Warning of 'Catastrophic Event, ATC Union Official Says Flying 'Absolutely' Less Safe...

[babylonsister]

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/16/warning-catastrophic-event-air-traffic-controllers-union-official-says-flying?fbclid=IwAR1VxsxrN62gWgfLnEGu7V8YTD7R9UmprTDOHp8nzIEjteauZNS-iiZVX3Y

Warning of 'Catastrophic Event,' Air Traffic Controllers Union Official Says Flying 'Absolutely' Less Safe Due to Trump Shutdown
"Each day that this shutdown continues, the situation gets worse and worse," says Trish Gilbert, executive vice president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
by Jake Johnson, staff writer


With the record-long government shutdown over President Donald Trump's demand for border wall funding now in its fourth week, an official representing the National Air Traffic Controllers Association appeared on CNN on Wednesday to issue an alarming warning: Flying is "absolutely" less safe now than it was before the shutdown began.

"This is a horrible game of chicken that we're in the middle of, and we need to get out of it, and we need to get out of it today."
—Trish Gilbert, National Air Traffic Controllers Association

"Each day that this shutdown continues, the situation gets worse and worse," Trish Gilbert, executive vice president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told CNN in an interview. "There are several complicated, complex layers in our system to ensure that it maintains the critical safety components that we all rely on when we fly. What we don't want to see is a catastrophic event occur, and for us to come to you and say we told you that controllers are working longer hours, and now they don't have their support staff."

"They're going to work unpaid, so they're not sleeping at night," Gilbert said of air traffic controllers. "They're looking for other jobs; maybe they're driving Uber before or after their shift. This is unacceptable."

Asked if people should be concerned about flight safety as the shutdown continues with no end in sight, Gilbert answered in the affirmative, declaring: "I would say it is less safe today than it was a month ago, absolutely."

"We do not have the professionals on the job. We are working with bare-bones crews. We have controllers there doing what they do very, very well, but how long can you expect them to do it without all of the systems behind them to keep the system safe and the planes in the air?" Gilbert continued. "This is a horrible game of chicken that we're in the middle of, and we need to get out of it, and we need to get out of it today."

Watch Gilbert's full CNN appearance:

Link to tweet

more...

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/16/warning-catastrophic-event-air-traffic-controllers-union-official-says-flying?fbclid=IwAR1VxsxrN62gWgfLnEGu7V8YTD7R9UmprTDOHp8nzIEjteauZNS-iiZVX3Y

[Cartoonist]

1. Trump will blame the union nt

[calimary]

21. He'll blame anybody not named donald trump.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Even though the controllers are working, I am wondering whether

the people who maintain their equipment are working, too. If a radar system goes out and can't be fixed, what then? There was a midair collision over Germany some years ago that was caused in part by equipment problems that were unknown to the controller, who was working alone at the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_%C3%9Cberlingen_mid-air_collision

[IronLionZion]

12. Most of FAA is furloughed

so the ATCs are not getting the support they need. This could affect support for the equipment, parts/supplies, service, etc.

I bet there are unknown situations and ATCs working alone now.

[AlexSFCA]

15. I bet equipment support is provided bu contractors

which may not even get paid after the shutdown so I am not sure they are providing any services.

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. EXACTLY what putin ordered.

[mr_lebowski]

4. Well, a devastating US air accident in midst of shutdown would certainly create

lots more of his favorite thing: distractions for IQ45 to endlessly tweet and pontificate about and the talking heads to jabber about and whinge about 'Who's more at fault? Trump, or Dems!?! What do the polls say?!?' ...

You can bet that AF1 will be making sure they have their own (fully paid) people at every airport they're taking off/landing from for as long as this continues.

IOW, he doesn't GAF if a massive fatal air crash occurs due his shutdown. It'd be a feature, not a bug.

[ooky]

5. Glad I am no longer flying. Hate it for those who have no choice.

Before I retired my job required me to fly nearly constantly. There are so, so many Americans facing this same issue right now and I fear for them all. If something happens to them Trump and McConnell will clearly have their blood all over them.

[RT Atlanta]

6. Groupthink and negligence

This is negligence by the elected officials (McConnell) not to permit a vote. Make donnie veto the approved bill if that is what must happen (remember, donnie did say he would own the shutdown).

This talk by the ATC of increasing dangers is really concerning. It's starting to remind me of what we later learned about after the Challenger explosion (Thiokol engineers virtually screaming not to launch due to the cold weather and known failure risks of the seals in cold temps, but to no avail). In this case, McConnell/trump don't seem to care and believe they can hide behind the shield of sovereignty and liability protections for their actions.

[akraven]

7. I have a neighbor who is ATC.

It's tough up here in winter to keep everything flowing. She's scared.

[Leghorn21]

13. Yeah, these poor workers are getting seriously traumatized behind this nightmare, raven.

All best wishes to your neighbor

[akraven]

14. No worries, we've all got her back.

5x5! Scared, but knows the neighborhood (such as it is, with about 2 acres between each cabin) are here for her. She wound up with a shed full of firewood yesterday!

[Leghorn21]

18. What's better than money, food, sex, ice cream and unicorns??!?

A SHED FULL OF FKN FIREWOOD, RAVEN!!!

Thank you all SO very much!!

[malaise]

8. Duh!

I'm not flying until this is over

[bdamomma]

9. do you think

Canada will be getting an overflow of travelers flying to their destinations out of Canada to avoid the US altogether.

[malaise]

10. I don't know enough on US travel

but it's a great question

[FakeNoose]

16. It only helps people who are close enough to drive into Canada

But sure, that's a great solution for people who are flying international.

[maryellen99]

17. And it's cheaper in most cases nt

[cwydro]

20. I'm going to Ireland in early February.

Last time I planned a European trip, that damn volcano erupted.

Gah.

[mahannah]

11. Strike.

[lillypaddle]

19. trump is such a selfish little bastard

He doesn't give a damn about anyone, much less our country.

[Scurrilous]

22. K&R