"Cecil E. Chapman" wrote in message
...
Why was that surprising?

--
John T

Me again..... I just think that it would be prudent to have controllers
that were also pilots, just as it is prudent for (at least it is required
by
law, in parts of California) food service workers to have some training in
handling choking problems.


Good pilots don't necessarily make good controllers, and visa versa.
Different mental and physical skill sets are required to do the jobs. In my
experience, most people, most pilots included, don't seem to have what it
takes to do the radar ATC part. Not to mention the non-radar geometry and
math part.

It is also my experience that an overwhelming majority of the persons
employed as air traffic controllers, especially in the higher-level,
higher-complexity radar facilities, don't have what it takes to be aviators.
They either lack apptitude, coordination or above all (and most sadly) even
any interest in personally piloting an aircraft. Many of them don't even
*like* airplanes...

Chip, ZTL