By WILLIAM HAMILTON
Satire: Just as your aircraft reaches, say, 30,000 feet on your airline flight, say, from Denver to Chicago, the Captain says, “Hello. This is your Captain speaking. Welcome aboard Olympic Mountain General Airlines. Okay, I know some of you call us: OMG! But, seriously, passengers who studied urban sociology in college may be pleased to know the air traffic controllers who will be controlling our flight today from the En Route Air Traffic Control Centers had absolutely no previous training in air traffic control before they joined the FAA’s training program.
“None. They walked in off the street, took a combination personality-biography test — designed to make sure they had an understanding of life in urban environments — and then went on to experience for the first time the wondrous world of aviation, in general, and air traffic control, in particular. Is this a great country, or what?
“Now, some of you with aviation knowledge may wonder what happened to the air traffic control applicants from the College Initiative Training (C.I.T.) Program, those 36 universities and colleges around the nation which for 24 years have provided the FAA with a pool of highly qualified applicants to become air traffic controllers?
“Well, the new FAA air traffic controller hiring policy has removed the hiring preference that those students and even military veterans used to enjoy and, in some cases, the FAA has disqualified them from even making application.
“Even though many of those students spent four years in the air traffic control career track during college, or were military air traffic controllers, the FAA, in the name of social justice, decided those college graduates and veterans had an unfair advantage over applicants with no previous air traffic control knowledge.
“So folks, sit back and relax and know that your flight is being controlled from the ground by people who are learning about aviation and air traffic control with the fresh enthusiasm of beginners who have just learned something new and do not suffer from the, say, complacency of having studied air traffic control for four years in college or operated military control towers.”
End of Satire: Gentle readers, I just worked alongside a bright young woman who completed a four-year course in air traffic control and was told she was not eligible to be tested for the FAA career she planned. Now, she is switching to Airport Management and will have the added expense of a fifth year in college.
To make matters worse, the biographical assessment test, which is more concerned with how many sports applicants played in high school than aviation-related subjects, has been leaked to certain applicants.
More than 25 members of Congress have recognized that the FAA is now more concerned with diversity than aviation safety and are protesting these changes to the FAA’s hiring policies.
When interviewed by investigative reporter for Denver Channel 7, John Ferrugia, Professor Keith Kuhlmann, who teaches air traffic control at Denver’s Metro State University stated, “… the FAA is taking less qualified applicants that have no clear aptitude for the job. In the end, … the policy will cost taxpayers millions.”
So, the next time you fly on OMG!, you can feel all warm and fuzzy about what is happening on the ground, but not necessarily about what could happen to you in the air.
Nationally syndicated columnist, William Hamilton, is a laureate of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma University Army ROTC Wall of Fame, and is a recipient of the University of Nebraska 2015 Alumni Achievement Award. He was educated at the University of Oklahoma, the George Washington University, the U.S Naval War College, the University of Nebraska, and Harvard University.
Moral of the story: Perhaps the “young lady” in question should have majored in management from the onset – more $, less stress and career longevity as an airport manager – I think?
The FAA in it’s infinite wisdom is full of B %$^&* on this and what a screw up.
Where and who has all this so-called diversity come from. Who dreamed this up and who approved it. Or is it the “Vocal Minority” that is crying ? All the persons involved should be given their Pink Slips and told not to return. In other words “Your Fired”.
The colleges and universities that have an Air Traffic Controller program in place have proven the system works well. It is a weeding process for those who think they would want to become an air traffic controller. Just like in law enforcement, aviation, sailing, military service, etc. These people are called explorers, cadets, prospects, junior members, etc. These usually young people want to grow up and do something different. Most don’t care about the pay but the challenge to explore and do different things.
The United States has the best and safest ATC system in the world. Mainly because of dedicated people who want to the job correctly and safely. Now here come some unknown bureaucrats who want to change it. Why, because they are hiding behind the word of diversity. Being an Air Traffic Controller takes a special breed of person. Not everyone can do it, also not everyone can be a star athlete or a Steve Jobs. Those individuals who seek out to become air traffic controllers are driven to another path in life.
Our universities, colleges, and military produce more potential candidates than the FAA can possibly do on their own. They have the programs in place, they have started the weeding out process. What is wrong with you guys (FAA) ?
So why this new way ?
Answer : It is another way to spend our taxpayer money and increase the size of government. Simply put, It’s a jobs program for college educated lame duck bureaucrats. They don’t produce anything, just create an aura of self importance and don’t understand what a “Mission driven system such as ATC” is all about.
The whole FAA organization really needs a complete overhaul. Please contact Congress and do something to reel this out of control bureaucracy in and stop wasting our taxpayer money.
Methinks it is pretty obvious where this mistaken and unsafe policy has come from: The very top of the heap of bureaucrats! The ONE that wants to fundamentally change the United States of America and spread the wealth!