thrufru

Last week, as I was boarding my aircraft, above the Fly-Fi sticker and logo there was another sticker. It said "ontimeflights.org" and below that was the sentence: "Support air traffic control reform." next to a graphic of a Control Tower. This morning I had an equipment swap at JFK. The a/c I took not only had the same sticker but also included a nifty new phrase along both sides of the fuselage. It read: "Fewer Delays. Faster Flights. ontimeflights.org"

Upon taxi in at my next station, the controller asked what the whole phrase said, as he couldn't make it all out. I told him what it was and added that I didn't think it did much for our paint scheme. His exact words were: "Yeah, I think I like Delta's more now."

I ended up exchanging a few texts with a controller friend of mine and he sent me a screenshot of an atcmemes Instagram with pictures of both of the above, side by side. According to him, it has very quickly become a topic of conversation not just in his break room but on various ATC forums and private groups, and it's pretty much angered everybody. His comment: "Well, if the intent was to **** off a whole bunch of air traffic controllers then job well done."

At least when Branson put "No way BA/AA" on his planes he was thumbing his nose at the competition.

rvr1800

We need to be pointing fingers at our operation before anyone else but what exactly is their issue with it? It's not blaming individual air traffic controllers for the delays, it's blaming the system.

thrufru

Well, I think you answered your own question in your first sentence. We most assuredly, as attested to in our CEO's own words earlier in the summer, are NOT pointing fingers at our own operations. Additionally, from what I've been told, it doesn't seem to matter that it's a game of "blaming the system" and not the individual. They're still, apparently getting pretty riled up about it.

Again, a quote from my controller buddy: "Of course the hypocrisy at Jetblue is how much federal funding they have taken to help design and develop the ADS-B system."

Softpayman

Can both be worked on? Who wouldn’t want a better functioning JB as well as a more advanced ATC system?

I think the controller’s fear is any change in status quo. They have a good gig and worry about that changing. Who hasn’t mentioned a job to somebody and tacked on “it’s a federal gov’t job.” The implication being good pay + benefits, good security and not grueling workloads.
I think for them the discussion in policy ends at privatization.

hilltopflyer

Can't wait for privatized atc, and them charging the ga pilots to file a flight plan. It's gonna be fun when we have 15 RA events every Saturday from this.

pilotpayne

Yes the big problem is our operation but( no I am not sticking up for the company and think this is a waste)

Would anyone of us actually say our ATC system does not need massive help? I think even the ATC guys would admit that.

CaptCoolHand

The ATC system is as jacked as any govt. system. My wife has worked at center and TRACON the last 15yrs. They have staffing issues and a lot of their equipment is literally ancient. Some of the key boards used to input aren’t even QWERTY, they’re ABCDEFG. I could go on and on.

That being said. You don’t call the exterminator to spray your neighbors yards when your house has termites.
We have massive house cleaning to do.

Cloud5urfer

I thought the Air Traffic Controller Union was in support of ATC privatization? Seems odd that the ontimeflights.org would ruffle their feathers when they're also in support of it.

pilotpayne

Totally agree.

full of luv

Huh.... a govt employee's union in favor of privatization? Surely you jest.
Do you see the post office employee's hoping for privatization?
Do you see the TSA employees wanting privatization? How bout the DMV workers, or the VA?

Not saying that privatization of the FAA would be good (there are some functions that govt should just perform), just flabbergasted that you would thing the FAA employees are for cutting their FED benefits and retirement in any way.