American Flight 5342 & Racism

Plane

Hours after flight 5342 fell into the Potomac river, President Trump blamed DEI programs for the accident. Journalists and law-makers were quick to challenge Trump on his statements. Trusted commentators, like Juan Browne, have said the helicopter involved in the crash was flying above the 200 feet limit into prohibited airspace and likely mistook the CRJ-700 for another aircraft. The FAA’s plan for the airport also inappropriately relies on visual separation at night. So, why did Trump jump to DEI so quickly? Is it because there were non-white or non-male air traffic controllers working that night? These facts might help make up your mind:

  • 78% of air traffic controllers are men
  • 71% of air traffic controllers are white

Is Trump implying that only white men should be air traffic controllers? He said diversity has led to a “lower-quality federal workforce.” No employees hired under the program to employ individuals with severe intellectual disabilities hold or held ATC positions. The qualifications for holding an ATC position have not changed and do not include DEI criteria:

  • Be a United States citizen
  • Be under the age of 31
  • Pass a medical examination
  • Pass a security investigation
  • Pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment tests, including the Air Traffic Controller Specialists Skills Assessment Battery (ATSA)
  • Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment
  • Have three years of progressively responsible work experience, or a Bachelor’s degree, or a combination of post-secondary education and work experience that totals three years
  • Less than 10% of all applicants meet these requirements and are accepted into the training program. 

Over 90% of airports are understaffed in critical flight operation positions. The FAA created programs to reach a wider candidate pool without compromising the criteria to hold an ATC position. How can you come to any other conclusion, Trump is acting on racism rather than the safety of the American people.

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