NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,382182,00.html

Why does this strike me as a fantastically bad idea?

Well there's another reason to never go to New York. I can see the headline: "Planes collide at LaGuardia; air traffic controllers engaged in heated WoW mission."

I don't know, it all depends on what they need to know. Its not like they're building aircraft, just have to effectively manage them. I don't see why college would be necessary. Although obviously some training is required, if they say its three months, they'd know better than I.

I don't know, it all depends on what they need to know. Its not like they're building aircraft, just have to effectively manage them. I don't see why college would be necessary. Although obviously some training is required, if they say its three months, they'd know better than I.

"Effectively manage" is what I'm worried about. Have you met highschool students? They can't effectively manage much of anything beyond their WoW account.

"Effectively manage" is what I'm worried about. Have you met highschool students? They can't effectively manage much of anything beyond their WoW account.

Thats what the three month of training are for. I didn't graduate from High School that long ago, plenty are capable of holding down jobs doing schoolwork and extracurriculars.

Thats what the three month of training are for. I didn't graduate from High School that long ago, plenty are capable of holding down jobs doing schoolwork and extracurriculars.

I think it's a particularly sensitive job in which to place freshly-graduated teenagers. Air traffic controllers experience some of the highest stress levels in any job field.

And if they're only getting 3 months of training, they aren't up to the educational standards Wiki outlines:


Prior experience or training in air traffic control is not required. However, candidates must have three years of progressively responsible work experience, have completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, or possess an equivalent combination of work experience and college credits. In combining education and experience, 1 year of undergraduate study (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) is equivalent to 9 months of general experience. Certain kinds of aviation experience may be substituted for these requirements.

Unless of course someone turned Air Traffic Control into an MMO with real prizes in store for successful safe landings.

:D

And if they're only getting 3 months of training, they aren't up to the educational standards Wiki outlines:

I think the three months is preparation for becoming a trainee, not the entire course.

A lot of these guys have military backgrounds and move over to civilian ATC. Since the military is a lot smaller (man power wise) than it used to be I imagine the shortfall is starting to show up so the FAA is starting to train them directly. Since the military has always taken people out of high school to train for this I really don't see it as much of a problem. I imagine there will be a fairly close screening of the candidates.

I wonder what the pay is like?

gah whats with all the shit smileys guyz?!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,382182,00.html

Why does this strike me as a fantastically bad idea?

Shirley, they can't be serious?

Shirley, they can't be serious?

They are serious.

And don't call me Shirley.

They are serious.

And don't call me Shirley.

Striker! You've got to get to the cockpit!

the link doesn't work for me. Whats the gist of the story?

Rolling squid;13839393']the link doesn't work for me. Whats the gist of the story?

The FAA has offered an unprecedented $100,000 bonus to air-traffic controllers throughout the country to lure them to the New York area's five understaffed radar centers - and has even begun trolling local high schools to recruit for the jobs.

The FAA began its recruitment efforts in high schools and through online ads on MySpace and Craigslist because of a severe staffing shortage and lack of experience among workers at its air-control towers.

One recent hire is a 20-year-old who is now reading the scopes for the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) center in Westbury, LI, officials said.

By 2011, 59 percent of all controllers will have less than five years on the job.

The recently hired 20-year-old man has a bachelor's degree in air-traffic control, but other new hires can come straight out of 12th grade. They go through three months of training before becoming "controllers in training" and eventually full-fledged staffers.

That.

Unless of course someone turned Air Traffic Control into an MMO with real prizes in store for successful safe landings.....like dates?

....like dates?

But then they'd have to stop playing WoW. I was thinking some nifty expensive gear for their paladin.

But then they'd have to stop playing WoW. I was thinking some nifty expensive gear for their paladin.
The cost to humanity is less, i guess.
http://greg.org/archive/warcraft_southpark.jpg

Hmm, perhaps some kind of networked AI could be used to replace these workers...some kind of "Sky Net"...

Hmm, perhaps some kind of networked AI could be used to replace these workers...some kind of "Sky Net"...http://www.skynetsatellite.com/
Naturally, in my state.

