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US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

cbsnews.com

11–20 of 172 posts

Re: US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

#11

Only 10% make it through the first week? At least the weed out process is quick.

Where do you see it taking a week?

> Historically, fewer than 10% of applicants met the FAA's requirements to work as an air traffic controller and gain admission to the agency's training program.

It sounds like they are weeded out before even being accepted.

Re: US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

#12
post #6

Some interesting takes on Reddit Aviation https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1vlnlq9/faa_hires...

seems like the beaten to death shit jokes like all reddit posts

  sudo echo "127.0.0.1   www.reddit.com" >> /etc/hosts

Re: US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

#13
post #3

No mention of what games they're playing? Also no mention of when the NYC ones were told to move to Pennsylvania or be fired? Interestingly also cbs's article https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-york-philadelphia-a...

Probably this:

https://airport.apunen.com/

Re: US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

#14
post #3

No mention of what games they're playing? Also no mention of when the NYC ones were told to move to Pennsylvania or be fired? Interestingly also cbs's article https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-york-philadelphia-a...

Angry Birds, of course

Re: US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

#15

I had a coworker from the democratic republic of Congo who insisted that if he was back home he would do ok fighting because he played lots of first-person shooters. I mean he was 100% serious about this. We argued about it. He got a commitment from our employer to pay his undergrad tuition. But he disappeared one day, probably went home to fight and die. I search for him every now and then but I think he's gone. I t…

https://futurism.com/sim-racing-virtual-motorsport-beat-form...

That's cool, but sim racing enthusiasts typically have gaming peripherals like steering wheels, pedals, and gear shifters that bring them closer to the experience of a real race car driver. For FPS games, they might be realistic in terms of detail, but how would most video games capture the physical stamina needed to carry around equipment, or maybe even aiming and maintaining the sights, equipment, etc.

Re: US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

#17
Have played competitive fps games with a couple of ATC dudes for almost half of my life now.

They're all very sensible, level headed people who get justifiably upset when you do not do the procedurally and objectively correct (lowest risk, highest percentage) thing to win in a given situation and will calmly spell it all out every single time.

Re: US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

#18

Only 10% make it through the first week? At least the weed out process is quick.

As noted in a sibling comment, that there is no "in a week" implied in the 10%.

The requirements themselves are at https://www.faa.gov/air-traffic-controller-qualifications

    Individuals must meet the following minimum qualifications in order to be eligible for an Air Traffic Controller position:

    Be a United States citizen
    Be under the age of 31
    Pass a medical examination
    Pass a security investigation
    Pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment tests, including the Air Traffic Controller Specialists Skills Assessment Battery (ATSA)
    Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment
    Have one year of progressively responsible work experience, or a Bachelor's degree, or a combination of post-secondary education and work experience that totals one year
The medical requirements are furthermore:

    Air Traffic Controller candidates must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of these positions without risk to themselves or others. Candidates must be physically and mentally fit and meet standards for vision, hearing, cardiovascular, neurological and psychiatric health.
(and there's a long list on the site for the specifics for each standard)... for example, the first one under eye:

    Applicants must demonstrate distant and near vision of 20/20 or better in each eye separately. The use of bifocal contact lenses for the correction of near vision is unacceptable.
...

It goes on for the training requirements...

    Entry-level applicants must complete required training courses and spend several months at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. Applicants are paid while in training. After graduating the academy, individuals are placed in locations across the country and must gain 2-3 years additional training, both classroom and on-the-job experience, before becoming a certified professional controller. This rigorous training includes close supervision and evaluation by senior controllers that ensures controllers are competent, professional, know their airspace environment and can deal with the pressures and high pace of the job. 
And the specifics for that can be found at https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/FAA_Order_JO... with is a 285 page pdf.

Re: US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

#19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://futurism.com/sim-racing-virtual-motorsport-beat-form...

That's cool, but sim racing enthusiasts typically have gaming peripherals like steering wheels, pedals, and gear shifters that bring them closer to the experience of a real race car driver. For FPS games, they might be realistic in terms of detail, but how would most video games capture the physical stamina needed to carry around equipment, or maybe even aiming and maintaining the sights, equipment, etc.

The idea of FPS games giving you some sense of real combat is, of course, absurd.

The idea of games/communities like MFS and VATSIM providing some sense of real ATC is much less absurd.

Re: US hires over 2k video gamers as air traffic controllers

#20
When I got interested in flying I took to flight simulators and the VATSIM network[0], as I had seen mentioned multiple times that the radio work can be a difficult aspect of flying to pick up on when flying out of a towered/busy field. By the time I started, I was comfortable on the radio and pre-flight checks, and this seemed to gained quite a bit of favor from my CFI.

I'm not saying it made me a well-versed pilot, but simulating these situations can do a lot to get one going.

[0] https://vatsim.net/

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