Air traffic controller shortage has left workers ‘fatigued and ...

2 days ago · The air traffic control tower at Reagan National Airport was understaffed when an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk Army helicopter collided midair over the Potomac …

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Is there a shortage of air traffic controllers?

Aviation safety experts have repeatedly raised concerns about a persistent shortage of U.S. air traffic controllers, which they say has played a role in recent near misses. No cause has been determined in Wednesday's tragic crash, but it is nonetheless increasing scrutiny on the FAA over staffing shortages. ...

How can the FAA solve the air traffic controller shortage?

With increased scrutiny from senators and the safety of the general public on the line, the FAA has taken steps to resolve the shortage. The Chief Operating Officer of the FAA’s Air Traffic Control Organization has explained that it is working to train and certify controllers as quickly as possible, and progress has already been made: ...

Is the air traffic controller staffing shortage a real safety crisis?

“The air traffic controller staffing shortage is a real safety crisis,” Senator Tammy Duckworth, Democrat of Illinois, said in a statement following publication of the Times investigation on air traffic controllers. ...

Are air traffic controllers fatigued?

The incidents have shed light on the dangers of fatigue among air traffic controllers. In December 2023, the FAA named a panel of experts to address air traffic controller fatigue. The three-person panel, which started in January 2024, was created to review the latest sleep and fatigue science that can be applied to scheduling. ...

Are air traffic controllers understaffed?

The Times reported that virtually all of the nation’s air traffic control sites were understaffed, forcing many controllers to work 10-hour days, six days a week. Mr. Whitaker said on Tuesday that the F.A.A. was trying to address the staffing shortage. “We know we need more air traffic controllers,” he said. ...

Are 77% of air traffic control facilities short-staffed?

In June, the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General found that 77% of critical air traffic control facilities were short-staffed. The FAA is working to "hire, train and certify as many controllers as possible," said Tim Arel, the Chief Operating Officer of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization. ...