- cross-posted to:
- usa@lemmy.ml
- cross-posted to:
- usa@lemmy.ml
Summary
The Trump administration has begun firing several hundred FAA employees via emails, including workers in radar, landing, and navigational aid roles, as well as personnel in a classified early warning radar program for Hawaii.
The terminations occur just weeks after a fatal mid-air collision at Reagan Washington National Airport amid ongoing staffing shortages and safety concerns in air traffic control.
Some employees allege the firings were politically motivated and executed without following standard government protocols.
There’s a reason piloting is one of the top 5 most dangerous jobs in the US. It isn’t because of the airlines, it’s because of small aircraft like bush pilots, light aircraft and helicopters. Without trying to be dismissive of the tragedy of a crash and the loss of life, small aircraft accidents and incidents are not unusual.
One of my family members owned a plane back in the ‘70s. For fun, I looked it up and traced the history. It was crashed three times, repaired twice, the third and final crash being a loss of life and aircraft thanks to a drunken owner taking it out on the final flight.
It’s surprising how dangerous aviation still is despite the immensely safe air travel we’ve all gotten used to.