Summary

The FAA is facing a leadership vacuum amid a major aviation disaster after former administrator Michael Whitaker resigned on January 20th, following clashes with Elon Musk.

Musk, angered by FAA fines against SpaceX, publicly called for Whitaker’s resignation.

The crisis intensified after an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet in Washington, D.C., killing all on board.

Trump has appointed Chris Rocheleau as acting FAA administrator, with Musk reportedly influencing government staffing decisions.

The FAA also struggles with underfunding and air traffic control staffing shortages.

  • @CharlesDarwin
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    46 days ago

    Too bad Felon won’t be investigated for his role here. Not only does he have too much money for that (Worthington’s Law), but the government is corrupted with Republicans.

    This is why I have been saying for decades now that no Republican should have ever been allowed into office…

    • @Evotech
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      87 days ago

      It has to be someone’s job

      • @[email protected]
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        6 days ago

        There are ways to organize work that don’t rely on command and control. They’re so foreign to us as Americans it sounds ridiculous.

        See this.

        • @piecat
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          46 days ago

          Haha monty python. Classic. Really boasts your point

  • @breadsmasher
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    2757 days ago

    the nazi musk, after being fined, pushed out the administrator of the agency that fined him.

    well done, trump voters 👍

    • @[email protected]
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      1127 days ago

      The whole point of this administration is revenge and demonstrating the power of the hated. The goal is to enshrine a permanent oligarchy and rich ruling class that no longer has to pander to the masses because they’re tired of doing it.

      • @[email protected]
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        7 days ago

        Tearing apart the government is the goal. The Oligarchy is icing on the cake.

        Or it might be the other way around. Idk it’s the same either way.
        im tired, boss.

      • @[email protected]
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        6 days ago

        Why are you okay with people being unrepresented by the two mainstream political parties?

        Don’t you believe in democracy? Democracy is not “vote how I want or else”.

        People should be free to vote how they want, and their vote should still count even if their choice didn’t win.

        If you’re actually interested in getting these people involved, here are some videos on electoral reform.

        Videos on Electoral Reform

        First Past The Post voting (What most states use now)

        Videos on alternative electoral systems we can try out.

        STAR voting

        Alternative vote

        Ranked Choice voting

        Range Voting

        Single Transferable Vote

        Mixed Member Proportional representation

        • Cyborganism
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          36 days ago

          Yeah, except this election was done with the system currently in place. A non vote was essentially a vote for Trump. And honestly anything but Trump would have been far better.

          Can you imagine if Kamala had been elected? How we would all be able to sleep at night knowing the government was in competent hands?

          No instead we get Adolf Hitler Jr. establishing a fascist state, alienating his strongest economic allies, and threatening their sovereignty,

          Sometimes you just gotta swallow the fucking pill.

    • Flying Squid
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      307 days ago

      Hey, that’s Musk’s privilege as Chief Executive.

      If you didn’t want Musk doing this stuff, you shouldn’t have voted for him.

    • @HappySkullsplitter
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      127 days ago

      and they’re perfectly fine with it, because they’re told to be

  • @lennybird
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    7 days ago

    Just IMAGINE if this happened under a Biden or Obama administration.

    Republicans would be losing their collective shit. They’d probably have some DEFCON level on the fox news ticker for a year straight.

    • Lemminary
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      327 days ago

      Honest question: Where the heck are the left talking heads? The ones I follow are much too busy writing clickbait titles, covering the story and shaking their heads a bit.

      • @Xanthobilly
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        417 days ago

        Corporate media is controlled by the fascists now.

      • @[email protected]
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        247 days ago

        There’s actually no point. Like literally. We’re 10 days into this shit show. By the time of the midterms try to imagine how much sheer bullshit, how many should-be-scandals will have come and gone. Nobody will even remember this in 2 years time.

      • Flying Squid
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        107 days ago

        They’re terrified of being put into a camp. I kind of don’t blame them but I kind of do.

      • @Chocrates
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        7 days ago

        They are out there. I think none of them are as argumentative as the chuds though. And liberals don’t fall in love like the right does, at least not that I have seen, which I think contributes.

    • @TrickDacy
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      37 days ago

      Nah don’t worry Republicans will investigate this just as hard as Benghazi, for 10 years. /s

  • @MyDogLovesMe
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    767 days ago

    One ATC working two positions.

    Cant imagine why this happened.

    • @[email protected]
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      7 days ago

      Very common, I doubt it’s contributing. Positions are made to combine up when it’s less busy and to split off when it’s more busy. You only rarely see all positions completely split off at most facilities.

