Seems like it can be at least mostly automated.
Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
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Re: Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
#12Those personnel numbers don't really make sense to me. Like, sure I believe O'Hare has 57 trained ATC staff, but Kalamazoo has 47 while La Guardia has 29, all at comparable percentages of trained staffing. Something is off...
It's good to see that both Chicago airports are at full staffing though (when counting staff in training ).
Re: Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
#13Ok? So we have tons of US citizens who want to be in high-skilled high-paying professions, bring more people into training programs and staff them? I assume people working high skilled high wage professions spend more on things like housing and food and other things -> economy boost. Where is the hangup?
Why would I be an ATC, the fourth most stressful job in the nation, when I could have better working conditions and/or pay in a number of other professions?
Re: Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
#14If they are understaff (namely giga honest, super solid competent people for air traffic ground control), you have to reduce air traffic as it is way too dangerous. For this kind of staff, it is not just a matter of "training", it is way more demanding.
Or you modernize the system (not just tech but potentially the procedures). Kind of stupid to increase air traffic and traffic density over decades and just expect the old systems to scale.
I'm not sure this is something that is solved by tech. It sounds like they simply don't have enough staff, whether that a budget problem or hiring problem IDK. The article mentions they have a 50% reduction in new hires which either says it's hard to be competent, the job is too demanding, or both.
They had 1 tower with 1 operator and no redundancy at a fairly busy airport, which is definitely concerning.
Re: Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
#15Seems like it can be at least mostly automated.
It only seems that way to people who know nothing about aviation.
Re: Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
#16Seems like it can be at least mostly automated.
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Re: Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
#17Seems like it can be at least mostly automated.
You’re probably right. I’m sure we can at least mostly automate way our judges too. /s
Not every field needs automation.
Re: Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
#18If they are understaff (namely giga honest, super solid competent people for air traffic ground control), you have to reduce air traffic as it is way too dangerous. For this kind of staff, it is not just a matter of "training", it is way more demanding.
They won't cut traffic for the same reason they are understaffed: money. Raise pay until you have enough staff. It's not always that simple, but sometimes it is. Not everyone could do it, but a lot of people could. You just have to pay them to attract them from more lucrative jobs (which includes training them to do it). Instead they'll pay as little as they can, and occasionally pay to replace an aircraft.
> They won't cut traffic for the same reason they are understaffed: money. Raise pay until you have enough staff.
It's really not that simple.
It's a 3-year training process.
There's really nothing that's going to get you adequately staffed in the short term.
Sure, that could solve the problem medium term.
Re: Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
#19Ok? So we have tons of US citizens who want to be in high-skilled high-paying professions, bring more people into training programs and staff them? I assume people working high skilled high wage professions spend more on things like housing and food and other things -> economy boost. Where is the hangup?
Why would I be an ATC, the fourth most stressful job in the nation, when I could have better working conditions and/or pay in a number of other professions?
No degree required, relatively great pay, and some people thrive under that kind of stress
Re: Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows
#20Seems like it can be at least mostly automated.
Just replace them with an LLM and reap the reward!