What did you lazy fucks do last week?

[+TSRA]

ATC Movie: "Would You Trust AI to Vector?"​

Opening Scene: The Chaos of Core 30​

Inside a high-stakes TRACON handling Core 30 airspace—some of the busiest airports in the country. Radar screens glow, controllers juggle aircraft like circus performers, and pilots passive-aggressively sigh over frequency.

A grizzled yet strangely relaxed Core 30 Controller leans back in their chair, headset slightly askew, flipping a coin that may or may not decide a sequence.

Core 30 Controller (stretching):
"Alright, let’s move some metal. What’s the worst that could happen?"

Cut to: A cockpit alarm blaring as a pilot stares at a TCAS warning.

Pilot:
"Uh, Approach? You just gave us opposite direction vectors on final!"

Core 30 Controller (unbothered, sipping coffee):
"Copy. Expedite whatever works for ya."

---

Enter Elon Musk & NATCA’s Grand Scheme​

Meanwhile, at a sleek, overly futuristic tech headquarters, Elon Musk is pitching his latest unnecessary disruption to a room full of NATCA executives nodding like bobbleheads.

Elon Musk (grinning smugly):
"Gentlemen… and also, legally, I have to say ladies, welcome to the future of air traffic control: AutoVector™. Zero human error. Zero delays. Just pure, optimized, algorithmic separation."

NATCA Rep adjusts their Rolex, nodding along while sliding a “Privatization Now!” contract across the table.

NATCA Rep:
"We love it. More automation, fewer pesky controllers to pay. FAA oversight? Gone. With privatization, we’ll control the controllers and have a seat at the table"

Core 30 Controller (spitting out coffee):
"You’re putting AI in charge of Core 30?! That’s like letting a toddler program a SIDs and STARs redesign!"

Elon Musk (shrugging):
"Core 30 Controller, listen… AI doesn’t get tired. It doesn’t mishear call signs. It doesn’t—"

Core 30 Controller (cutting in):
"—accidentally sequence three aircraft for the same runway less than a mile apart and then pretend it was ‘planned spacing’?"

Elon Musk (grinning):
"Exactly!"

Core 30 Controller:
"Well, neither do good controllers!"

---

Climactic Scene: AI Goes Rogue​

Mere moments after activation, AutoVector™ begins making some bold choices™…

Pilot (panicked):
"Uh, Approach? We just got a direct-to… a mountain?!"

Another Pilot:
"We’re getting descent clearance to FL180 and we’re already at FL180!"

Meanwhile, a NATCA Rep whispers to a Supervisor.

NATCA Rep:
"Don’t worry, just blame the controllers. Fuel Bar later?"

Supervisor (nodding slowly):
"Yeah… wait, what?"

Core 30 Controller (watching in horror):
"Oh wow. It’s… self-learning. And it’s learning wrong."

The ATC room spirals into chaos as planes zip through each other’s airspace like a badly coded flight sim.

Elon Musk (frustrated):
"Okay, okay, maybe some human oversight is necessary."

Core 30 Controller (smirking):
"Some? Elon, be honest—would you trust AI to vector?"

Elon Musk (long pause, sighing):
"…Fine. Maybe not yet."

---

Final Close-Out:​

Core 30 Controller (leaning back in their chair, grinning at the audience):
"And that, folks, is why you always keep a human on the scope… and never trust NATCA’s ‘great ideas.’"

Supervisor (in the background, confused):
"Wait, am I supposed to do something?"

Screen fades to black.

Text appears:
"Would you trust AI to vector?"

This is very good. Problem though, I see some Controllers work like the AI.

 

[Shikaka]

Everyone is replaceable, this job doesn't give a fuck about you, put your time in and get out.
I think the most frustrating thing i see is encouraging young people to come into this dying career when they have better prospects, sure if this is your second career go for it but don't idolize this fading dream.

I would agree, if there weren't far worse jobs paying far less in the probate sector.

 

[KP-ATC]

Anyone respond to the email with:
"Have you seen my stapler?"

 

[SquawkHijack]

Who hurt you buddy?

Anyone who didn’t vote for Jamaal

 

[32andBelow]

Chat are we cooked

 

[GulfCharlie]

Chat are we cooked

View attachment 10020

Just sitting here enjoying my Sunday, if I have to login for my email that will be an hour of OT.

 

[AnyTrafficPleaseAdvise]

I remember when some of you assholes supported The Biden administration’s threat of termination for federal employees who refused to get experimental use COVID vaccines. Now you think it’s an overstep to mandate responding to an email?

 

[32andBelow]

I remember when some of you assholes supported The Biden administration’s threat of termination for federal employees who refused to get experimental use COVID vaccines. Now you think it’s an overstep to mandate responding to an email?

I remember when some of you were against the Biden threat and then didn’t say shit when they actually fired thousands last week. Every what a bout argument can just be turned around

 

[AnyTrafficPleaseAdvise]

I remember when some of you were against the Biden threat and then didn’t say shit when they actually fired thousands last week. Every what a bout argument can just be turned around

Not one single air traffic controllers work life has been impacted by those people getting fired. It’s almost like the FAA didn’t need them to begin with!

 

[CoffeeIV]

I forgot the only job in the FAA that does anything is ATC.

Can some of you pull your head out your ass for one moment?

 

[32andBelow]

Not one single air traffic controllers work life has been impacted by those people getting fired. It’s almost like the FAA didn’t need them to begin with!

So you’re just a moron

 

[DankVectorz]

Not one single air traffic controllers work life has been impacted by those people getting fired. It’s almost like the FAA didn’t need them to begin with!

Yes I’m sure all the probationary tech ops getting fired won’t eventually effect ATC

 

[Cpt_munky]

I pooped an average of 5 times per day on the gubmint dime

 

[jdatc]

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

truthsocial.com

I’m copying this one. No point in writing your own.

 

[SquawkHijack]

Has anyone heard any solid guidance come down from NATCA yet? All I’ve heard from local and regional is paragraphs to the effect of “Reply if you like. It’s really up to you and what you think is best.” Like wtf kind of advice is that?! 😂

 

[StealthChain]

From national today. Yesterday they basically said don’t respond unless directed to by management

 

[DOD4Life]

Has anyone heard any solid guidance come down yet? All I’ve heard from local and regional is paragraphs to the effect of “Reply if you like. It’s really up to you and what you think is best.” Like wtf kind of advice is that?! 😂

This is what AFGE did:

Musk's Demand To Federal Workers Is 'Plainly Unlawful,' Union Says

A federal union leader told the administration to retract its insulting "what did you do last week?" email, saying it violates the law and wastes everybody's time.

www.huffpost.com

 

[SquawkHijack]

This is what AFGE did:

Musk's Demand To Federal Workers Is 'Plainly Unlawful,' Union Says

A federal union leader told the administration to retract its insulting "what did you do last week?" email, saying it violates the law and wastes everybody's time.

www.huffpost.com

Cool, so any helpful insight from them? That’s just some useless mudflinging article.

 

[32andBelow]

Cool, so any helpful insight from them? That’s just some useless mudflinging article.

Drove press to it and got covered by a huge website?

 

[DOD4Life]

Cool, so any helpful insight from them? That’s just some useless mudflinging article.

The “helpful insight” came out the same day as Elmo’s “order to us” in a specific template email for employees to send to their supervisor seeking specific guidance. Additionally, DOD employees (and many other federal agencies) have received guidance now from their agency heads to *not* respond at all. As for “mudflinging,” what did the AFGE President get wrong? How would *YOU* have handled it better?