How many of those nerds who role play as air traffic controllers on flight simulations at home qualified to do it for real? How much extra training would they need?
It's an interesting thought. I wonder if VATSIM could provide a meaningful "pre-ATC" qualification. The people are already clearly interested/enthusiastic about the job.
I was told by a private pilot that the people on VATSIM are usually real air traffic controllers keeping in practice to do things like ATC the big air shows, which are volunteer ATC.
Which is basically a problem with how we do school. Turns out that making teenagers stare at screens all the time mints a lot of near sighted 20 year olds who wouldn't have otherwise been.
Think the qualification is to get into the training program, presumably air traffic controllers who develop near nearsightedness later in life aren't summarily fired.
Edit: I didn't take a stance on this topic, if you think I did, you are incorrect. I was simply linking the website that outlines the requirements instead of postulating as to what they were.
You didn't say exactly what you believe, but I think you are mistaken if you are claiming that the FAA requires _uncorrected_ 20:20 vision as a qualification.
"With FAA order 3930.3B ATC vision standards were made similar to airman standards. With or without correction air traffic controllers must demonstrate 20/20 distant vision in each eye separately, 20/40 in each eye at 16 inches near vision, and 20/40 in each eye at 32 inches intermediate vision if they are 50 years of age or older. Glasses or contact lenses are permitted."
What are you on about? I was trying to aid the discussion of "requirements to be an ATC" and you're pissed I don't give a fuck about what those requirements are? Don't have strong opinions on them? What the fuck?
I don't give a fuck, and have ZERO opinions on them.
