This is fron a post on
http://atcea.com in search of a wider audience.
When a trainee is about to wash out, you hope they'll see the wisdom of the process and humbly submit to the counsel of their elders.
So, when has that ever happened?
The usual situation is much messier, with the trainee and his allies (union, controller buddies, instructors) cranking up the heat on the "evil" managers who have to make the ultimate difficult decisions. Red herrings are sent forth against the tide, smoke rises to obscure the view and the culprit - usually nothing more than the simple lack of ATC talent - is ignored by one and all.
Controlling airplanes is an art. Like composing a grand symphony, painting an exquisite landscape or writing beautiful poetry, controlling a sky full of soaring aircraft takes more than blind luck, diligent study or technical skill.
You gotta have talent.
Not everyone does.
Don't try to tell me that just anyone can be a controller - some cannot. Don't tell me that proper teaching techniques can turn every college aerospace grad into an air traffic controller - they cannot. Somewhere deep within the mind of every true controller (please note that not everyone working airplanes fits that description) lies a unique blend of spatial reasoning, the mental agility to project into the future, nimble decision-making and command presence on the frequency. Those are skills you cannot teach; only develop.
So, as our latest trainee steps out onto the plank, I wish 'em well. Now let's get back to work.