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)

To all British people? What on earth are you talking about?

Do you think the people in charge of hiring air traffic controllers were like meh, sure, let's hire people with major intellectual disabilities to do the job, what could go wrong?

Or is it more likely they thought it important to uphold professional standards, and you have got the wrong end of the stick?

But clearly you haven't understood your link.

By this point, even if I went back and read the original question in full, I will refuse to ever answer it.

Has Trump stopped flights within and inbound into the USA ? Surely if he is saying there are issues with staff within the ATC not being capable of performing their jobs safely, he should absolutely stop all flights ?

I think there’s a reason why the 2019 programme ended.

It wasn’t a success

The spirit of Janey Godley lives on!

An intellectual disability is a very broad term. What is wrong with giving someone with an intellectual disability (if they have the right attributes and abilities) this opportunity? As long as there are checks and balances in place to ensure all
staff are up to the job, a diagnosis of some sort makes no difference.

Honestly, this entire thread is very worrying. We have a real problem here with this adoration and subservience to Trump and it’s only going to get worse.

'The point is they were targeting those with serious disabilities, including intellectual impairment, paralysis etc for Air Traffic Controller jobs.'

Were they? And even if they were, as has now been pointed out several dozen times, candidates were All subject to 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.

But do you think the people in charge of air traffic safety would ever have agreed to massively increase the risk to public safety in the way you are suggesting?

No, you haven’t. At all.

The programme was designed for those with serious disabilities. This meant, those who applied for the job via the normal routes were excluded.

You claim that the training would mean that everyone was to the same standard, but thats not what happened. It’s why the programme ended.

I was so, so angry at Trump's assertions earlier today. Like he's an expert on... well, everything! It wasn't his place to be saying most of what he said which was pure speculation. I was watching on Agenda Free TV on YT and the people in the chat, of whom probably half are Trump supporters, seemed mostly to be pretty upset at what he was saying 'take the mic away from him somebody!!' and 'wtf how embarrassing'. I had to agree. He was incredibly disrespectful.

This shouldn't really come as a surprise that he's said such things because it's the way he is, but honestly it was totally infuriating.

Why?

So can you answer this question:

What does this phrase mean?

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

Yes, absolutely and some interesting research (will see if I find links) looking at cultural differences amongst pilots, e.g., i.e. if someone is from a more individualistic (e.g. Western Europe/US - happy to challenge authority) or collectivist cultures. It was found that it was very important - not surprisingly - to be able to speak your mind as a pilot/co-pilot (and air controller).

Also, not to be pedantic but having the same aptitude and medical qualities - as was argued upthread by others - is not necessarily taking into account that it's likely very important to have very strong communication and social skills and a strong theory of mind (which is perhaps less likely if someone is autistic), i.e. ability to realise how someone else will act.

well he is right isn't he? Competency should be the only thing that matters and believe it or not you can be the best candidate even if you have a disability, or are not white. Being the most competent for a job should be the criterion for choice not the myriad of special circumstances that people wish to claim.

That's pretty awful, but Christians say things like that all the time. I've had some tell me that children with terminal conditions were a good thing as they were an opportunity to increase your faith..

Sorry, I assumed you were British. It’s like a disease that’s pervading the gullibility the illogicality the ridiculousness of your ideas

Oh

And also in the link:

The FAA will enroll up to 20 people in the Aviation Development Program

20 people.

That doesn't seem a lot compared to the number of Air Traffic controllers in the USA

OMFG!! Diversity hiring IS about hiring on merit. Rather than on the basis of having white skin and a penis.

If two candidates have exactly the same qualifications and aptitude and your organisation has a preponderance of white make employees
One is white male
One is not
how will you choose between them?
random?
the white male to not rock the boat?
the other candidate?

And I'm sure it'll just be a big ol' coincidence when the hiring panel of middle aged white men decides that another middle aged white man was the best person for the job.

So is he suspending all flights ? If what he is saying is true, and plenty of people on here are suggesting he is correct, then US airspace simply isn't safe to travel in at the moment ?

The court case is about those who feel they were unfairly screened out. At no point is there any allegation that the FAA were hiring unsuitable people.

The press article and lawsuit refers to a test - from about 11 years ago and no longer used - and the issue is that it aimed to put forward candidates that were underrepresented.

The test didn't only look at those factors - "Candidates scored highly if they were at the top of their high school class or got A’s. They were also rewarded for having a pilot’s license or military experience in aviation."

The reason the biographical test was introduced was because research showed "the FAA relied too heavily upon the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative, which pre-qualified candidates who attended specialized schools and scored highly on the AT-SAT aptitude test."

The candidates that were put forward as part of the biographical test were then subject to the same scrutiny and had to achieve the same standards as anyone recruited through other means.

I completely understand why those who were screened out feel pissed off. I don't think this was a good approach from the FAA - I think DEI is important but I don't think this test was the right way to do it.

The net result though is no different to the public - the people in the job were suitably skilled and qualified. The only losers in this court case were the candidates screened out because of DEI initiatives.

BTW, I keep trying to reply but the dog keeps interrupting me. So if this is irrelevant by the time I finally hit post, just ignore me 😂