight plan, but I probably did so (as I did for all ac I'm interacting with if I don't
know where they are going).
Handoff Quit 25 to R17. Did not communicate with them after that.
Control any CAPs over DC morning of 9/11? No.
No knowledge of any "weapons free" or shoot-down orders.
Lessons Learned: It was an incredible day. Not sure of any lessons on what
could have been done better. Controllers across the nation did an amazing job.