Posted on 06/27/2023 5:49:11 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
As millions of Americans are expected to pack commercial flights over the July 4th holiday, the union representing the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic controllers says a recent government watchdog report is proof the agency and Congress must fix a “flawed staffing model.”
“The status quo is no longer sustainable,” said Rich Santa, head of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. The union says that Congress must “require FAA to immediately implement” new staffing standards and “conduct maximum hiring.”
“There are currently 1,200 fewer fully certified controllers today compared to ten years ago,” said Santa. “FAA’s flawed staffing model and inconsistent hiring has resulted in new hires not keeping pace with attrition over the past decade.”
Previous CNN reporting found that staffing issues at one key air traffic control facility in Florida triggered thousands of delayed flights over a seven-week period last summer and revealed a complaint that workers were pressured to work overtime to provide coverage.
Last week, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General released an audit which found that that “the lack of fully certified controllers, operational supervisors, and traffic management coordinators pose a potential risk to air traffic operations.” The audit also found that 77% of critical facilities are staffed below the FAA’s own 85% staffing threshold and “at several facilities, controllers were working mandatory overtime and 6-day work weeks to cover staff shortages.”
The developments are set against the backdrop of Congress determining the new FAA budget, a process known as reauthorization. The union of controllers says the FAA should make changes “without the need for congressional intervention and Congress should not require further study of the issue.”
(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...
How many competent? And how many hired for affirmative action—race, sex, ethnicity, perversion.
Haven’t they heard? Magical “AI” is going to solve all the manpower problems.
The problem started back in 2014 when the FAA changed hiring requirements for ATC. Thanks, Obama.
There used to be CTI (College Initiative Training) degree programs that churned out thousands of trained, qualified applicants. That was dumped in a quest for a more “diverse” workforce. I wasn’t aware that colleges and the military didn’t allow minorities. /s
EC
I know one current ATC with about 15+ years on the job.
He went into the Air Force straight out of high school. Was trained as an ATC in the states and then spent a year in Iraq during the war at the base outside of Baghdad. He came home and spent another six months at a stateside base and was out. He immediately applied and was accepted to the FAA. Trained for a few months more and got a pick of three airports. He chose Miami International. Has been there ever since.
FYI, he started 15 years back at $75K with NO School/college debt. He is probably close to being able to retire if he chooses.
His biggest complaint the last time I spoke to him was that he did not have a set schedule. One week he was three nights and then a couple days. It really screwed with his sleep schedule.
Gee, who knew Obama’s insane staffing mandates were going to lead to a crisis? Oh, that’s right, everybody.
And the sale of paper maps and map sellers has also been way down.
All I know is that I hate to fly now, and this does nothing to change my mind about air travel!
Plus, a scandal of a FAA recruiter supplying the correct answers to minorities.
That (screwing with circadian rhythms) seems pretty dumb. Almost no one is going to function near their best, or maintain a healthy state of mind, with no set schedule. Been there, done that,
THERE’S THE RUB !!!!!!
UNACCEPTABLE
I can tell you first hand that the diversity hires are a problem. They are pushed through the system and eventually pushed off of the floor but rarely fired. The few that stay are a drag on the rest. Welcome to Idiocracy.
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