The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is again at the center of controversy as it imposed a new woke diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity policy. In its recent recruitment campaign, the FAA is now calling on individuals with severe mental disability, psychiatric problems, and physical disabilities to join their team.
This campaign comes at an awkward time as the FAA faces a series of mishaps in air traffic control and equipment failure.
According to the FAA website, “targeted disabilities by the FAA are people with disabilities that the federal government, as a matter of policy, has identified for special emphasis in recruitment and hiring. This policy includes individuals who are deaf, blind, missing extremities, partial and complete paralysis, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, and dwarfism.”
The FAA even boasted of hiring these people “on the spot.”
This policy caused worry among passengers as the FAA is responsible for overseeing and regulating civil aviation.
FAA’s DEI rules meant that people with mental or psychiatric disabilities would be in charge of ensuring safety regulations, such as imposing safety standards on aircraft, airports, air traffic control systems, and other equipment related to air transport. They will also be responsible for air traffic control, ensuring safe and efficient air traffic management.
Additionally, these individuals will take on tasks, such as aircraft and airmen certification and airport regulation, as the FAA approves airport designs and funding for airport development projects.
Amid emergencies, the FAA will also coordinate and respond to aviation emergencies and disasters.
Despite its crucial job, the FAA seems unfazed and has not clarified what particular tasks they plan to give to people with psychiatric problems and disability.
A New York Post op-ed slammed this policy and said, “The FAA needs to be pushing to hire only the best and brightest.”
“People will die due to DEI,” blasts Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
He also earlier said, “Do you want to fly in an airplane where they prioritized DEI hiring over your safety?”
Some even said that the FAA’s inclusion policy was taken too far and has endangered people’s safety.
On January 5, the commercial Boing 737 Max 9 was forced to go back as its door plug opened up in mid-flight. Due to air pressure, several clothing, cellphones, a headset, and AirPods were sucked out.
Aside from this, the FAA was also confronted with 19 serious incidents in 2023, the highest since 2016. Among the issues that arose were staffing issues, inexperienced airline pilots, and outdated equipment.
