Here We Go Again

I remember in 1977 when I was in Millington, Tennessee at the United States Navy's Air Traffic Control School.  Many of my classmates and in fact a large presence on the base was the international students.  Iranian Air Force, Saudis, maybe even a few others.  We trained their air traffic controllers, pilots and other high tech professionals.  Being only 19 at the time, I thought, "Well, this is pretty stupid.  How do we know we're going to be friends with these cats forever and ever?" 

(Two funny stories...these were all rich kids, sons of Sheiks and Mullahs and what-have-you.  One kid bought a Camaro to use while he was there, and tossed the keys to his American roommate the day he left, saying, "You can have it."  Another Saudi student was injured when the conversion van he had bought went slowly off the road and into the woods.  He had set the cruise control, gotten up out of the driver's seat, and gone in back to have a drink, thinking "cruise control" meant more than just "speed control.")

Anyway...three short years later I was doing donuts in the Indian Ocean on a cruise we affectionately called, "The Ayatollah Patrollah."  Iranians had overthrown our friend the Shah, and students had taken over our embassy and captured our diplomats. 

I was on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69,) and we were itching for a chance to nuke Iran back to the stone age.  We really, really wanted to smoke their asses.  Our thinking was, "Nuke it, blacktop it and make it a "kiss and ride" lot for Long Island commuters.  Or, use conventional weapons and create the world's first 18,000-hole golf course."  But Carter was President and we didn't have the nerve, so we played war games for eight and a half months instead.

The only history we do not know is that which we are doomed to repeat.  It should come as no surprise to you patient readers, then, that the government agency most intent on training our future enemies (and replacements) is the FAA.

Check out this story from the Calcutta News.  We can't even hire and train our own damn air traffic control workforce and yet somehow magically we have extra money, manpower and other resources to train India's. 

Next up:  We will teach India how to abuse their workers, cause massive retirements and completely crater their nation's air traffic control system.

Comments

[Hmmmm....]

Just getting ready to "outsource" our fine high-tech workforce to the third world.

You don't REALLY need all those "center" controllers being paid high U.S. wages, when you can just as easily move centers off-shore, and have some Indian controller making $3 a day do the same work. Technology, John, technology. Plus, you don't have to pay night differential- when it is day time there.

This administration is outsourcing EVERYTHING. Who would have imagined outsourcing "Voice of America" broadcasting to Communist China? Well, G.W. Bush did it! And got away with it!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55134-2005Apr14.html

[MC/ANC]

Nice post JTB. I read the story, seems like there are MANY jobs open for those that know HOW to RUN air traffic.

When I went to OKC in 1989, they had all of the banners, plaques, pictures, etc from the other countries. I wonder if they are ALL still there?

MC/ANC

[zz-retired]

What is the controller workforce here doing to help save themselves ?
Answer.........Nothing !

[Dropkick]

In the FAA Line of Business "playbook", the Indian controllers are being trained as low cost replacements for U.S. controllers, most likely. Between answering tech support questions, they can do those paltry ATC duties.

Lot of big bonus money to steal from the American public here.....

[FedUP]

MC/ANC,

Yes the banners, plaques and pictures are still there; at least in the RTF building. Funny how many Iranian controllers we trained back then....

[BDatc]

I did a little research about the Indian air traffic controllers. The pay the are getting "over there" is 10-15,000 rupies per month. According to an article in India Together, the base of upper middle class wages is 8000 rupies per month.
I guess my point here is.....even in FREAKIN INDIA they recognize the value of a controllers contibution and compensate them fairly! Maybe we should send Bobert, Ventris et al over there for some education. Send us your controllers, we'll ship you our top heavy excess sh*tbags! Fair trade?

[Insantiy]

10,000 Indian Rupees a month is $253 U.S. dollars.

15,000 Indian Rupees a month is $383 U.S. dollars.

Yep, fast lane to outsourcing.

[Have no worry...]

When Bush took office Gas was $1.20 a gallon and I could go to a nightclub in Canada buy two drinks tip the server a Tooney and get $21.00 in Canadian change for my $ 20.00 US.

Maybe by next year we will be even with the Peso....the Rupee is an admirable goal. I am sure we can obtain it with another war or two.

To qoute our President..."Bring it on"

[BDatc]

Gentlemen, I understand your commets....$250-350 US is pathetic...here in the USA . MY point is that even in a country such as India they compensate their controllers at a wage MUCH greater than the average. Here in the US however, we pay our controllers a wage less than a San Jose janitor. Wish we had an administration as progressive as India's.

[MC/ANC]

So India could be the next Costa Rica? I could live quite well in India with my retirement, plus a salary. So close to Australia and Europe.

[Please come again]

MC,

I've been to India, it is a shit hole! Conditions are not worthy of your lifestyle.

Why do you think they all come here at the 1st opportunity.

Consider Aus. or New Zealand.

Abu

[costa rica baby]

Lets go to costa rica the house help is young hookers on the cheap!!!

[SOS]

Another example of the Failed Aviation Administration

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/10/31/lawrence.flight.from.hell.cnn