Earlier this month, I discussed the potential for disaster given the government shutdown and the effects that it would have on the air traffic controllers who keep planes flying over our country as safe as possible. Well, it turns out that it may not be a laughing matter after all. As of the time that this article was published, there is no end in sight and the next major impact will be on those who use the SNAP program. But those people don’t really matter.
No, what’s important right now is that numerous controllers are calling out because they simply aren’t getting paid. Those controllers who do show up to work might be screwing themselves over as they’ll likely never see that money. Well, if it’s like the previous shutdown, they’ll have to sue and so, yeah, they might see that money. Might. Someday. Years and years away, when they need their money now. So, then, I can hardly blame them for calling out of work. It’s not as if they’re getting paid anyway and what kind of retard works free of charge?
All across the country, airplanes are grounded at major airports because there are simply no controllers there, or at least not enough for safe operations. Everyone’s getting frustrated. Passengers, pilots, airliners, controllers…everyone. It’s hard to feel sorry for them, however, because what do you expect when there’s a federal shutdown?
Ground stops, where planes are literally stopped on the grounds of the airport, have been lasting as much as an in excess of six hours. That’s enough make even the most patient passenger irate. But again, what do they expect? Things are not operating as normal in our nation at this point, and that includes our nation’s many airports. No one is exempt! Not even me!
There are things that I need done but those things cannot be done until the shutdown ends. That’s me stating a fact, that’s not me bitching and moaning. But the thing is that I saw it coming, so I made preparations and adjustments in advance, so that when the shutdown took effect at 12:01 a.m. on the first of the month, the impact on me was and is minimal. In other words, I can wait.
These people who are flying were not prepared, even though the warning signs of a shutdown were showing well in advance of the first. I can patiently wait. I will not be at an airport because of all the waiting and not moving.
Well, that’s one reason. I had a chance at a major opportunity, a $10,000 opportunity, that would have required me to fly. I am not a sucker, so I turned it down in the name of avoiding wait times and in the name of safety. It’s only a matter of time before controllers working through exhaustion lose control and planes crash into each other over our airspace.
Surely these people know that while this shutdown is in effect, flying is a fool’s errand. Those who do fly are putting themselves at major risk. That’s not me being paranoid. That’s a statement of fact, and I am backed up by aviation experts who are concerned about everyone’s safety. Even air traffic controllers are sounding the alarm.
When they speak up, you know things are getting serious. Many controllers are calling out and that puts added stress upon the shoulders of those who do show up. That means that those who are showing up while not getting paid are not only retarded beyond words, but they are also exhausted. That spells trouble for everyone, even those of us who look up at the planes above us.
One day, probably soon, those planes will crash into one another and their carnage will rain down upon those of us who have nothing to do with it. In other words, no one is safe right now. If a plane flies over you, you are not safe right now. Does that frighten you, even just a little bit? Well, it should!
The New York Post quoted one anonymous controller thusly: “The shutdown is affecting every single person traveling in the United States at this time. More stress equals more risk; that’s just basic common sense.”
Yes, yes, it is common sense!
There have been numerous close calls over the past couple of years, and that’s without the government being closed. Now, it’s only a matter of time before there are not only close calls, but actual incidents, incidents where people get a free cremation.
It’s only a matter of time. All it takes is one exhausted controller who’s responsible for more planes in his or her airspace than normal, and we’ll see planes crash at an alarming rate. Thousands upon thousands of fliers will die, which is one more reason for fliers to just stay home alive rather than risking plowing into the ground like United Airlines Flight 93, or into the water, or anywhere else a plane doesn’t belong.
Let’s assume that one controller is responsible for 25 planes at one time. The normal amount is anywhere from four up to twenty, depending upon the time of day and the airport. But for the purposes of my article, let’s go with 25 planes given that controllers are spread mighty thin. Now, on each of those planes, let’s put an average of 100 passengers on board.
Under my scenario, one controller who might be working six days a week, perhaps even a full seven, could be overworked and as such, would be responsible for a total of around 2,500 lives at any given moment. If that controller misses something and the pilots fail to take action quickly enough and planes start plowing into one another, then many people will die. Do you still feel like flying?
I get it. Air traffic control is a stressful job. Of course it is. But add to that stress the fact that these people are only human and they all have bills to pay. They’re being distracted, both physically and mentally, by the inability to put food on their families’ tables and the inability to pay basic bills. Add to that the added stress and of course bad things are going to happen.
The only mystery is why people haven’t died yet. If this shutdown continues, it’s only a matter of days before the worst airline disaster since 9/11 happens. And to be honest, I’d be hard-pressed to blame the controller, even if someone I cared about (and I don’t care about many people) died.
It doesn’t look as if things are going to draw to a close anytime soon, so if you’re wise like me, you’ll stay far away from airports until things become safer to fly. Yeah, I lost $10,000, but at least I’m alive. The next people to board a plane might be the ones to pay the price for the shutdown.
Will you be one of the stupid ones or the wise ones?