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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Air traffic controller advert written in Braille |
| 2008-07-10 |
| Although '20/20 vision' is a requirement of the position at St Mary's airport on the Isles of Scilly, the application form is offered in both Braille and audio format. But the operators of the airport say they are merely adhering to equal opportunity guidelines to avoid accusations of discrimination. The airport, operated by the Council of the Isles of Scilly, is seeking a fourth air traffic controller and offering a salary of up to £36,000. The advertisement states that applicants must have excellent vision in order to guide aircraft safely into the hilltop airport, which is often fogbound. Yet at the bottom is the note: "If you require this document in an alternative language, in larger text, Braille, easy read or in an audio format, please contact the Community Relations Officer." A spokeswoman for the Council of the Isles of Scilly said the wording was included on all job adverts "to ensure that potential job applicants know that they can access information in a format to suit them." All air traffic controllers have to meet international standards and pass a medical, including a stringent eye test. However, the move was applauded by Bill Alker, from the Royal National Institute for the Blind. "We welcome the Isles of Scilly's Council for their good practice and would hope more employers do the same," he said. Keri Jones, the controller of Radio Scilly, said the note had attracted widespread ridicule. "We have had loads of calls about it and people generally find it quite funny," she said. "The islands are always at the cutting edge of innovation, so it would certainly be something for Scilly to have the world's first blind air traffic controller." |
| Posted by:mrp |
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| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2008-07-10 21:42 |
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| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-07-10 17:20 |
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| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-10 16:19 |
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| Posted by: CrazyFool 2008-07-10 15:37 |
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| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-07-10 14:55 |
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| Posted by: Glusock tse Tung9010 2008-07-10 14:30 |
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| Posted by: Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields 2008-07-10 13:56 |