As someone who has several upcoming plane trips, this does not fill me with confidence
NEWS: Transportation secretary Sean Duffy tells reporters outside the White House moments ago that the president has signed off on his plan to modernize ATC -- details of which will be announced on THURSDAY.
May 6, 2025 19:52As a pilot: these are the last people I want tinkering with the National Airspace System.
Didn’t think it was possible to have a president work harder than Biden to drive people toward train travel over air travel, but here we are.
As a member of the flying public: I am absolutely fucking not a member of the flying public any more.
Nope. I want to live.
He just *looks* dumb too. He has no idea what he’s doing, did nothing to earn the spot, and is gonna get people killed. These people don’t seem to realize the reason gov’t things take so long is because it is a service that affects millions. Not a company trying to streamline. Just very stupid folks
Well, as I was saying:
FAA suspends work of independent panel reviewing air traffic control
The FAA ordered an independent panel hired to recommend ways to strengthen oversight of its air traffic control operations to stop work.
As someone who lives under an international airport's airfield traffic pattern this fills me with fear and a need to confirm with my home insurance agent a plane falling on my house is covered.
In the 80s/90s IBM spent billions on a project to “modernize air traffic control systems”. It was cancelled. No changes were implemented.
I am not sanguine about any of the current administration doing anything except line their own pockets, make things worse, and kill a lot of people.
“Modernize” = fire all the women and POC
Don’t worry it’s being included as part of infrastructure week
the technology is not the problem. PAYING GOOD SALARIES FOR THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY NEEDED TO RUN FAA SAFELY IS THE SOLUTION
but the brainless greedy idiots at doge keep firing everyone!
I have never so acutely felt our lack of high speed rail until they put this dipshit in charge of air travel
You really don’t want to hear what the Newark ATC said then…
Maybe they shouldn’t have let those ATC in training go?
But they were on probation!
Wanna guess who gets the contract?
Does it start with “Elon Musk” and give Nazi salutes?
Why do I have a bad feeling it will be AI?
I think we all know it’s going to be AI and a lot of people are going to die
Gonna end up with an air traffic system that prevent planes from landing at airports named after people Trump doesn't like
Real World alumni should not be allowed near humanity.
Two days, two weeks, two dolls.
My house is on a flight path so yeah not expecting anything from this but to be underwhelmed at best to horrified at worst
Why I haven't flown since this all started and I won't unless work forces me.
We are gonna have to tax the shit out of rich people to fix the mess these imbeciles are making.
Right after Infrastructure Week!
I’m just glad I went to Chicago a couple weeks ago before they said not to use Newark airport.
If they said their plans were coming two weeks from now, at least we could have the reassurance they'd never arrive
The tech is not the problem.
Have the gambling companies started fielding bets on which airline will have the next major incident? Because that's absolutely coming.
I really think you should cancel those flights.
It will be fixed in “two weeks”
ATC Freestyle
The blind leading the blind here. These people know nothing.
"Modernize" = just get ChatGPT to do it
I’m at least feeling quite solid about my choice to fly into Dulles instead of National next month.
Suddenly a 15 hour drive doesn't sound so bad...
I am terrified (tariffied?!) of getting on a plane right now. Weaponized ineptitude.
Good thing this is a slow work year for me and I only have 14 more flights scheduled... so far.
"You wrap the rubber band around the propeller and then let it go!"
At present, this is a safer alternative:
I moved to England in February and need to make a trip back at some point to get the rest of my stuff. Between this and the customs agents shenanigans it’s on indefinite hold. Way too much risk
Kind hard when they’re cutting all of the funding. Can’t imagine it’s a quick, cheap fix. Assholes.
Imagine how the pilots feel as well.
We are flying out of Newark tomorrow, just in case I go silent forever.
Take a train Chris
Wish that was a realistic option!
Qualifications:
Was on television
You might think about driving.
Fuck, don’t you wish we had a good train system?
