First up is Durban (D) Illinois. He has used this fire to stump for more union jobs. Dude has questioned why any outside contractors are used at the FAA facility at all. When questioned by a reporter who wanted him to calarify if he meant controllers Durbin said that he meant anyone who stepped foot inside the facility.
Meanwhile the Rs are complaining about how much of a disruption this was to the economy, yet they dont want to pay for reserve facilities. Can't have it both ways guys. :doh:
What Congress should be doing is using this to show just how vulnerable the ATC system is and how it's 60s era technology needs serious upgrade. Most of the screens these controllers look at are black with green letters, symbols and lines. Seriously?
We should be moving towards free flight, CDA, consolidation of facilities. Controllers no longer need to sit in a bldg directly under the radar dish to see the "picture". Instead controllers can be thousands of miles away and "see" just fine.
Railroads have had huge success in bringing dispatchers and control into one large facility and the FAA needs to take a page from their book. Yes, it will cost money and yes it will cost union jobs, but it will save airlines time and money, save you time and money and make the air a safer place.
