Kevin Vranes has a phud in Physical Ocean- ography and Cli- matology. He now studies sci- ence policy and politics at the Because it is run by humans and human nature can be petty and childish. I pick up stories like this because it reminds us that government isn't just a big faceless machine, but an organization run by individuals. Some of those individuals have great power in their isolated spheres (and obviously some have expansive power across all spheres), but the key to remember is that they are individuals and thus while we hope that what comes out of government usually seems logical and fair, the dictates of human nature means that sometimes what comes out of government is petty and childish.
How else to explain this story, in which the FAA, not getting what they wanted in labor negotiations, has apparently decided to react by sequestering air traffic controllers in the tower? Air traffic controllers (if you ever listen to Channel 9 on the armrest radio on a United flight you know why they're important) now must take vacation time or sick leave to leave the tower for a quick walk to the food court.
Says the head of the controller's union:
Meanwhile, Coulter said of FAA management's confining controllers to the tower: "It's really a power struggle; it's not about what's good for the flying public. They're saying, 'I'm in charge."'Before the new policy, controllers could relieve the tension of handling airplane traffic for two hours at a stretch by leaving the tower for a short walk on the concourse, Coulter said. "We'd call it a 'terminal walk,"' he said.
But now, Coulter said, the new confinement policy just "increases our stress level and fatigue factor."
Comments
# 1 | Lab Lemming | November 6, 2006 5:25 AM
Power corrupts. Bureaucratic power corrupts pedantically.