US airlines and labor groups are urging lawmakers to accelerate the restructuring of the country's Air Traffic Control (ATC) organizations, calling for lawmakers to influence the rapid change that is wiping out US government agencies.
Leaders made their claims at a March 4th Airlines Subcommittee hearing in Capitol Hill. One lawmaker has expressed support for lifting the requirement that controllers retire at age 56.
“What we need to achieve is to hire more controllers, expand the training site for Oklahoma City Air Traffic Controllers, and pay to hire more controllers to ensure the FAA is “sourcing modern technology.”
The hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transport and Infrastructure is occurring amid the uncertain times of Washington.
U.S. Department of Transport Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced that he has begun an effort to accelerate the employment of controllers. But the news came shortly after the US government fired about 130 employees supporting the ATC. The reductions that did not affect the actual controller were part of a broader effort by the efficiency of the newly formed government to improve the efficiency of the US government.
The staff cuts have been criticised by democratic lawmakers and professional aviation safety experts from unions representing 130 affected employees.
On March 4, the union president, Dave Spero, told lawmakers that the Trump administration's actions had “a morale-low effect on the workforce.”
The US ATC system operated by the Federal Aviation Administration has been a systematic shortage of workers in recent years.
“We are 3,600 certified professional controllers today,” Nick Daniels, president of the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATCA), tells lawmakers. However, the deficit will not be mitigated anytime soon, as new controllers require 2-3 years of training, he adds.
Unions and industry groups view the FAA funding structure as a major part of the ATC issue.
The government primarily funds the ATC through time-specific spending laws passed by the US Congress, leaving the FAA with little lack of long-term funding certainty and lack of funding in the case of government shutdowns.
In a letter to lawmakers in February, two dozen industry groups appealed for changes to ensure ATC has stable, long-term funding.
“We have a historic opportunity… we have to take urgency to it,” the A4A Cario said on March 4th. He calls for “long-term revisions to the budgeting process that will allow the FAA to plan long-term capital projects.”
Also during the hearing, Air Subcommittee Chair Troy Nairs opposed US law requiring controllers to retire at age 56.
However, changes to that requirement face opposition.
“We believe … 56 years old is the standard for where we should be. Natca President Daniel tells NEHLS.
