Trump's Theory about the Plane Crash

[NameChangedForThis1985]

Just watched his press conference in absolute disbelief. He's just blamed the air traffic controllers as apparently under the Biden administration they recruited people into the role who weren't intellectually capable. He actually blames diversity criteria and basically box ticking.... 'hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities' - that's a direct quote.

As someone with ASD, anxiety and depression who works in a high level, highly skilled role, I am angry on behalf of anyone like me.

The man is a dangerous liar.

(edited by MNHQ)

It’s a real life question though. You have two equally good candidates. It happens. A lot. How do you choose?

Mental health played no role in the Überlingen collision according to every credible investigation, so I'm not sure why you're bringing it into this discussion. There was only one air traffic controller on duty, which the company knew was happening against their own safety regulations. That controller was working two stations simultaneously and because of maintenance, those stations were far apart. Maintenance also took the ground collision system offline and there were pilot errors contributing to the collision.

Überlingen was a horrific tragedy. To pin it on a controller whose breakdown happened in the aftermath and then was murdered is appalling. He faced the same issues that dog far too many airports today - understaffing, technology woes and very little margin for error.

Has he said he's got a mate who knows loads about flying and boats and submarines and stuff who reckons he can get the entire system working on AI really cheaply yet?

Do a bit of fact checking. Try Snopes.

But surely you can't say something is wrong and then refuse to say what would be better?

It's a valid question when there's equal skill on the table from multiple candidates. How do you decide if you don't want to consider what candidates might be under-represented in your work force?

Also worth mentioning that multiple studies have shown that diversity is better for a company. Different experiences, different backgrounds etc can lead to different approaches, helping companies to find new ways to do things, improving processes etc. That's how the whole "male, pale, stale" boardroom concept came about.

Do you think they generally employ people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities to be ATC?

Mind you, they voted in someone with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities to be POTUS so who knows.

I can refuse to say whatever I like, don't be so arrogant.

@FrustratedandBemused and all others questioning, please also above article and from the New York Post, comment from Goldfarb who is a retired professor and the former associate dean for curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine:

“The aviation industry has a responsibility for traveler safety just as the health care industry has a responsibility for patient safety. These responsibilities outweigh other factors when considering applicants to work in those fields. People with disabilities who can successfully complete the task should never face discrimination [ but] unfortunately, [ identity politics] is creating opportunities for so-called oppressed groups by lowering standards for entry into those fields and thereby endangering the safety of those which it’s designed to serve. Some endeavors simply do not lend themselves to identity politics”

So it looks like it is a thing.

The website says

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a pilot program to help prepare people with disabilities for careers in air traffic operations"

When you press the link for targetted disabilities, it doesn't work

Disabilities can mean anything.

But the policy refers to recruitment of staff not the controllers themselves. So presumably people like cleaners, back office etc. Not the actual ATC.

Did anyone not meet the requirements for science education then? I couldn’t see any evidence of that in the article.

This is code for 'damn, I haven't got a rational or sensible answer to the question', isn't it?

Thank you for clarifying your lack of position.

Diversity quotas weren't brought in for the lols; despite what posters may be suggesting. They were brought in because diverse groups were historically statistically severely underrepresented. It's surely about equity.

I'm pretty sure that posters claiming otherwise know this already.

Whatever makes you feel smart.

Look at the FAA website page. It’s their website, it was their programme launched in 2019.

So fact checked ✔️

Oh

And also

The candidates in this program will receive the same rigorous consideration in terms of aptitude, medical and security qualifications as those individuals considered for a standard public opening for air traffic controller jobs. Participants in the program will receive up to one year of experience in an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) with the potential to be appointed to a temporary ATCS position at the FAA Academy.

Air traffic operations. Not air traffic controllers.

he candidates in this program will receive the same rigorous consideration in terms of aptitude, medical and security qualifications as those individuals considered for a standard public opening for air traffic controller jobs. Participants in the program will receive up to one year of experience in an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) with the potential to be appointed to a temporary ATCS position at the FAA Academy.

What do you think that means?

It’s an excellent question. How do you think it should be decided in that scenario?

Do you think convicted rapists should be Presidents?
Do you think ketamine addicts should be those rapist's close personal friends?
What colour is the sky in your world?

You can, but it makes it look as though you are the arrogant one, refusing to explain your point of view.

If Trump is correct in what he said in his speech, then nobody should be flying into American airspace or within American airspace, because it isn't safe to do so ?

Well, you can. And those of us reading your posts can draw conclusions about you.

looks like you need to read your own link allll the way through

No. It was specifically for Air Traffic Controllers . Read the website page:

‘The FAA will enroll up to 20 people in the Aviation Development Program. They will train for up to one year at 10 Air Route Traffic Control Centers throughout the U.S. The following facilities will participate in the pilot: Minneapolis, Minn., Cleveland, Ohio, Boston, Mass., Denver, Colo., Fort Worth, Texas, Jacksonville, Fla., Seattle, Wash., Memphis, Tenn., Kansas City, Kan., and Salt Lake City, Utah.
The candidates in this program will receive the same rigorous consideration in terms of aptitude, medical and security qualifications as those individuals considered for a standard public opening for air traffic controller jobs. Participants in the program will receive up to one year of experience in an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) with the potential to be appointed to a temporary ATCS position at the FAA Academy.