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ryandrake 19 hours ago

This assumes that controllers over 56 years old are statistically "unsafe," presumably due to perceived cognitive speed and ability. So unsafe that the concern overrides experience, familiarity with systems, and other key benefits of tenure. I'd love to see that data.

jjk166 13 hours ago | parent | next [-]

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/58231

toomuchtodo 19 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

My understanding is the 56 year old age limit is due to burnout and other accumulated negative risk factors from the profession. You have a shelf life like a professional athlete due to the sustained high cognitive load and stress of the workload. Replies open to additional references and citations.

It would make an interesting reality TV show to have a group of 60-70 year olds attempt to perform a simulated 8 hour ATC shift under "live fire" conditions.

https://web.archive.org/web/20260323212332/https://www.crisi...

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/media/Fatigue_Report.pdf

https://news.siu.edu/2025/07/072225-siu-research-focuses-on-...

irishcoffee 19 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

An elderly woman ran into a bus stop at 70mph, killing 4 people. Their claim was “I couldn’t stop, I don’t know what happened”

They were given 200 hours community service. I think this happened today.

mikkupikku 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Why you got to pick an asian woman as your example though?

irishcoffee 2 hours ago | parent [-]

I was trying to show that elderly people probably shouldn't be air traffic controllers by providing an extremely recent example of an elderly person ending the lives of an entire family using a car. I didn't mention that the driver was asian. You did. :)

toomuchtodo 19 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

78 years old at the time, now 80, sentenced to probation.

https://people.com/family-four-killed-bus-stop-outrage-drive...

https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/news/sfpd-arrests-driver-...

(SFPD Case #240-160-569)