US ATC troubles

[E-numbers]

Apologies if this is behind a paywall,

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/07/28...

Essentially saying that, beyond the government induced problems and the interesting choices made in US (heli flight paths within metres of approach to DCA for example), trainee US air traffic controllers experience hazing and intimidation as new recruits. As if it wasn’t hard enough already!

My uninformed belief is that the UK/European experience would be very different… am I wrong?

[DJC76]

The Reddit thread on the subject would imply that many US controllers agree there are cultural issues within their training system.

UK and European systems vary hugely but people aren’t hazed here. Not everyone makes the cut though, 20% failure rate at initial posting isn’t surprising.

[IanH755]

Its like there's some weird "emotional immaturity / childlike ego" thing with a large portion of US men, irrespective of job. I'd be tempted to say that its the "high-school Jocks" who never grew up etc only thats not true as its so widespread across so many different types of work affected so many people that it has to be something ingrained in childhood, that kind of silly "we're No1, USA, USA" type mentality which in moderation is OK but when driven to extremes leads to silly behaviour like that.

[Starfighter]

Now link that to the US relationship with authority. I thought this incident was very telling about the overall attitude of some controllers.

https://youtu.be/KU08ucUeEMU?si=j6D83WTWg-8aMrzD

There are atc recordings of controllers making comments about how many times they are on YouTube.

[DJC76]

Starfighter said:

Now link that to the US relationship with authority. I thought this incident was very telling about the overall attitude of some controllers.

https://youtu.be/KU08ucUeEMU?si=j6D83WTWg-8aMrzD

There are atc recordings of controllers making comments about how many times they are on YouTube.

Cringeworthy and very poor RT

[geeks]

Starfighter said:

Now link that to the US relationship with authority. I thought this incident was very telling about the overall attitude of some controllers.

https://youtu.be/KU08ucUeEMU?si=j6D83WTWg-8aMrzD

There are atc recordings of controllers making comments about how many times they are on YouTube.

Love the comments on that one. Particularly:

"I feel sorry for her cats"

[Krikkit]

Isn't this another one from the same lass a couple of years ago?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZzBTZctiAg

[DJC76]

Krikkit said:

Isn't this another one from the same lass a couple of years ago?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZzBTZctiAg

In fairness aside from the crappy RT again she’s right although the attitude is unlikely to achieve much. If he wants 3 or 4 minutes he needs to ask for 3 or 4 not 2. It’s a numbers game so use the correct ones.

[Krikkit]

DJC76 said:

In fairness aside from the crappy RT again she s right although the attitude is unlikely to achieve much. If he wants 3 or 4 minutes he needs to ask for 3 or 4 not 2. It s a numbers game so use the correct ones.

Yes she's right, it's just she's being unprofessionally rude!