Union: Too few air traffic controllers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.mercurynews.com/localnewsheadlines/ci_8074241?nclick_check=1

FAA SAYS STAFF LEVEL SUFFICIENT
By Connie Skipitares
Mercury News
Article Launched: 01/25/2008 03:05:08 AM PST

The labor union representing air traffic controllers, including those at Mineta San Jose International Airport, on Thursday said that staffing shortages at air towers across the country could lead to mistakes endangering public safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration immediately countered, saying air facilities are properly staffed and that the National Air Traffic Controllers Association is making the charge to pressure the agency to resume labor talks. Negotiations broke off in 2006 and the FAA later imposed its own work rules under which controllers now work.

The union made the charges about staffing shortages at a news conference in Sacramento.

"This is politically motivated," FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. "The union is attacking the FAA at every turn to pressure us to reopen negotiations."

As far as going back to labor talks, Gregor said, "We don't intend to. It would cost taxpayers $400 million a year."

Steve Hefley, president of the Northern California local of the NATCA, contends that staffing shortages have led to eight incidents over Northern California skies in recent months in which aircraft flew too close to one another. The incidents did not reach a level that caused alarm among passengers or the public, he said. Controllers, he added, perform too many double shifts because of shortages, which can compromise safety.

FULL story at link.

[thunder rising]

1. The Bush Nazis are trying to privatize the FAA and the skies. The airlines want the skies for

themselves. And Bush is determined to deliver. If the Nazis can overwork the controllers into mistakes and it cost lives you can bet it will not be the jet carrying Trump or any other CEO.

I have flown through Jacksonville airspace flying from Trenton NJ to West Palm and listened to that guy spew instructions for 30 minutes without taking a breath. When I was called for a freq change "'880, good job, good night."

[MercutioATC]

2. Hehe...the horrific picture I could paint...

...if, as an air traffic controller, I could speak completely freely.

Suffice it to say that we've been warning the FAA about this (and a lot of other things) for years and it's exceeded even our worst projections.