Posted on 04/18/2006 2:05:47 AM PDT by Aeronaut
Posted by request.
OK, I saw the ad on television last night. I went to the site and tried to read the rebuttal to the FAA statement but it wouldn't connect. Initially I'm suspect of any organization that uses the four-letter word, "fair". I would expect many on this site would think about Ronaldus Maximus when it comes to air traffic controllers.
Air traffic controllers are already earning $166,000/yr acc/ WSJ.
What a load... these people are earning over 160K. Too bad Reagan is not around, he would deal with them.
These people do an incredibly important and stressful job.
At the same time I've worked in union plants and seen the kind of crap unions do to try and mislead the public and their own members to maintain control.
The first step in having a fair system is scrapping the unions. Make it so bad employees can be fired, and good employees can be rewarded for good work. Let the market determine fair wages instead of collective bargining.
Well, I heard last night that in, say, O'Hare, they'd be earning $75,000 for one of THE most stressful jobs out there.
Me? I want someone who's really experienced and motivated to do this job when I get on that plane.
But hey. That's just me.
FAAguy...here's the thread.
I agree with your first sentence.
Well, it was admittedly the most important of the points I made. :)
In particular, it's horribly inefficient to control multiple aircraft from remote locations from one audio frequency and a guy looking at a green screen. Not to mention you have a single-point-of-failure if the guy screws up, with only primitive cockpit traffic avoidance systems for emergency backup. A good system should operate redundantly at all times, and ATC can't do that.
If you measure the "seconds to disaster" of the average freeway driver, there are innumerable things that he could yank the wheel to hit and kill himself within a second or two. But the average aircraft would often have to spend several minutes deliberately aiming at another aircraft or landmark for disaster. The only difference is that highways are organized and visible within a few feet, while airways are 5 miles wide and 1000 feet deep and generally a pilot can't see neighboring traffic except in a TCAS or ADS/B with several miles of resolution. Compare that with the semi-truck on the freeway that your kid could hang out the window and touch. Drive under those truck wheels and you'll be just as dead as if you missed the ILS glideslope in Denver.
It's way past time for a total redesign of how we handle air traffic. It took ADS/B over 10 years from initial testing to finally being available. That's way too much time, and far short of a complete redesign.
Obviously between the unions, the government inertia, and Airlines that don't want GA competition, making real changes is going to be difficult, to say the least.
Get the government out of it.
BTTT!!!
These guys are asses. They make a ton of money, get a freaking unbelievable pension when they are "forced" to retire at 50 or 55, and they complain about only making $160K. Please. Privatize this bad boy and let's get some competition in here so only those actually worth $160K get. My guess is none of them deserve it.
Call you congressman, as that's what is going to come down to.
I think you're wrong. These guys and gals have a job that is TREMENDOUSLY stressful...they deserve the pay.
Sorry. We'll have to agree to disagree...
I know a few controllers who work at centers, and I frankly can't not think of a bigger waste of taxpayer money after talking to these guys. A garbage man has more stress, and they are just sitting back laughing as they collect a fat salary. So we again agree to disagree.
Hello All,
I am an air traffic controller. 3 years in the US Army and 18 years in the FAA at a radar center.
I am paid well for the highly technical, highly stressful job I must perform flawlessly each and every time I go to work.
I love my job, but there are days that there is no amount of money worthy of what I am asked to do.
My employer is looking to change some things with my workplace and basically it is all in the name of money. Do you really want a system that is willing to consider cost over your safety? Can things be done cheaper, yes.
However, what are you willing to give up? Maybe we don't need a weather person at each site? Maybe we don't need a technician on duty 24/7. Maybe centers can do approach control work during the midnight shifts. Maybe a private company looking at profit margins should be in charge of your safety while you are flying? I have more folks, but I think you get the idea.
I am more than alarmed at the direction cost savings is taking us. I have 7 years left in my career. If/when the agency imposes their last offer on our unwilling workforce, the potential retirements that will follow alarm me greatly. Fewer and fewer eyes will be forced to watch more and more airplanes in the skies. I will be part of that fewer that remains. I will be looking at a potential 30% pay cut, no ability to take a guaranteed vacation and working with a system that is being completely watered down in the name of money.
I ask each of you to please go to www.fairFAA.com and read the controller side of the story.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.
Thank You.
The average controller salary is actually around $102,000. The agency has been quoted in several publications (I can find them if you wish) giving numbers that range from 102K-236k depending on what point they are trying to make.
On a side note. Did you catch this article today? http://www.whitehouse.gov/chef/. The White House pastry chef retired. Resources tell me he was making $120,000 annually. I wonder if that includes his overtime and benefits?
It is very insulting and disrespectful to ones work when everyone questions the value of their worth. Salaries are what they are because at some point in the past the government thought this is what they should be. That decision was made ultimately by the government and the government alone.
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