The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is dealing with its overworked and understaffed air traffic controllers. As reported by CNN, a special panel is expected to be created to review safety risks and the impact of job-related fatigue on controllers. 

Series of Close Calls

Traffic Controller shortage has been identified as one of the near-miss incidents factors involving commercial aircraft at large airports this year, which prompts the Federal Aviation Administration to take immediate action. 

Near-collision was confirmed by the National Transportation Safety Board, which involved air traffic controllers working overtime on a six-day workweek. Similar incidents were reported in various locations throughout the year, including Boston, Honolulu, New York, California, Florida, and Reagan National Airport outside Washington, DC. 

Shortage of Traffic Controllers

The Federal Aviation Administration has been criticized for not addressing the issue of over 3,000 air traffic controller shortages on several occasions, where only six new controllers were hired by the FAA in the previous year, according to a report released last month by the head of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association labor union. As stated by CNN, the main reason for controller fatigue is the shortage of certified professionals and emphasized the need for a sustained commitment to hiring and training air traffic controllers to address prolonged fatigue.

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Out of 3,200 air traffic controllers, two out of ten had made significant on-the-job errors in the previous year, with most attributing these errors to fatigue in a 2015 NASA study. Approximately one-third of the controllers surveyed described fatigue as a high or extreme safety risk.

FAA's Staffing Problems

The Federal Aviation Administration has faced staffing problems since the 1980s when President Ronald Reagan dismissed many traffic controllers following a strike. Due to retirements and limited recruitment, the FAA has struggled to sufficiently replace these workers, as stated in a November report commissioned by the agency.

The 2018-2019 government shutdown and the COVID-19 pandemic further worsened the situation. Reports indicate that the FAA has 1,000 fewer traffic controllers than in 2012, with a shortage of about 3,000 positions. The November report predicts a net gain of fewer than 200 controllers being hired over the next decade, suggesting a slight improvement in staffing. Around 40% of the FAA's facilities meet the agency's 85% controller staffing goal, as per agency data seen by the Journal. However, on a national level, the FAA only has 81% of the fully certified controllers it requires, according to the Journal.

The FAA's flawed staffing model and inconsistent hiring have led to new hires not keeping up with attrition over the past decade, stated Rich Santa, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association union earlier this year. The agency had to reduce air traffic in the past year to prevent incidents despite managing safety risk claims, which, according to an agency spokesperson speaking to The Wall Street Journal, is done to ensure safety when there is a shortage of controllers.

Frank McIntosh, the FAA's deputy chief operating officer of operations, reassured the Journal that efficiency is never compromised for safety, citing the agency's ability to address individual staffing issues.

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