ATC go to house and senate

[joepilot225]

Good day.   I am a student pilot located out of KMWH.  I am trying to put together a radio program topic being the current situation with ATC and our wonderful representatives in the house and senate.  I want to go in the direction of all the problems caused by the Aug 81 strike.  If anyone has audio of ATC errors, I could use these to highlight the seriousness of this issue.  I can remember “discussions” with controllers when I was flying with the US Army in the early 90’s when I could hardly understand the given instructions.  I don’t think these guys would have been working ATC had the strike not occurred.

[digger]

If you have in mind to support the controllers in their current situation with the FAA and congress, I'm not sure airing audio clips of controller errors is the way to do it. If you saw Administrator Blakey on CNN, she, and the rest of the FAA management types, like to paint the controllers as overpaid and underworked (all while paying lip service to their skill and dedication.)

I take from your post that *you* understand that any action that adversly affects the controllers is likely to result in a corresponding adverse effect on saftey. I also take from it that you understand that the long lasting negative impact on saftey in 81 was more a result of the reaction to the strike, than the strike itself.

I'm not sure the average elected official is bright enough to make those connections. I'd be concerned that if they hear recordings of controller errors they're more likely to think, "Gee, they *aren't* worth what they're being paid, are they?"

BTW, the FAA has asked NATCA to go back to the bargaining table.

http://www.natca.org/mediacenter/press-release-detail.aspx?id=384

[digger]

Before anybody feels the need to correct me, apparently the link I posted above is simply wishful thinking on NATCA's part. The comment that the FAA would want to return to the table was made by an FAA spokesman in an article on AvWeb: ( http://www.avweb.com/newswire/12_16a/briefs/192029-1.html )

Apparently, it does not constitute the official stance of the FAA.

Shame on me for being gullible enough to believe NATCA when NATCA is gullible enough to think the FAA might mean what it (or its spokesman), says.

[RatOmeter]

I'm not sure where you expect to go with this, but here's my experience as an interested bystander. I was about 13 when the strike happened. Two of my older cousins were ATC's, one at PWA and the other at OKC.  They stayed on the job.  At the time, I obviously didn't know much about any of it, but had it explained suscinctly by one cousin (now OPS Mgr at OKC ATCT , maybe with some kind of role at the FAA Academy), "it was against the law."

[joepilot225]

The angle I am going for is very simple.  Whenever our government needs to make cut backs, they hit us where it effects us the most.  Cut backs and early retirements will only discourage higher qualified individuals from seeking careers in this field.  You must admit we saw some Substandard controlling after the strike in 81.  My intentions are not to bring a pour light on ATC, but rather let the uninformed public know we get what we pay for.  If we do not bring this to light, the only opinion the public will see is the slant that the media and the government will put on this.