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To address a series of recent near-miss incidents, the Biden administration announced plans on Monday to request funding for adding 2,000 air traffic controllers in the 2025 budget year.
This move comes in response to a notable shortage of controllers, which has led to delayed flights and mandatory overtime, including six-day workweeks for many air traffic control staff.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “We need more air traffic controllers and we’re hiring as many as we can.” The shortage has compelled the FAA to maintain reduced minimum flight requirements at congested airports in the New York City area, extending these measures through October 2024 to alleviate pressure without penalizing airlines for decreased flight frequencies. In addition, the administration’s budget proposal includes a plan to allocate $8 billion over five years, starting with $1 billion in 2025, for the renovation or modernization of over 20 outdated air traffic control facilities and 377 critical radar systems.
Despite recent efforts, including the hiring of 1,500 controllers in the 2023 budget year and projections to surpass the 2024 goal of 1,800 hires, the FAA still operates with about 10,700 certified controllers, reflecting a 10% decrease since 2012 and falling short of the target by approximately 3,000 controllers. FAA facilities, described by Whitaker as “really old,” are on average 10 years beyond their anticipated 50-year lifespan, underscoring the critical need for infrastructure investment.
Digging Deeper:
An independent report released in November shed light on the deteriorated state of FAA facilities, revealing issues like leaking roofs, malfunctioning climate control systems, and obsolete surveillance radar technology, emphasizing the need for “urgent action” to reinforce the FAA.
