Ben Sliney
Encyclopedia
Ben Sliney was one of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
's National Operation Managers. His first day in this position was September 11, 2001, and he was responsible for ordering a National Ground Stop
across United States
airspace
in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
, Sliney is credited with giving the order to land every plane in the air over the U.S. at the time, roughly 4,200 aircraft, and effectively shutting down U.S. airspace. This was an unprecedented judgment call, which the 9/11 Commission
later denoted as an important and decisive act in the chaos of that morning. While Sliney made the decision on his own initiative, he did have the benefit of the advice of an experienced staff of air traffic controllers and traffic managers. Although it was his first day as National Operations Manager, his air traffic background already consisted of over 25 years of active air traffic control and management in the FAA. He had held various positions as an air traffic controller
and first line supervisor at several major facilities and also Operations Manager and Traffic Management Officer at New York TRACON
. Also, Traffic Management Specialist, National Operations Manager and then Tactical Operations Manager at the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) and Regional office experience as Manager, Airspace and Procedures Branch, Eastern Region.
Sliney has since left the FAA to practice law.
in an advisory role before being cast in a small role as an air traffic controller
. Later, the film's writer and director, Paul Greengrass
, offered him the opportunity to play himself.
Sliney also has a small role in Greengrass's 2010 film Green Zone
.
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
's National Operation Managers. His first day in this position was September 11, 2001, and he was responsible for ordering a National Ground Stop
National Ground Stop
A ground stop is when all aircraft at an airport are forbidden to depart . This most often occurs during a thunderstorm, due to the danger of wind shear, hail, or other weather-related hazard. It can also occur due to nearby terrorist attacks...
across United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
airspace
Airspace
Airspace means the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters or, more generally, any specific three-dimensional portion of the atmosphere....
in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Actions on September 11, 2001
After two planes had crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
, Sliney is credited with giving the order to land every plane in the air over the U.S. at the time, roughly 4,200 aircraft, and effectively shutting down U.S. airspace. This was an unprecedented judgment call, which the 9/11 Commission
9/11 Commission
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, was set up on November 27, 2002, "to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 attacks", including preparedness for and the immediate response to...
later denoted as an important and decisive act in the chaos of that morning. While Sliney made the decision on his own initiative, he did have the benefit of the advice of an experienced staff of air traffic controllers and traffic managers. Although it was his first day as National Operations Manager, his air traffic background already consisted of over 25 years of active air traffic control and management in the FAA. He had held various positions as an air traffic controller
Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers are the people who expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. The position of the air traffic controller is one that requires highly specialized skills...
and first line supervisor at several major facilities and also Operations Manager and Traffic Management Officer at New York TRACON
New York TRACON
The New York Terminal Radar Approach Control is located in Westbury, New York. New York TRACON, also known as N90, is a consolidated TRACON meaning that a single location provides approach service for several large airports....
. Also, Traffic Management Specialist, National Operations Manager and then Tactical Operations Manager at the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) and Regional office experience as Manager, Airspace and Procedures Branch, Eastern Region.
Sliney has since left the FAA to practice law.
United 93 feature film
Sliney was initially involved in the 2006 movie United 93United 93 (film)
United 93 is a 2006 fact-based historical drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Paul Greengrass that chronicles events aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the September 11 attacks...
in an advisory role before being cast in a small role as an air traffic controller
Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers are the people who expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. The position of the air traffic controller is one that requires highly specialized skills...
. Later, the film's writer and director, Paul Greengrass
Paul Greengrass
Paul Greengrass is an English film director, screenwriter and former journalist. He specialises in dramatisations of real-life events and is known for his signature use of hand-held cameras.-Life and career:...
, offered him the opportunity to play himself.
Sliney also has a small role in Greengrass's 2010 film Green Zone
Green Zone (film)
Green Zone is a 2010 American war thriller film written by Brian Helgeland and directed by Paul Greengrass. The film was inspired by the non-fiction 2006 book Imperial Life in the Emerald City by journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran, which documented life in the Green Zone, Baghdad...
.