Reply #18: That IS an excellent question. I'll try to explain the time lag. [View All]

[MercutioATC]

Realistically, It could take 2-5 minutes before a controller that was busy with the morning departure push to observe the plane off course, try to contact the pilot (unsuccessfully) and to notify a supervisor. The supervisor would then observe the situation for another few minutes. If it was deemed to be an issue, the supervisor would contact the area manager in charge who would then observe the situation themselves. The area manager in charge would then call the Command Center, who would, you guessed it, observe the situation and decide whether to call NORAD. THAT'S when NORAD would be contacted.

Aggravating the time lag is the fact that we've all lost contact with planes, lost transponders, and seen planes fly off course numerous times. In every case it's been an equipment issue and there was no reason to expect that this was any different.

Procedures have changed, but this is how it was done on 9/11.