On: The FAA’s Hiring Scandal

[hitekker]

For those curious, you can try the FAA's air traffic controller test for yourself here: https://kaisoapbox.com/projects/faa_biographical_assessment/

After trying it, I recommend reading the article for yourself.

[sashank_1509 → hitekker]

Wow, how can anyone take that test and defend FAA hiring practices. This is dystopia level nonsense

[BonoboIO → sashank_1509]

I learned about the opportunity to apply for an Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) job through:

A. A PUBLIC NOTICE OR MEDIA ADVERTISEMENT +5 B. A FRIEND OR RELATIVE 0 C. COLLEGE RECRUITMENT +3 D. WORKING IN SOME OTHER CAPACITY FOR THE AGENCY +3 E. SOME OTHER WAY 0

Wow … I get points for this. No surprise, that this is going south. I m shocked.

[sethammons → sashank_1509]

Congress stopped it 9 years ago.

[TrapLord_Rhodo → sethammons]

they scheduled the trial for 2026. Congress hasn't stopped or done anything since.

[UberFly → sashank_1509]

Unfortunately this dystopia level nonsense has infected a lot lately and I'm glad it's finally getting some sunshine applied to it.

[drivebyhooting → hitekker]

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

How can an agency administer that travesty of a test? Heads should be rolling over this.

[sethammons → drivebyhooting]

Congress stopped it 9 years ago

[daveguy → hitekker]

This is not the FAA's air traffic controller test. This is the biographical assessment. The air traffic controller test is called the ATSA (formerly AT-SAT) for Air Traffic Skills Assessment (Test).

This gives examples of the test format and questions:

https://pointsixtyfive.com/xenforo/threads/atsa-compilation....

[kristjansson → hitekker]

NB they still administered a cognitive test to candidates that passed (blegh) the biographical assessment

[varloid → kristjansson]

After lowering the standards so that 95% of people who took the test would pass.

[itsdrewmiller → varloid]

They lowered the threshold from 60% pass rate to 95% but then highly prioritized hiring the people who scored at the same 60% pass rate level (88% of offers from that level).

[tstrimple → hitekker]

It turns out you can’t be an ATC unless your worst subject is science. It’s the only question which awards points.

[fwip → tstrimple]

I think you misread something, because that's not true.

[tengwar2 → fwip]

Insufficient information to say whether this is literally true, but if you don't answer "science" you lose 15 points, which is at least a very serious blow to your chances of passing.

[tstrimple → fwip]

"It's the only answer for that question which provides points*" Is what I meant.

https://i.imgur.com/2hRa1eQ.png

[Aloisius → tstrimple]

It's the first question that provides points, not the only one.

[tstrimple → Aloisius]

It clearly states that if you choose anything other than science for that question, you get zero points. It's literally in the quiz and captured in a screen shot. How is this controversial or confusing at all?

[Aloisius → tstrimple]

Yes. You get 0 points for that one question. There are 27 other questions which you can get points from.

https://imgur.com/a/Zh8uS88