The ramifications of the fatal airborne collision near Reagan National Airport has prompted a critical examination of air traffic controllers. According to the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Nick Daniels, an alarming deficit of air traffic controllers plagues the system. He asserts that the ATC system is distressingly short-staffed, operating over 3,500 controllers fewer than the requisite 14,335.
Daniels emphasizes the gravity of the situation by asserting that the ATC system cannot function optimally without adequate manpower. The intricate system demands years of training and rigorous weeding out processes, as not every trainee has the aptitude or competence to direct air traffic.
The process to become a fully certified controller, Daniels explained, often takes up to three years and consists of several stages, each with their own challenges and hurdles. The multitude of stages where potential controllers might fail, ranging from academy teachings to local simulation training to autonomous conversation with aircrafts, points to the difficulty of quickly remedying the staff shortage.
Former FAA Inspector General Mary Schiavo notes that almost a third of aspiring controllers either do not reach certification or outright leave the profession. This attrition, coupled with a capped retirement age of 56, the fluctuating work schedules, and the immense responsibility of safeguarding aircrafts, leaves the FAA in a perpetual scramble to replace retiring employees.
Although the exact role ATC errors may have played in the recent crash remain unclear, the staffing issue is decidely apparent. Major airports around the country, including urban hubs like Philadelphia and Orlando, have failing staffing targets with less than 60% of their positions filled by certified controllers. Even at Reagan National Airport, the staffing level barely surpasses 63%.
Significantly, controllers and pilots have persistently raised alarms about low staffing levels and the associated risks for years. Utilizing NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System, they have anonymously lodged safety concerns, with at least 10 reports in the last year mentioning staffing issues, work schedules, fatigue, or similar matters.
The controllers overseeing the traffic on the date of the tragic crash have been engaged in lengthy dialogues with NTSB investigators. The NATCA is expected to assist with its knowledge and expertise regarding air traffic control as part of the investigation. This behind-the-scenes collaboration is indicative of the complexity entailed in piecing together the cause of the crash.
The investigative interviews are reported to be emotionally charged and drawn-out. Board Member Todd Inman of NTSB admits that the sensitivity of the subject and the emotional toll taken on the interviewees often necessitate frequent breaks to allow everyone to regather their composure.
Interestingly, NATCA and the FAA formalized an agreement late last year to modify and prolong their existing contract till August 2029. The pact, praised at signing by Daniels and the representing FAA Administrator, was aimed at stabilizing and enhancing staffing levels at ATC centers. However, one wonders how effective such an agreement can be in the light of the staffing crisis.
More recently, President Donald Trump put into effect an executive order that negates any collective negotiation agreements settled with federal workers within the first month of his inauguration. Labeling these as ‘lame-duck collective bargaining agreements’, Trump’s order underscores the potential pitfalls of last-minute decisions made by previous administrations.