ChasenSFO
hen teaser
My buddy at Norcal has grown out his hair and beard and went from no grey to some grey after not seeing him for like 9 or 10 months. Said he's had 3 days off twice, 2 days off several times, but they usually have been working him 6 days per week, often getting off at 5-7AM on a "day off" then back at work for a mid less than 48 hours after. He has a big huge house in Sacramento (3 spare bedrooms with one being gym quality weight room), got married, has 3 cars and 3 motorcycles between himself and his wife, just about has every toy her ever wanted, and yet he still assertively tells me I dodged a bullet. He's going up to the Pac NW (or recently did) for some kind of meeting about some kind of contract extension that I forgot the details of beyond being shocked at how the FAA is reacting during "crunch time" when attrition and COVID travel recovery meet to set the stage for what every ATC friend I have has basically said is a guarantee that fatigue and training will be the next thing to kill US passengers and crew members in an airliner. I think they're right.Every mockup we’ve made so far of lines w these new “fatigue mitigation rules” are so terrible that guys who are eligible may just retire, and those of us left working the new schedules will be even more tired than what we have now. FAA Management at its finest!
He told me about that NYC off the street program where every last student failed and the whole thing got scrubbed after a huge waste of money and resources. That was pretty hilarious and a story probably worth telling on JC by those who know the details. He also mentioned how this EWR situation basically was something everyone in the agency is looking forward to watching blow up in the FAAs faces. Seems like they're on track not to disappoint.