Hmm, perhaps some kind of networked AI could be used to replace these workers...some kind of "Sky Net"...

Wrong movie. We're doing Airplane references, here.

Wrong movie. We're doing Airplane references, here.
Yeah! *scolds Vetalia severely*
BTW, nice sig. :fluffle:

Wrong movie. We're doing Airplane references, here.

There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?

There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq0YSRAXj4w
Done here.

Wrong movie. We're doing Airplane references, here.

Have you been in a Turkish prison?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,382182,00.html

Why does this strike me as a fantastically bad idea?

Tough shit. America's complete inability to plan has come back to bite them in the ass. And it's across the board. Sensitive industries across the US are finding themselves with a workforce almost entirely in the ready-to-retire category, and no apprentice/trainee class ready to go.

So - there are two choices. Get some new blood in quick, greasing the avenues if you have to - just to make sure there'll be SOMEONE for the silver generation to pass on all their experience to... or let it run on a few more years, and see what happens when half of American industry is staffed by newstarters.

It's across the board. Airtraffic control is obvious, because it's high profile, but this has been an emerging threat for several years now.

Super.

Your safety in the hands of horny teenagers playing connect the dots on each others faces.

"Effectively manage" is what I'm worried about. Have you met highschool students? They can't effectively manage much of anything beyond their WoW account.

Have you met many college students? They aren't much better.

Tough shit. America's complete inability to plan has come back to bite them in the ass. And it's across the board. Sensitive industries across the US are finding themselves with a workforce almost entirely in the ready-to-retire category, and no apprentice/trainee class ready to go.

So - there are two choices. Get some new blood in quick, greasing the avenues if you have to - just to make sure there'll be SOMEONE for the silver generation to pass on all their experience to... or let it run on a few more years, and see what happens when half of American industry is staffed by newstarters.

It's across the board. Airtraffic control is obvious, because it's high profile, but this has been an emerging threat for several years now.

*nods* All the job adverts I ever see are looking for people with experience. When I was younger I always wondered what would happen when all the oldies retired and there was noone left to teach the people that were left to be hired.

Although it seems to me that they are dealing with things in an acceptable manner, Theres no reason to assume 18 year olds can't be responsible adults. Its about time people stop pretending teenagers are equivalent to children.

Maybe the question is really: would you rather have n00b air traffic controllers, or no air traffic controllers at all?

Have you been in a Turkish prison?

Have you ever seen a grown man naked?

Have you ever seen a grown man naked?

I know you, you're Kareem Abdul Jabaar.

I know you, you're Kareem Abdul Jabaar.

Roger Over.

Roger Over.

Roger, what's our vector Victor?

I watched this again today. It reminded me how fucking brilliant Airplane is.

That.

ah. thanks.

:eek:

ok, so we have I.D bracelets/tasers on the passengers, and now high-schoolers doing air traffic control. I'm never flying again.

Roger, what's our vector Victor?

I watched this again today. It reminded me how fucking brilliant Airplane is.

The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers. There is no stopping in the white zone.

The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers. There is no stopping in the white zone.

The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading only. There is no stopping in the red zone.

The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading only. There is no stopping in the red zone.

The red zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a white zone.

The red zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a white zone.

No, the white zone is for loading. Now, there is no stopping in a RED zone.

No, the white zone is for loading. Now, there is no stopping in a RED zone.

The red zone has always been for loading.

The red zone has always been for loading.

Don't you tell me which zone is for loading, and which zone is for unloading.

Don't you tell me which zone is for loading, and which zone is for unloading.

Look Betty, don't start up with your white zone shit again. There's just no stopping in a white zone.

Look Betty, don't start up with your white zone shit again. There's just no stopping in a white zone.

Oh really, Vernon? Why pretend, we both know perfectly well what this is about. You want me to have an abortion.

Oh really, Vernon? Why pretend, we both know perfectly well what this is about. You want me to have an abortion.

It's really the only sensible thing to do. If its done safely, therapeutically, there's no danger involved.

Hello Sir, we'd like you to have this flower on behalf of the Church of Religious Consciousness; would you.....