Obama-era FAA hiring rules placed air traffic controller diversity ahead of safety, lawyer says
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
For decades, the selection process for the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic controllers was rigorous. After all, one minor mistake could cost hundreds of people their lives.
But a new report from Fox News host Tucker Carlson revealed the Obama administration modified the FAA’s candidate selection process to value workplace diversity over competency, experience and skills.
What are the details?
According to Carlson, due to changes implemented during the Obama administration, air traffic controller candidates are now required to complete a “biographical questionnaire” before even being considered for a job with the FAA.
If they don’t pass, they aren’t considered for a position — no matter how much experience they have or how qualified they are.
Fox News obtained a copy of the questionnaire and how it is scored. According to Carlson, candidates whose worst subject in high school was science and candidates who are unemployed receive the most points possible on the test. In contrast, licensed pilots and those with extensive air traffic control knowledge aren’t highly scored.
Fox News spoke to an FAA spokesperson, who told Carlson’s show he was unsure of why the FAA screens candidates for diversity over competency. Unsurprisingly, the FAA never offered Carlson an explanation.
Is there any explanation?
Michael Pearson, an attorney representing a man suing the FAA over its diversity test, told Carlson the test is intentionally designed to “weed out” experienced candidates, especially those with an aviation background.
Carlson noted that hiring less experienced candidates to control air traffic puts millions of lives at risk. So why would the FAA make the changes? Pearson’s answer suggests the reason is just as egregious as the changes.
“A group within the FAA, including the human resources function within the FAA, including the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees, determined that the workforce was too white. They had a concerted effort through the Department of Transportation in the Obama administration to change that,” Pearson said.
Pearson likened the situation to the Department of Veteran Affairs hiring physicians who didn’t graduate from medical school for their hospitals and claiming the VA can train them better.
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And it seems the people who ran this rigged system, which endangered lives, are still working at the FAA.
Awaiting the resident liberals who will say this story isn't true because it was on Fox News.
As the semi official state propaganda network everything is suspect and that is what happens when your honesty is repeatedly compromised.
I'll await the fact checkers sifting through Tucker's probable lies.
Await no longer … THE STORY IS AN INTENTIONAL MISREPRESENTATION OF THE FACTS made solely for the purpose of advancing the Jess Willard agenda!
Had NOTHING TO DO WITH OBAMA!
You ZEAL-WITHOUT-KNOWLEDGE OBAMA-HATERS and the TUCKER CARLSONS that feed you the bullshit you need to try to denigrate the former BLACK MAN WHO LIVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE … is dangerous to a democratic society!
So... A LAWYER said this? OMG. Where were your concerns when Reagan fired all the controllers in the country and hired scabs.
Who said lawyers were perfect? Not me. LOL
During the illegal strike? I was on the side of the President and the replacements were highly competent:
Reagan branded the strike illegal. He threatened to fire any controller who failed to return to work within 48 hours. Federal judges levied fines of $1 million per day against the union.
In 1955, Congress made such strikes punishable by fines or a one-year jail term — a law the Supreme Court upheld in 1971.
To the chagrin of the strikers, the FAA’s contingency plans worked. Some 3,000 supervisors joined 2,000 nonstriking controllers and 900 military controllers in manning airport towers. Before long, about 80 percent of flights were operating normally. Air freight remained virtually unaffected.
In carrying out his threat, Reagan also imposed a lifetime ban on rehiring the strikers. In October 1981, the Federal Labor Relations Authority decertified PATCO.
BTW that has nothing to do with this topic
Affirmative Action for Air Traffic Controllers? BRILLIANT!!! I'm glad I never intend to fly again for the rest of my life. I would like to LIVE the rest of my life. How about Affirmative Action for brain surgeons?
It would be great if those brain surgeons could go to work on who ever ran this program over at the FAA
Because only white people are qualified?
As good if not better than any other race - his accomplishment made me think of Dr. Wilder Penfield.