Modernize in the president’s understanding is probably just financially gutting the institution so… yeah
Given that Musk is behind it.......I wouldn't be stoked about a flight either. Good luck
You and me both, brother.☹️
At least people don't look at me funny anymore when I tell them I don't fly.
I think I will just continue to live in my nice cozy safe cave and venture out only for shopping, driving very very carefully.
So, if you see a senior citizen driving at the breakneck speed of 35-40 mph, just honk & safely pass me when you can.
I promise to stay off interstates…
/s/
Let me guess. Prioritize statements about white excellence without actually doing any…. You know….work or having a plan.
I have a thread or two coming up on the bizarre common thread that runs through all of these Trump initiatives that I don't think people appreciate. You might want to follow along.
If only he knew someone who could do something about it.
Hint: it will involve using much simpler, "better" softer that's easier for our national enemies to hack.
Another reason not to go to the U.S. or fly over it! Not safe on so many levels! That and Trump again today goes after our sovereignty.
#never51 #elbowsup #trumpmaybe take trains or drive
Same :(
Oh boy, I hope we can get home next week…
Thursday? I thought his normal stall time was 2 weeks…
📌
Not. At. All.
I don’t even have a Real ID yet so I’m grounded for now. Still waiting for my birth certificate to get mailed out. It’s been over 4 weeks 😑
oh yikes
It's time to take the John Madden approach to travel:
Well, we have all seen his cheap ass way he “modernized” the Oval Office. So, more plastic bits and gold spray paint and flying should be no problem.
Never getting on a plane in the U.S. again ...
Been dreading this headline... knew it was coming, but just... fuck, man.
Not-so-wild conspiracy theory: EWR nightmare is at least half on purpose to ramp up public's desire to see something "different."
Pure manufactured chaos and deliberate exploiting known issues beyond capacity, bc ghouls.
it’s fn amateur hour.
My aunt is leaving on Saturday. I hope to see her again.
Considering I live halfway between her and the airport, both of which are tiny jaunts, I’m pretty nervous AND angry. Planes land and take off from here all the time and I’ve never worried before now.
Maybe take the train. Seriously!
Agree
But everything was working with the "old equipment". Who's making bank on this?
Musk. It’s gonna be a ploy to integrate Starlink and/or develop a *new AI system* that will never work but will cost us billions
Maybe I won't go to that reunion in Minnesota this summer.
Dumb and dumber.
Let me guess. It’s AI controllers. These idiots have no actual intelligence so AI looks like genius instead of the mediocre plagiarism it is.
I’ll walk
You can look at any photo of this buffoon and it's obvious he's a moron. Without saying one word a glance at his face says "Idiot."
2025 FAA communications upgrade!
They are going to use Tesla's self-driving AI to make self-flying planes…
😫😫😫
We can only hope he hires an expert to do the actual planning.
Maybe consider a bus, it's going to be raining planes.
They haven't fucked up the trains yet have they?
Using MUSKS' Starlink??? Sorry but NO! Don't count on air travel to be safe if that happens. We would be sooo vulnerable to foreign (russia..cough) attacks...
Got to keep up the pressure on all things musk…Tesla, Starlink, x, space x and anything else that asshole has anything to do with…
The upside is that a project this hurried and slapdash will never get within a million miles of completion and the old systems will continue to run while they shovel tons of money to whoever bribed them the best that week.
There is four billion dollars in acted by the Biden administration to upgrade the airline system, where is that money and why hasn’t been used??
Modernize = Privatize
Modernize = Flight by Grok
And my husband getting a job this week that requires lots of travel......😬
Modernize=Starlink.
Hopefully it's better than Trump's previous infrastructure plan.
As someone who lives near an airport? Yeah… me too
I won't even go to the tanning booth before I fly
ditto
Whelp, any other alternative for you, maybe early enough to change those plans..
We do not want to lose you, we need the Kluwe!
Same. 😬
Can I interest you in an Amtrak ticket? Much safer, much more scenic.
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Thursday? I thought his normal stall time was 2 weeks…
