Posted on 02/17/2025 5:51:20 AM PST by V_TWIN
Personnel from Elon Musk's government downsizing team called DOGE will visit the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control command center in Virginia on Monday, as the Trump administration looks to reform the system.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy disclosed the plan in a social media post on Sunday, saying the DOGE team will "get a firsthand look at the current system, learn what air traffic controllers like and dislike about their current tools, and envision how we can make a new, better, modern and safer system."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
“learn what air traffic controllers like and dislike about their current tools, and envision how we can make a new, better, modern and safer system”
Step 1. Root out all DEI and drive a stake through it’s heart.
One reason that the FAA is conservative is because the system mostly works. Air traffic accident rates have dropped dramatically since the 1960’s despite large increases in traffic volume.
Another reason is because FAA unions oppose modernization, seeing it as a threat to their job security. Airliners used to have flight engineers. Not anymore, now just two pilots. Automation put flight engineers out of business. Air traffic controllers do not want to be next.
Yes - but tread very carefully. Stick to the admin side of things. DEI may be embedded in the operational side, and I'm sure there are those who could be weeded out, but... tread carefully.
Interview the ATCs in private. They will identify workmates who are not up to the job. I know it.
I think this has more to do with ancient technology staffing numbers. Deep sizing DEI will be a major step in recruitment, but that will still be a 2 year lag to get back to normal.
The main argument against upgrading the tech has always been cost. That cost was heavily inflated and application delayed due to the federal procurement process. Remember when 32” LCD tv cost $2000? Now they are $120. Cost would be less of an issue.
Maybe it’s time to tap the people that went from zero to manned space flight in a couple of years. They know tech.
EC
Roger that.
Wonder if having that extra controller who left early, would have made a difference.
It might be handled quietly, but the supervisor is/will be gone.
Just listen to ATC over the radio and pick out the idiots within minutes.
Do the DOGE people even know what a vacuum tube is? FAA still has many in service despite $$$ taxpayer funding.
I’ve heard that, although I’ve never listened in myself.
Back in 1982, my company hired three ATCs who had been fired by Reagan. I was writing RPG and COBOL code. Those three were super-smart and picked it up unbelievably fast.
I worked for the DoD for 30 years......it’s not just the FAA that’s antiquated.
Some of the structures at the Naval aviation facility where I worked were original......and the facility was built in 1940.
This is a much needed and terrific idea. This isn’t just about hires, this is about a modern update to the actual system.
Way to go Duffy.
Scary isn’t it.
Years ago I evaluated a small company in Silicon Valley for an acquisition company(VC). They were working on 3D display system based upon a crude holographic technology. The computing power and optical devices wasn’t there yet to run the system reliably. These days there’s plenty of computing power to run a 3D holographic system, it’s just dealing with the government to get it done would be painful. The company is long gone but I think the idea has merit.
The trouble is, with current equipment we probably need MORE air traffic controllers, not less.
During the recent crash in D.C. the tower was short one controller - the one to control the helicopter traffic.
There is an active lawsuit with 100+ plaintiffs about people being turned away from ATC positions. The lead plaintiff scored 100 on the ATC aptitude test, but was turned away because he didn't meet the desired (DEI) biological criteria, i.e., his skin is the wrong color
That has been an issue for at least 25 years. Cost and union resistance were
Main impediment at that time.
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