r/ATC • u/TheBaggagePodcast • 5d ago

Discussion ATC interview

At the beginning of the year, our podcast released an episode that featured an air traffic controller. Many people on this subreddit believe that a subsequent interview would maybe be necessary to more accurately represent air traffic controllers as a whole. Here it is. Thank you to Landon for being willing to speak to us.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Amazon Music

YouTube

Website

17 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

6

u/Self-DeprecatingOryx 5d ago

Anyone know this dude?

10

u/RavenYZF-R6 5d ago

Union guy. I’ll hold out hope I don’t only hear equipment when I have time to listen.

13

u/Fun_Monitor8938 Current Controller - UP/DOWN 5d ago

Multiple mentions of being underpaid/under-appreciated and that no piece of equipment will replace or can do more than the controller at the scope. It was a good podcast

4

u/RavenYZF-R6 5d ago

Glad to hear it! Gonna listen with my wife in a bit.

3

u/Doctor_Magnus 3d ago

Thanks for the listen!

2

u/theweenerdoge 4d ago

Much better for sure. Appreciate you guys keeping the story alive. One thing I will point out is when he says equipment is being upgraded that's only true at large to medium size facilities. Many small facilities are still working with crappy equipment and there's still 2 FAA run facilities that run non-radar approach and tower. It's unacceptable.

When he said he was a union guy at the start I thought we were in for a bunch of bullshit but it was a good interview overall. The only thing that's missing is how weak and ineffective the current union is.

3

u/Doctor_Magnus 3d ago

Some of my ramblings were edited out so I wouldn't be surprised if I had mentioned something to that effect, but truthfully, I don't think we as controllers care, im on board the equipment isn't really our priority or concern train.

Pay, benefits, work/life balance, that's the stuff that matters right now and needs overhauled.

4

u/Doctor_Magnus 3d ago

Just wanted to add, I appreciate any critiques and anybody that has known me for more than 5 minutes will find it odd you guys used the phrase Union guy to describe me ( I don't think im that at all), I think the there is a big difference in a "union" guy and somebody that is willing to represent their members by being their local union leader.

The membership is the most important thing we have in our union, any leaders that don't place your needs and interests as their number 1 priority don't deserve to be our leaders anymore.