      BIG question is why the military helicopter, with onboard radar and proximity alerts that had to be going off in the cockpit, continue to fly into a commercial aircraft.

      • @[email protected]
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        207 days ago

        Being common doesn’t make it okay. ATC has been understaffed since Reagan killed the union.

      • Shadow
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        7 days ago

        Pilots were flying under NVG (limited field of view) and appear to have been watching the wrong plane when they said they had the traffic in sight. Were probably flying too low for TCAS, if a black hawk even has it.

        • @Hobbes_Dent
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          7 days ago

          The flight aware or whatever and atc audio is already out there and such for YouTubers and whatever. Your take sounds like mine as well; the helicopter pilots were cautioned by ATC, confirmed visual on the plane, hit the plane. I think it’s at least likely that they were observing that other plane seen on radar and the crash footage.

          Helicopter had a 200ft. ceiling and broke it. Plane was assumed on ILS but appears was VFR and got a runway change. It seems to have been below its intended 500ft during the maneuver with the crash at 400ft.

          This is probably better than my paraphrasing and probably screwing shit up:

          https://youtu.be/_3gD_lnBNu0

          And yeah, TCAS is 1000 ft. and above I think for resolution advisories.

          More edit: also appears night vision was in use so yeah. I look forward to hearing further from Elon and Don how this was DEI and how they spin the military part of the blame.

          • @ChickenLadyLovesLife
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            56 days ago

            It still seems kind of insane to have a helicopter at 200 ft. and a plane in the same place at 500 ft. - since the helicopter and plane only need to be at slightly different altitudes from that to crash, which of course is exactly what happened.

          • Shadow
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            117 days ago

            When you’re flying in close proximity like that at a low altitude, I’d assume they’re all VFR and not relying on radar.

            TCAS is good because it’s an instantaneous “YOU WILL HIT THIS. GO UP NOW”. There’s no having to look at it and think about what to do, that’s why its so successful. Can’t really compare radar to that.

      • @[email protected]
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        107 days ago

        Yes, based on what I’ve read the communication with the tower was all timely and accurate, it sounds like the pilot of the helicopter made an error

    • @clutchtwopointzero
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      6 days ago

      I have avoided transit through the US for over 15 years now, as LAX once had transfer facilities that felt like a prison… And transfers require redoing those TSA searches and enduring inordinately long lines. Id rather have my molars removed again as at least I can sit down while I wait

    • ALQ
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      557 days ago

      If you can help it, probably don’t be in the US at all. And, if you’re feeling generous, maybe take a few of us with you.

      • @[email protected]
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        27 days ago

        Come on up if you can land any job at all. Doo eet, as if you can qualify it means you’ve got a job and a clue, and that will help our voting if we can render you into a full Canuck before election time.

    • @nman90
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      117 days ago

      See that’s where I think you are wrong, don’t fly in the U.S. from 2025 to at least 2029 depending.

      • @[email protected]
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        16 days ago

        Even if there’s an administration dead-set on bringing back air safety standards and properly staffing ATC positions, it’ll take a while before they get back to what was previously in place

    • Sunshine (she/her)
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      37 days ago

      Just like the old adage don’t fly in or near Russia least one would end up in a similar situation to flight 17.

    • Flying Squid
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      37 days ago

      I am honestly really worried about my wife flying over here to Britain when I get a family visa.

      • @[email protected]
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        37 days ago

        Cruise time! It’ll be a fun vacation. Probably safer and definitely more relaxed (no TSA or airport tension)

  • @asteriskeverything
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    527 days ago

    In 2023, a panel of experts released a report that found that the increasing reliance of overtime to staff air traffic control facilities was putting air safety at risk. The agency has fielded hundreds of complaints from air traffic workers describing dangerous conditions from staff shortages to dilapidated buildings.

    Completely off topic but made me think of the conditions 911 dispatchers have to work under. Both are extremely critical jobs where mistakes can really cost lives and not in the “I thought a bag of skittles was a gun” mistake

    • @[email protected]
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      96 days ago

      Allegedly ATC makes a lot of money but I know in my city at least, 911 operators don’t make much and it can take a huge toll on their psyche.

  • The Real King Gordon
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    277 days ago

    Why are all these fucking cowards resigning?Stand up to these fucking bullies you pussies. Get fired then turn around and sue them. Its a badge of honor to be fired by these assholes.

  • @rayyy
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    107 days ago

    Welcome to the world leader of shit-hole countries.

  • @DarkCloud
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    47 days ago

    What floor were they on when he was pushed out?