Comment by chii
3 months ago
> technology hasn't increased the number of planes or amount of airspace one ATC can manage
which should put pressure on the entity managing the ATC to increase an ATC's productivity via tech. And yet this hasn't happened. So why is that?
I say at a guess, that capitalism isn't working for the entity that manages ATC, because that entity is immune to the pressures of capitalism - ala, federal gov't doesn't care that these ATC isn't as "profitable".
In a scenario where different ATC zones are managed by separate, private entities that are looking to make a profit (e.g., the higher number planes in a single ATC zone, the more they profit) would spend to improve ATC's individual capacity.
You can look at contract towers to see how private entities handle ATC duties. They under-staff to the point that single controllers are handling the entire airspace without so much as coverage for the bathroom sometimes for the full length of their shift. Service is significantly worse in all aspects - the controllers aren't as well trained, they can't handle as much traffic as safely, and they're both less pleasant and less clear on the radio (phraseology, etc - not voice clarity)