I find this NYT's article informative and fairly accurate, with the EXCEPTION of their assertion of the ROOT CASUE.. Understand that my direct knowledge of the situation with air traffic is nearing fifteen years old. A couple of personal thoughts/opinions: *These "Operational Errors", official FAA term for occurrences of less than standard separation, occur perhaps dozens of times on a daily basis. * More incidents are reported today for a number of reasons, but mainly as a result of immunity from any type of prosecution afforded pilots and controllers if the incident is self reported. Immunity has not always been the case. * As the article pointed out, many reports are not independently corroborated. * Pilots and Controllers relying too heavily on automation to do their jobs * Controllers have always assumed a martyrs attitude, since it enhances their stature and financial well being; i.e the sky is always falling. Some examples from the NYT article: “Is it going to take peop

(Written on 08/25/2023)(Permalink)

It is very easy for the airlines to place the blame on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), even though airline scheduling is a significant and historical part of the problem. In fact, the system is working as it is designed, by limiting the number of airborne aircraft allowed into the National Airspace System (NAS). However the airlines are correct in stating, air-traffic control shortages predate the FAA’s current leadership. Though I am not a fan of the current administration, I challenge anyone to find a time in modern history when many major Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air Traffic Control facilities were fully or even close to being fully staffed. A journeyman Controller at Chicago O'Hare (ORD) in the early to mid 1970s, I don't recall the journeyman level staffing exceeding 50% -60% of what was authorized. The primary problem is that the FAA is a government agency and operates at the whim of politicians. As a result, hiring has always been sporadic,

(Written on 06/30/2023)(Permalink)

Regretaby I must agree; this from a Pttsburgh area newspaper at the time: December 2013, the FAA dropped the preference for CTI (Collegiate Training Initiative) graduates and instead relied only on a biographical questionnaire controller positions. The colleges believe the FAA changes were made based on an agency diversity study that examined the race and gender of CTI graduates.

(Written on 04/07/2023)(Permalink)

Two (2) very close calls in the last couple of weeks. JFK pilot error; AUS Controller error. Of course only those directly involved in the investigation will discover what may have been occuring in the AAL cockpit, and AUS Control Tower. I praythe FAA's change in Controller hiring policies did not contributre to the error in AUS.

(Written on 02/10/2023)(Permalink)

Mark: With regard to the inaccurate dates I have posted. I must have not had enough coffee this morning. I was attempting to be politically correct by not stating names, but yes it was the Obama administration (2009 - 2017) that implemented the revised hiring policy that favored diversity over ability, education and potential.

(Written on 09/09/2022)(Permalink)

Sorry on this day (September 9, 2022) I was thinking 2001, due "9/11". You are correct, August 3, 1981 was the day PATCO struck against the United States,

(Written on 09/09/2022)(Permalink)

No you are incorrect. The signficant change occured during President Obama's administratiion. I attempted to avoid politics and emotional issues, but in 2017 or there abouts, a decision was made to focus on diversity as opposed to abiity or at least potential. Ask any student (e.g. Coomunity College od Beaver County, PA) how there education became worthless when the change occured. CCBC which had maintained a waiting list for their ATC school prior to the change, went from a wait in excess of two years, to barely able to attract students for the ATC courses.

(Written on 09/09/2022)(Permalink)

Not to confuse anyone with the facts, but the Reagan administration did nothing to change the hiring policy regarding Air Traffic Controllers. You may be recalling/confusing the Professional Air Traffic Controller Organization (PATCO) conducting an illegal strike against the United States on AUgust 3, 2001, and in response the Reagan administration, after providing a warning and allowing a three (3) days for Controllers to return to work warning fired approimately 14,000 Air Traffic Controllers.

(Written on 09/09/2022)(Permalink)

Good point regarding the change in Air Traffic Controller hiring policy. This policy change began around 2017 and continues today. Not a good thing,

(Written on 09/09/2022)(Permalink)

To refer to the August 3, 1981, PATCO Controller strike as a "debacle" shows a lack of respect to all that were involved, and an obvious lack of the facts.

(Written on 05/13/2022)(Permalink)