https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/02/b...e=articleShare


Bit sensationalism here, I've never experienced anyone coming to work drunk or high.. I've asked some older controllers if that had happened in the past and they said no also

Overall a decent outside perspective. Working too much, with not a lot of staffing and limited breaks can cause safety issues especially in the summer time.

I've made a thread on this site almost every opening past few years and alot of people didn't seem that interested.

Because nobody has crashed yet.

I agree the system is under strain, way too many new pilots and way too many new controllers.

Only reason there hasn't been a major crash is that modern airliners are so automated.

Also the FAA's mental health rules are prehistoric. Overwork causes burnout = depression, anxiety, and sleep problems but the moment anyone goes to a doc they lose their job so a lot of people sweep it under the rug or self-medicate w/alcohol

Pretty much what it is. The quick turns and rattler schedule are the big issues (on your Thursday you work a 5AM-1PM go home for 9 hours and have to be back at work from 10pm-6AM) in addition to a bunch of OT and days where theres limited breaks.

Nothing worse than coming in and seeing the break board with 2 people and you're name is at the top and realize you gotta sit here for 2 hrs then get a 30 min break before doing it all over again

Need more bodies, but the issue is (to me) the academy can chug out only a certain amount of graduates a year because you need teachers and evaluators and it's in Oklahoma City

Who wants to retire and spend their time on OKC of all places? So the pool for instructors is low. Need to have new trainees to straight to their facilities after getting hired (at least at Centers) and be trained there

Also need a higher salary in order to get a bigger talent pool. A lot of people still say "not worth it" when I tell them about ATC and more $$ seems to be the way to go

Certain professions need a union and ATC is definitely one of them.

AI needs to take over

We do have a union. Unfortunately alot of controllers don't like they way that new leadership is steering it's workforce and the 2 main issues are pay and training #'s

You'll see a happier workforce if you increase like Delta/FedEx etc did and increase the amount of trainees which will inevitably mean more breaks, less 6 day work weeks, and a better rested work force

Don't know with all these articles and things coming out of the pay is gonna be what members expect tho

Unless the government plans on spending trillions in overhauling the aviation industry that's not happening.

We just now have implemented "text" like capabilities and pilots STILL fuk that up with frequency changes or route changes

Did your union fight the Vax mandates?

I did ATC in the Air Force. Thank the phuck I got out of that shiet hole job lol

Don't you have a kid and no wife? Congrats

Not really, which is where a lot of members got angry over it and left.

wait, you mean the NY times is nothing more than a click-bait generator?

I'm SHOCKED.

FAA medical system needs a MAJOR overhaul on both the pilot & ATC side. I'm afraid to even go to the doctor for anything.

Agreed with this. People will refuse to get help cause they don't wanna lose their medical

Sad chit

And how do you feel about those who refused the jab?

I always viewed air traffic controllers as people who were too dumb to become pilots.

Damn.... Wait until you see the raw data on how useless the VAX was in comparison to what pfizer-sponsored media told you.

It's their own choice, was my opinion.. I was pissed that they were throwing out incentives tho for people who waited. I think we got an extra 4 hours of leave if we got the jab early, then it turned into 8-10 hrs or something months later.

Training was being stopped in every facility if your county had a certain # or % of people who tested positive in a given week. I remember training around the country being paused and continued then paused again countless of times during that period

How do you figure? Telling pilots what to do essentially is the job