‘College hazing’ or training? Amid shortage, air traffic recruits wash out.

The Washington Post ^ | July 28, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Ian Duncan

[E. Pluribus Unum]

In some cases, recruits failed their training and were dismissed. In others, they left of their own accord rather than endure what they described as haphazard instruction, organizational dysfunction and abusive conditions.

Kind of like what they'd experience in a high-stress profession like air traffic control.

[OSHA]

I’d be worried if there wasn’t a high washout rate!

[Verginius Rufus]

Whether people get killed in a mid-air collision is less important than if trainees feel dissed.

[P.O.E.]

Air traffic control seemed to work pretty well until lately.

Climate change, probably /s

[Gay State Conservative]

I’ve read that former Air Force and Navy flight controllers have applied to the FAA and been turned down because they had the wrong melanin level and/or the wrong internal plumbing.

[Jim W N]

More unconstitutional federal activity and interference (the Constitution does not delegate power to the feds to control travel whether by air, land, or sea) and the resulting abuses and overall tyranny.

NUKE THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL FAA!!!!

[catnipman]

naturally, WaPo never considered the high washout rate to be the result of entitled, pussified Gen-Xers being unable to withstand the rigors of intense training for a VERY high-pressure career ... would love to see the dropout rate of a control group of this same bunch undergoing Marine training on Parris Island ... [”Oh no, the DI screamed and cursed at me and called me mean names, boo hoo!”]

[230FMJ]

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you…….

[bobbo666]

Keep in mind that the only reason there is a shortage is DEI — whites were previously refused because of the color of their skin. FAA went woke and that = racism whenever instituted.

As to stress, Geesh. Of course.

[af_vet_1981]

Whether people get killed in a mid-air collision is less important than if trainees feel dissed.

This and pay for superior performance.

[Jeff Chandler]

a promising candidate with a college degree

In what, Urban Studies?

I'll bet most of these washouts were coddled and sherpad all the way through school, and came to ATC Control training expecting more of the same.

[HIDEK6]

Poor child.

[Jeff Chandler]

Control

[NorthMountain]

NUKE THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL FAA!!!!

Yeah. The FAA sucks rocks.

NOW ... what are you going to replace it with? Think carefully ...

[T.B. Yoits]

It's all good. Magic Artificial Intelligence 700 Indian code writers will handle air traffic control.

[leakinInTheBlueSea]

No kidding… if they struggle with the stress of training, a gradual process from simulated traffic to midnight ops and eventually to some busier traffic, probably not a good fit for 20+ years at a relatively busy facility.

[Jim W N]

what are you going to replace it with?

Easy. Private enterprise and federal involvement constitutionally LIMITED to ONLY removal of interstate commerce barriers.

[NorthMountain]

Describe in detail, please.

[Jim W N]

Air travel should be essentially private enterprise.

The feds should be in the background and get involved only if a dispute arises between states and to remove any barriers a state may put up to interstate travel.

[NorthMountain]

Seems like you haven’t thought this through very carefully.

That’s OK.

It’s easy to shout “NUKE THE FAA” on a discussion board, and I absolutely support your right to do it. It’s just not very helpful.