Dealing with Air Traffic Control Staffing Shortages and How It Affects Travelers
Dealing with Air Traffic Control Staffing Shortages and How It Affects Travelers
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently 3,000 air traffic controllers short of its staffing levels, according to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He made this announcement on Friday during an interview with CNN News Central, while the agency opened hiring for 1,500 entry-level air traffic controlees this year. The FAA’s annual report also showed that they hired 1,026 controllers last year but experienced more leaving than expected due to delays in certification caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
This is a huge issue for travelers as it can lead to more flight delays and cancellations – especially in high trafficked areas like New York City where only 54 percent of their key radar facility staff is currently filled. While Buttigieg believes that controller availability isn’t the cause of most cancellations and delays, Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen wrote in a letter to Congress that about 5 percent of delay minutes can be attributed to FAA staff shortages.
It’s clear that there is a problem with air traffic control staffing levels and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. This could lead to even more delays and cancellations if they don’t find a way to fill these positions quickly. For travelers, this means longer wait times at airports and more frustration overall when it comes to air travel.
The good news, however, is that the FAA is actively working on hiring 1,500 entry-level controllers in the next two years and this could help to alleviate some of the staffing issue. This means more jobs are available for those looking to work in air traffic control, which is great news for anyone interested in this career field.
The FAA will also be training new air traffic controllers over the summer as they gear up for an influx of travelers this season. Hopefully, these steps will be enough to fill their staffing gap and prevent too many delays or cancellations due to staffing shortages. The FAA has worked hard on addressing this issue and it’s important that we all continue to support them in any way possible so that everyone can have a safe and comfortable flying experience!
In conclusion, the FAA is currently 3,000 air traffic controllers short of their necessary staffing levels. This can lead to more delays and cancellations for travelers, especially in high trafficked areas like New York City. The FAA is currently hiring 1,500 entry-level controllers to fill the gap and they will also be training new controllers over the summer. It’s important that we all continue to support them so that everyone has a safe and comfortable flying experience!
