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Re:America desperately needs more air traffic controllers by bobthepanda on Tuesday February 04, 2025 @04:40PM (#42939224)
part of the problem is the structural problems caused by high turnover are themselves causing high turnover. people can't take vacation, people need to work 6 days 12 hours a week.

there is also the issue of location. where applicants are and where controllers are needed is often two distinct circles and once you throw relocation into remote areas into the mix it becomes really unattractive.

Re:America desperately needs more air traffic controllers by stevage on Tuesday February 04, 2025 @05:11PM (#42939692)
And not allowing people to take anxiety meds is nuts. Some of those meds seem perfect for this job, putting you in a very mellow, but focused state.
Re:America desperately needs more air traffic controllers by themaninthedark on Tuesday February 04, 2025 @09:25PM (#42942828)
I find the moderation here frustrating at times when people will down vote but not explain why.

There may be a very go reason to not allow anxiety medication, I don't know enough about it myself.

Re:America desperately needs more air traffic controllers by Aurornis on Wednesday February 05, 2025 @12:56AM (#42944414)
> There may be a very go reason to not allow anxiety medication, I don't know enough about it myself.

You’re getting downvoted because your comment is dangerously misinformed. Air traffic controllers aren’t allowed to take those anxiety medications (benzos, etc) because they impair your performance and judgment, even if you feel fine while taking them.

Don’t confuse the way a drug makes you feel with the objective impairment of a drug.

Re:America desperately needs more air traffic controllers by themaninthedark on Wednesday February 05, 2025 @07:36AM (#42947625)
The comment I replied to is not one that I wrote.

I appreciate you providing reasoning. I think the best way to deal with misinformation is good information and up/down votes are sometimes a good signal, sometimes it is an agree or disagree button.

Re:America desperately needs more air traffic controllers by newsclues on Tuesday February 04, 2025 @10:31PM (#42943356)
Or smoke cannabis after a hard stressful day at work
Re:America desperately needs more air traffic controllers by Aurornis on Wednesday February 05, 2025 @12:54AM (#42944395)
> Some of those meds seem perfect for this job, putting you in a very mellow, but focused state.

Many drugs, especially some anxiety medications, produce false feelings of sobriety.

I can’t believe I have to write this, but: Feeling mellow and focused from drugs does not mean you’re okay to perform well at mentally demanding or safety-critical tasks like driving or directing air traffic.

Re:America desperately needs more air traffic controllers by stevage on Wednesday February 05, 2025 @01:35AM (#42944713)
These hypotheses seem eminently testable. Give people (with and without underlying conditions) these drugs, test their performance. Rather than simply prohibiting entire categories of drugs.
Re:America desperately needs more air traffic controllers by dwaltrip on Wednesday February 05, 2025 @01:50AM (#42944829)
This has been done already.