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Omaha Steve

(99,070 posts)
Tue Oct 13, 2015, 02:39 PM Oct 2015

Union: Chronic shortage of air traffic controllers a crisis

Source: AP

By JOAN LOWY

WASHINGTON (AP) — A chronic shortage of controllers has reached a crisis that will lead to widespread flight delays if left unchecked, officials for the union that represents air traffic controllers said Tuesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration has failed to meet its hiring goals for controllers for five consecutive years, causing a sharp decline in the number of controllers at a time when air traffic is increasing, National Air Traffic Controllers Association officials said at a news conference.

The number of "certified professional controllers" — those who are no longer in training and can direct air traffic without assistance from a more experienced controller — has declined 10 percent from a peak of 11,573 in September 2012 to 10,859 as of Aug. 22 of this year, the union said.

Trish Gilbert, a union vice president, likened the situation to April 2013 when automatic, government-wide spending cuts imposed by Congress forced the furlough of 10 percent of the controller workforce. During the seven days the furlough was in place, 12,760 flights were delayed — about three times the normal number. The disruptions were greatest at some of the nation's busiest airports. Amid complaints from disgruntled travelers, Congress passed an exception to the budget cuts for controllers.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c614e54a3ea74fcd95f5dcfd78ae1138/union-chronic-shortage-air-traffic-controllers-crisis

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iscooterliberally

(2,849 posts)
1. You would think that with all the flights that members of congress take, this would not be an issue.
Tue Oct 13, 2015, 03:08 PM
Oct 2015

I'm so glad that I no longer have to fly, but I feel bad and afraid for anyone else who still does. This is insane.

Marty McGraw

(1,024 posts)
3. and anyone
Tue Oct 13, 2015, 03:15 PM
Oct 2015

under the age of 30 with no prior experience will not be Trained or Hired per FAA entry regulations

madville

(7,397 posts)
9. I'm on USAJOBS all the time
Tue Oct 13, 2015, 04:17 PM
Oct 2015

I would say 90% of FAA jobs are only open to current employees. I'm a permanent competitive service federal employee and a veteran I can't apply to almost any of the openings, any openings, not just controllers. They all say "Open to current FAA employees only".

The VA can be like that also, must be a current VA employee.

cpompilo

(323 posts)
4. 34 years ago Ray-gun fired all ATCs and hired all new ones. Who could have guessed they would
Tue Oct 13, 2015, 03:21 PM
Oct 2015

all be retiring around the same time in their lives??? Thanks, Ray-gun. And thanks, republicon congress for failing yet again by cutting funding.

 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
7. I discovered last week the ATC union endorsed REAGAN over Carter.
Tue Oct 13, 2015, 04:02 PM
Oct 2015

Not sure how that figures exactly here, but learning that has made me less sympathetic to their union's complaints than if they had either endorsed Carter or stayed out of it.

bluevoter4life

(784 posts)
11. PATCO endorsed Reagan
Tue Oct 13, 2015, 08:17 PM
Oct 2015

PATCO was decertified as a labor union after the strike. NATCA was formed in 1987 and represents us now as the exclusive union for FAA controllers. NATCA fought tooth and nail to avoid having DCA renamed after him.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
13. They should have named it after an airline
Wed Oct 14, 2015, 09:06 AM
Oct 2015

Since they are the only ones who can fly in and out of there.

Nothing says freedom like restricting travel at the nation's airport.

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