Originally Posted by
Mason32
Why don't they just change their hiring guidelines? Currently there is a maximum age for ATC controllers of 31 or something like that right? So, instead of raising the age cut off and letting many pilots take retirement from the airline and join the FAA ATC, they hire high school kids instead...
The hiring guidelines are irrelevant to this incident. The max age of 31 is based on valid research and practice.
Mandatory retirement from active ATC is 56. Another rule that has been researched, and in the case of busy facilities, is an excellent rule. We simply do not possess the mental acuity in later years to keep up the pace. These standards have been upheld in courts.
You suggest they could hire retired pilots to be ATCs? No way!
I fly and was a controller for 29 years. The stresses of operating an aircraft on a daily basis do not compare to working moderate to busy RADAR traffic.
We may as crew members be called upon to act quickly in a bad situation, and there are stresses involved in IFR operations, but I have yet to see the continuous pressure live ATC exposes one to.
As for hiring high school kids, it's not happening. Look at the requirements, they don't meet them.
They are having a tough time hiring and keeping controllers since the pay cut. Anyone with the intellect to be a controller can make more money in other more lucrative pursuits.