Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

thedailybeast.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

91–100 of 397 posts

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#91

Post by estearum »

inglor_cz wrote: post #62
estearum wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you certain maintaining those technical standards would be much more efficient than the current system?

Certain is a strong word, but in many other contexts, this is the actually used system, even in aviation. The FAA requires certain standards of maintenance for aircraft, for example, but individual mechanics aren't FAA employees.

Yeah, maintenance seems extremely different from ATC though. Defining and enforcing maintenance standards is trivial and happens well outside the second-to-second operational loop of aircraft actually coordinating.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#93

Post by crikeykangaroo »

Waterluvian wrote: post #36
slg wrote: post #16

I know many of the people reading this will think I'm being hysterical. But there was a small voice in the back of my mind when the shutdown started wondering whether that version of the American government would ever reopen and that voice has started to become much louder in recent days. Specifically the combination of this, the handling of SNAP benefits, and this all happening in November just seems intentionally d…

The sooner things become intolerably broken in the U.S. the better off I think the rest of the world is. The U.S. kind of scares me right now. So much power, wielded by deeply incompetent, broken, and evil people. And those who aren't those things are demonstrably too weak to do anything about it. I have a sense that things will only improve once they hit an intolerable low. And the longer it takes for that to happen…

I completely agree. It's a good thing we're in a multipolar world now. The US (and its vassal states) have ruled terribly and the world suffered much over it. Sadly, there is still a lot of propaganda that needs to go away. A great world leader would spread genuine peace. Not corrupt other countries, start wars and shed blood. The USA has failed to even keep its own citizens safe and secure. All I worry about is that they will drag a lot of other countries with them while they are falling.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#94

Post by actionfromafar »

yieldcrv wrote: post #20
montroser wrote: post #2

What is Trump's endgame here? Everyone stranded for Thanksgiving, poor kids going hungry, all for...what, exactly?

Given that Trump and the left have the same view on this government shutdown as they’re both acknowledging how Republicans control both houses, I wouldn’t say this is part of any plan he has. Trump has called for the Senate to remove the filibuster, which would allow for the government to reopen with a simple majority instead of needing more votes from Democrats One could say the only endgame is unilateral control Bu…

Trump needs to sooth the Senate with the message there will be no midterms.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#95

Post by _blk »

lesuorac wrote: post #24
nostrademons wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's interesting how the effects of filter bubbles are playing out here. Everyone believes that they have the upper hand and the majority of the American people are on their side, because computerized personalization shows them only opinions from people who agree with them. As a result, they think that the negative popular opinion for the shutdown will fall primarily on the other party, and so it is rational for them…

[flagged]

For good reason. That's what being in charge means. Biden had to take the blame while he obviously wasn't capable of being in charge. But it does always seem to be exploited beyond reason by the opposition. I'm very curious on what do non-diehards think on Dems blocking the clean bill and on keeping funds flowing for themselves to stay in session.

Please don't start a flame on this. If you can't stand trump, make it an exercise in self-control and skip the reply on this one.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#96

Post by forgotoldacc »

fzeroracer wrote: post #49
slg wrote: post #16

I know many of the people reading this will think I'm being hysterical. But there was a small voice in the back of my mind when the shutdown started wondering whether that version of the American government would ever reopen and that voice has started to become much louder in recent days. Specifically the combination of this, the handling of SNAP benefits, and this all happening in November just seems intentionally d…

Well, there's one critical flaw which is that Trump is also fucking up with the military. A lot of military members are going unpaid, and many more are going unpaid and their family isn't receiving snap benefits. An authoritarian trying to seize power without the backing of the military is bound to lead to failure, and even though money is being funneled into ICE enmasse they're an untrained legion of goons with litt…

People who support the guy aren't rational. He could personally take their every cent, say they're lucky that's all he did, and he wouldn't lose a single supporter. If the military went unpaid for half a year, all his supporters in the military would shift the blame to someone else.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#97

Post by pwthornton »

koolba wrote: post #54
actionfromafar wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s MAGA for you.

[flagged]

22 million Americans benefit from the Affordable Care Act subsidies. I hardly think it is just some small number of socialists who care about this.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#98

Post by djoldman »

HPsquared wrote: post #65
dylan604 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the airlines would surely be glad to pay for the service themselves. No, they would be glad to increase fares so that the flying customers pay for the service themselves. Currently, ATC is subsidized by all tax payers. Your method moves the burden to only those that pay for fares. I'm just pointing it out not saying it is good/bad.

That's probably better anyway. Air fares should cover the costs of flying. It's already a very profitable activity: it's much more efficient than the alternatives, and flying provides much value to passengers. So why can't the industry fund itself?

> It's already a very profitable activity...

US airlines made approximately zero total profit from 1990-2023.

> ...it's much more efficient than the alternatives

I guess this depends on the definition of efficient and for what measurement.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#99

Post by noir_lord »

metalman wrote: post #78

at a certain point, rebooting ATC could become exceptionaly difficult, as the whole aviation comunity, flys. And no, you cant train new AT controllers, they learn on the job, and what a job it is! as part of our pilot training they took us into a controll tower, which is a radicaly modern, high tech, high security environment, and let us hang around, the senior hand started chatting with us, while directing air traff…

Depending how bad it gets you could end up in a situation where European controllers are needed to at least help get things stood up again but while the job is similar the systems won’t be.

That or you pay the ones who’ve resigned a shit load of money.

It astounds me how quickly they are breaking things that took decades or more to build.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#100

Post by Marshferm »

slg wrote: post #16

I know many of the people reading this will think I'm being hysterical. But there was a small voice in the back of my mind when the shutdown started wondering whether that version of the American government would ever reopen and that voice has started to become much louder in recent days. Specifically the combination of this, the handling of SNAP benefits, and this all happening in November just seems intentionally d…

Yes, exactly. I second this. Time to repeal the president before this gets terrible.
Post reply on HN