posted in Technology
FAA tees up $875M AI tool to help manage air traffic congestion
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/09/faa-tees-up-875m-ai-tool-to-help-manage-air-traffic-congestion/
Replying to @return2ozma@lemmy.world
So a quick search suggests air traffic controllers make around $75,000 annually. $875 million would pay the salaries of 11,666 air traffic controllers for a decade at that wage.
Even considering inflation, training, medical, etc that $875,000,000 could pay for thousands of hired Amemricans for a decade. Republicans are literally the worst.
Replying to @Monstrosity@lemmy.today
$75,000 annually
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports about double that as the median pay ($148,080).
I still agree with the rest of your math and think the investment is worth it, but just clarifying the number.
Replying to @MimicJar@lemmy.world
the other issue is aparently it’s hard to get people to do that job.
Replying to @acosmichippo@lemmy.world
I bet they could get more to do it if they paid more. You could give out a lot of raises with $875 million.
Replying to @badgermurphy@lemmy.world
they could, but i think initially like requiring to apply to the training school, and then there is a waitlist, and you have to train in okhloma specifically is more than discouraging people.
Replying to @Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
A couple more schools across the breadth of the country a decade ago would have done more today than $100 billion of AI ATC would do today.
Which is a low bar admittedly, but the point has to be made.