Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Trouble in the Skies

Trouble in the Skies | Fox Business:
"FOX Business' "Trouble in the Skies," a six month investigation of the FAA’s new hiring practices, uncovered changes that may put the nation’s flying public at risk as well as allegations that the newest air traffic control recruits had access to answers on a key test that helped them gain jobs with the FAA.  
Lawmakers are taking notice, in a statement to FOX Business Correspondent Adam Shapiro U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL) said. “The latest report elevates the need to dig deeper to find out what the FAA is hiding. 
What is clear is that the FAA’s lack of transparency and disturbing agenda puts the safety of our skies at risk. I repeat: it’s time to compel the FAA to come before Congress to answer for their actions.”
Also uncovered was an FAA effort to promote diversity that discarded 3000 qualified college graduates with degrees in air traffic control despite their following FAA procedure and obtaining FAA accredited degrees....
Millions of Americans are about to fly to summer vacations unaware that some of the air traffic controllers guiding their planes may have cheated on a key test to get their jobs.
A six month investigation by the FOX Business Network into the hiring and training of air traffic controllers raises troubling questions about the nation’s air safety and the men and women the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, hires to staff airport control towers.
It takes several years of study to acquire the complex skills necessary to become an air traffic controller, or ATC.
It’s considered among the highest pressured jobs in America.
The path for new ATC recruits begins with questions like this, “The number of different high school sports I participated in was A) 4 or more… B) 3…  C) 2…  D) 1…  E) Didn’t play sports.”
It was on the Federal Aviation Administration’s 2014 new and controversial exam called the Biographical Questionnaire or BQ.
The FAA says it created the BQ to promote diversity among its work force. 
All air traffic control applicants are required to take it.
Those who pass are deemed eligible and those who fail are ruled ineligible.

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