#Human #airtrafficcontrollers keep #flyers safe. Should #AI have a role?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2025/05/22/air-traffic-control-technology-ai/83627436007/

#AirTrafficControllers #FAA #DOGE
"In the US, air traffic controllers are required by law to retire at the age of 56, and the FAA won’t hire anyone older than age 31, because they want candidates to have at least a 25-year career path."

Elon Musk to retired air traffic controllers: Please come back to work

"Musk wants retired air traffic controllers to return to their jobs amid a shortage of qualified professionals."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-retired-air-traffic-controllers-return-to-work/

I've had 6 ride share customers in 2 days tell me - as I've dropped them off at the airport - that they are renting a car and driving back home instead of flying cos they're too scared... #FAA #airtrafficcontrollers #airtraffic #Trump

ps: 4 of the 6 are from solid red states.

A Trump-Musk COUP is under way. They’re endangering people in America, and around the world, in multiple, nefarious ways.

Trump emailed Air Traffic Controllers just 24 HOURS AFTER THE DC MIDAIR COLLISION urging them to quit their jobs and take mass “buyouts.”

#USPol #AirTrafficControllers #AirSafety #NationalSecurity

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-admin-emails-air-traffic-controllers-quit-your-jobs/

> On August 5, 1981, President #RonaldReagan fired every member of the air traffic controllers union (PATCO) who'd defied his order to return to work and declared their union illegal. They had been on strike for just two days.
> It was a bold and brash move. No one had ever tried it. What made it even bolder was that #PATCO was one of only two unions that had endorsed Reagan..
https://www.nj.com/bayonne/2011/08/30_years_ago_--_the_day_the_mi.html
#USAirTraffic #AirTrafficControllers #uspol #ReaganAir

@workingclasshistory

Air Traffic Control Sick-Out Jan 25th 2019
https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9745/air-traffic-control-sick-out

#labormovement #airtrafficcontrollers #organize #directaction #sickout #solidarity

#OTD 1919 Mass Gov #CalvinCoolidge called in the #NationalGuard to put down a contentious #BostonPD strike. As crime ran rampant in city, the soldiers used #MachineGuns on crowds, and killed near a dozen.

All 1,100 cop participants in the police #strike were fired, and #unemployed WWI #veterans replaced them. Ironically, they got higher salaries and more off-days than the fired striking cops asked for.

Coolidge's cool refusal to capitulate to #OrganizedLabor #unions made him a #ConservativeIcon and primed him for a winning #presidential run in 1920.

#RonaldReagan revered Coolidge and fired the striking #AirTrafficControllers in the 1980's near a Coolidge portrait hung prominently in the #WhiteHouse.

"#Buttigieg: #US needs more #AirTrafficControllers"
- I’ve been learning how challenging the job is along with my flight training. A lot of times, what they do are routine things. But at the same time they must be aware of everything happening in their airspace, so that they are ready to take actions to avoid catastrophic events. And it happens in real time. I don’t think I’m a candidate.
#ATC #FAA
https://thehill.com/regulation/transportation/4617992-buttigieg-us-needs-air-traffic-controllers/

Happy Thanksgiving to our American neighbours, and all the aviation staff working on the holiday. Thank you for keeping the skies safe and for safely transporting everyone home and back.

#Thanksgiving #aviation #avgeek #avgeeksofmastodon #ATC #airtrafficcontrollers #pilots #flightattendants #airlines #airports

Cartoon credit: Rick McKee