The air visitors controllers union replied Friday to claims by way of President Trump this week that range techniques contributed to the deadly crash in Washington Wednesday evening.
“Air traffic controllers earn the prestigious and elite status of being a fully certified professional controller after successfully completing a series of rigorous training milestones. The standards to achieve certifications are not based on race or gender,” Nick Daniels, president of the Nationwide Air Site visitors Controllers Affiliation (NATCA), mentioned in a commentary.
“The proud men and women that comprise the national aviation safety professionals bear the immense responsibility of ensuring the safety and efficiency of the national airspace system, while working short-staffed, often 6 days a week, and in facilities long overdue for modernization.”
Trump on Thursday blasted range, fairness and inclusion (DEI) projects on the Federal Aviation Management (FAA), which gives air visitors products and services to airports around the nation, right through the Biden and Obama administrations.
“Brilliant people have to be in those positions,” Trump mentioned, mentioning efforts by way of the FAA to rent folks with disabilities.
“A group within the FAA determined that the workforce was too white, then they had concerted efforts to get the administration to change that and to change it immediately,” Trump mentioned. “This was in the Obama administration.”
The president doubled down on his DEI feedback in a Friday publish, which incorporated screenshots claiming the FAA driven to rent folks with “severe intellectual” and “psychiatric” disabilities.
“This is just one reason why our Country WAS going to hell!!!” Trump wrote.
Daniels mentioned the union was once dedicated to operating with Trump to “recruit the best and brightest” and deal with considerations together with pay, advantages and the “mounting stress that comes with this demanding job.”
