Air traffic controllers' union: Shortages hurting safety

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON -- A shortage of experienced air traffic controllers has resulted in a "staffing emergency" that is jeopardizing safety in the sky and on runways in Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Southern California, according to the union representing the nation's 14,800 controllers.

"The whole system is going to hell in a handbag, and it doesn't seem that anybody cares," Patrick Forrey, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said in a conference call to reporters Thursday.

"These people are being overworked ... and people are going to make mistakes," he said. "The time is ripe for a very serious catastrophic event on one of these runways."

NATCA stepped up its protracted dispute with the Federal Aviation Administration over staffing levels Thursday, for the first time declaring a "staffing emergency," language that has no real impact but is intended to draw public attention.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/01/10/air.traffic.controllers/

[annabanana]

1. They have never fully recovered from the Reagan hatchet job. . . .n/nt

[MercutioATC]

2. Actually, we sort of did.

The problem is that they hired a LOT of controllers from 1981-1985. Like federal firefighters and federal law enforcement, air traffic controllers are eligible to retire after 25 years of employment.

1981 + 25 = 2006

It's simple math...we have about 11000 controllers now (plus a few thousand trainees who may or may not certify). We're losing 600-800 per year to retirement.


Exacerbating the rate of retirements is the fact that we've been working without a contract for nearly 500 days. The FAA's imposed work rules have resulted in horrendous working conditions and pay cuts. Controllers who, in the past, have stayed for a few years past their retirement eligibility date aren't doing so any more.

It's going to get a lot worse before it gets better...

[slipslidingaway]

3. "....it doesn't seem that anybody cares..." That about sums it

up on so many levels.

[lovuian]

4. these people are treated horribly

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-m9lg6zlUsc

they were even poisoned