So why would the FAA make the changes?
If this piece is to bring knowledge and attention to the hiring/decision practices utilized by the FAA, reading this companion piece may shed a little light on seeded subject.
I believe Michael Pearson, et al, were seeking "class action" status through the courts. Cannot locate any final decision and Mr. Carlson doesn't go into the detail of the lawsuit. Need more info, a lot more info to have an intelligent conversation.
This does not surprise me
What does that even mean? Are white air traffic controllers somehow bad at communicating with pilots because they're white?
How does this not horrify pretty much everyone? Even if you don't fly, planes that crash into each other fall onto people.
I'm a fan of diversity where it contributes to a better product. This is the opposite of that.
Evidently, progressives in government feel there are too many of them.
How does this not horrify pretty much everyone?
It should. It isn't much of a story with the msm, with two cable "news" stations giving it 0 coverage
I'm a fan of diversity where it contributes to a better product. This is the opposite of that.
Amen!
Were you able to find the class action lawsuit or read the report I linked? Perhaps MSM aren't jumping on Carlson's wagon because it's his opinion lacking facts to support his claim.
No & Yes. I read your FAA report which is like something out of a paralel universe. That FAA report was simply a report on training procedures. Perhaps you are right. The story only appears on one place - The Tucker Carlson Show. Does it prove anything yet? I'll keep an eye on the story and update it here
If you find any collaborating info, I'd like to see/read. I found the FAA report compelling as it examined all the programs and criteria that were in place. It further provided recommendations, some of which were evidently put into place bringing on the call for a class action.
It really didn't address the complaint. It only shows proper testing procedures
It addresses the AT-SA testing which is part and parcel to the "biographical questionnaire" Mr. Carlson is referencing. The report addresses this test and its recommended methodology of scoring. Either Carlson is ignorant of the testing procedures or he purposely discarded them to increase the credibility of his guest.
The assertions feed its intended audience, I've yet to see the evidence where diversity was the goal while tossing out experience.
Actually, it dosen't. This may be a bit more relevant:
Obama-Era FAA Hiring Rules Placed Air Traffic Controller Diversity Ahead Of Safety, Lawyer Says
Had NOTHING TO DO WITH OBAMA!
You ZEAL-WITHOUT-KNOWLEDGE OBAMA-HATERS and the TUCKER CARLSONS that feed you the bullshit you need to try to denigrate the former BLACK MAN WHO LIVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE … is dangerous to a democratic society!
I can attest to the diversity hiring. I worked under one of the WORST Commissioners to ever be appointed. She was horrible and absent. She had absolutely NO agenda, no vision and did nothing to promote the mission of the Agency. She delegated much of her work to others but without giving them the authority to make an real or significant changes.
Our new Commissioner is top notch. He used to work in the Agency years ago so he understands the mission but he also is super smart and has a vision. We lucked out on our appointment under this President. I'm sorry to say other Agencies have not faired as well as we did.
Gotta love these threads. The class action lawsuit and assertions by Mr. Pearson are based on the facts presented......yeah, no where. Went looking for anything to corroborate, came up empty.
But by all means let's keep trashing each other, it's one of the attributes that is Making America Great Again.
As well as being one of the attributes that is capable of 'Making NT an Unattractive Website' for potential new members who prefer to be civil, although it could be attractive to those who love to shit on others from behind anonymity. I suggest that it's better to spend more time on the groups and less on the Front Page.
Buzz, I'm trying to understand your point. Do you find my comments lacking civility?
Absolutely NOT, Lynn. I was extending your "trashing each other" comment to the Front Page generally, because I feel it will chase away civil members like yourself, and scare new potential civil persons from joining NT. Have you any idea how many flags a day the mods have to deal with? You would not believe it. It was NEVER like that before that other unmentionable site closed.
Agreed 1000%
Seems the usual suspects on the vine are now the usual suspects here. Trolls hate a vacuum.
True. Attack and snark the what it's all about.