We live in the dumbest time.
NYT publishes a new article about how a shortage of air traffic controllers is leading to dangerous mistakes. Meanwhile, some in the Federal Aviation Administration are pushing to lower standards for new controllers, like decreasing the importance of the AT-SAT standardized test and hiring more people with disabilities.
Don't get me wrong here. People with audiovisual and cognitive impairments should have opportunities to live good lives and work fulfilling jobs. However, air traffic control is a profession that needs people that can stay mentally stable and able to see and hear things as clearly as possible. The FAA's push for equity may have deadly consequences in the future.
The New York Times story referenced in the tweet details how the shortage of qualified air traffic controllers is leading to poorer working conditions and to less qualified and competent people being hired.
There were at least seven reports of controllers sleeping when they were on duty and five about employees working while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The New York Times obtained summaries of the complaints through an open-records request.
Air traffic controllers, who spend hours a day glued to monitors or scanning the skies with the lives of thousands of passengers at stake, are a last line of defense against crashes. The job comes with high stakes and intense pressure, even in the best of conditions.
Long story short, we're about to see some totally avoidable air disasters soon.
But in 2019, the FAA let us know their priorities when it came to hiring air traffic controllers.
Was it competence or ability? No. In fact, the desire for diversity meant that they were willing to lower competency requirements.
A key focus for the FAA's Office of Civil Rights is to identify specific opportunities for people with targeted disabilities, empower them and facilitate their entry into a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
ZOOM:
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We're going to all die in fiery plane crashes but at least we'll have a diverse workforce at the FAA!
A 2019 FAA press release for those who are still naysayers:
Yeah, this has been in the works for a few years now.
At least we can all feel a sense of moral superiority for being the most woke and diverse nation in the world while complex systems crumble all around us?
Three cheers for diversity, everyone!
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