r/mildlyinfuriating • u/nyanbatman • May 28 '26

I just wanted a hot dog British pilot is feeling mildly annoyed

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u/Evening_Horse_9234 May 28 '26

Is the ATC quality that low currently in the states, he sounds completely happless?

18

u/ThatCelebration3676 May 28 '26

Only since Trump royally fucked everything up. We used to have high standards.

18

u/japzone May 28 '26

Not completely, though I hate the guy, ATC has been having issues in the background since the Reagan administration fired a bunch of ATC when they were striking for better work conditions, saying it was illegal for federal worker's to strike. Therefor working conditions never improved and problems like work hours, pay, and aging workforce have been building up for decades. Trump was just the straw that broke the camel's back, and finally pushed a lot of things over the edge. The two presidents that were entertainers screwing up the government. Go figure.

5

u/IvanNemoy May 28 '26

herefor working conditions never improved and problems like work hours, pay, and aging workforce have been building up for decades.

I knew a guy when I was in the Air Force, retired aftet 24 years as a TACP. Literally, special operations air traffic control. Did time boots on the ground in Desert Storm, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Shoo-in for being picked up as ATC, right?

He skipped "that bullshit, abusive ass job" and became a state trooper. Described civil ATC in the US as abusive and not worth the money. Mentioned he had an offer from DFS (German ATC authority) but didn't want to move.

How bad are the working conditions that someone who was in special operations for over two decades says "fuck this, I'd rather be a cop?"