that’s a possibility, and i'd help if that came to fruition.

Thats a great idea! I would definitely be willing to chip in for that.

it’s a great sentiment. Why don’t you get it started?

While not commonly known, I have it on unimpeachable authority that US airline pilots showed up at area control centers during the 1981 strike to help the [admittedly] scab controllers out in any way they could. The politics are convoluted, but ultimately, pilots saw their own fortunes at risk.

"Tearing strips" was the main utility for pilots on the jobsite.

We're not there yet. A fund to stop-gap controller paychecks seems unwieldy. After all, they will eventually get deferred compensation, no one disputes that.

So far it's been 2 weeks of shutdown. Missing paychecks are probably a week or so in.

At the very least, a simple "thank you for all you do and showing up, we appreciate the heck out of you" on the radio when not congested seems appropriate.

As of right now, they've only missed one payday - Oct 14th.

Which means they couldn't pay how many bills? Seems money was found for the military and federal law enforcement, I'd argue protecting life is better served by paying controllers since we aren't at war and have we have state and local law enforcement.

Maybe every time you use atc, you pay them. Then they would be getting paid right now.

Cut the government out.

Like a tip jar? Give me a shortcut and I'll make it worth your while!

You mean like a tax?

No. Like user fees paid to a non-profit corporation unencumbered by government acquisition bureaucracy. Like in Canada, UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

Our controllers would be getting paid right now.