By Cavad @Adobe Stock
“If Possible, Avoid Newark”
One way to start to attack the problem at air traffic control is to hand control over to a private nonprofit.
Now Schumer Pays Attention
Progressives love nonprofits. It’s their lifeblood. Guess who has finally awakened to air traffic control problems. Better-late-than-never Sen. Charles Schumer. Chuck is well known for having opposed reforms to air traffic control, reports the WSJ.
All that changed in a flash, however …
… the New York Democrat is now demanding an investigation into the Newark airport meltdown and the government’s long-running, well-documented failures.
This week, disruptions at Newark airport continued with delays and cancellations. Last Monday, the mayhem began when the Philadelphia air traffic control facility that oversees flights at the airport had equipment malfunctions. The FAA stepped in to solve the technical snafu, but disruptions continued because of another problem: a shortage of controllers.
Shouldn’t that be an easy problem to fix? From Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines:
In the past few days, on more than one occasion, technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed.”
Mr. Kirby also mentioned “a walkout by more than 20% of controllers at the site.”
Flight delays at Newark, one of NYC’s main hubs, averaged four hours on Sunday and continued into Monday.
The New Normal for Summer?
Newark’s luck held – there were no accidents. According to FAA data, each week, there are many near misses at airports nationwide. The FAA lists “especially concerning” systems, but planned completion dates for those are at least 6-10 years away.
Such delays could be the new normal this summer. Credit Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy for at least acknowledging government is to blame. Duffy is unlike his Biden predecessor Pete Buttigieg, who blamed airlines while doing little to fix long-standing problems.
Outdated Technology
In 2003, Congress directed the FAA to modernize its systems, but overhauling will not be completed till 2030. Also confounding is that the FAA still uses floppy disks. Does Gen-Z, wonders the WSJ, even know what a floppy disk is? Imagine trying to find a technician to even repair the FAA’s aging systems, some of which are more than 60 years old?
Last Monday, according to Bloomberg News, controllers guiding planes at Newark lost radar and radio communications for more than a minute. Luck held, and no accidents.
Technological obsolescence is common across the federal bureaucracy. What are the financial motives for becoming more efficient?
FAA labor agreements also require the government to “work collaboratively” with the air traffic controller union on modernization, which can delay upgrades and divert staff from their day jobs.
According to the FAA, 3,000 controllers are needed to be fully staffed. In the NYC region, shortages are especially acute. To ease congestion, the FAA tried last summer to shift control of Newark to its Philadelphia facility. What happened? The union opposed the move, and employee disgruntlement may have contributed to the walkouts.
The air traffic control center in Philadelphia oversees the airspace in Newark. About 20% of staff walked off the job last week due to frustration. Air traffic control workers were traumatized after having lost radar and communications with aircraft in the area.
No dice, responded the Union on changing the federal law requiring controllers to retire by age 56. Many can retire earlier if they’ve worked 20 years. The FAA needs to increase pay to reduce attrition. Since Controllers, with a few years of being certified, can earn as much as $160,000/annually, money doesn’t seem to be the problem. It’s the dysfunctional hiring and training system that seems to be the problem.
What entails becoming an air controller in America?
- Three-five months of paid training at an FAA academy in Oklahoma City,
- Followed by a three-year apprenticeship at a control facility.
Looking to boost minority enrollment at the FAA academy, the Obama administration eased standards, resulting in lower standards and higher attrition.
A Decades-Old Problem
Half of the enrolled students don’t finish the training. The airline industry is looking for better screening and reduced certification time. Effective training, including high-fidelity simulators, doesn’t seem like a stretch too far. Another idea: How about letting more job applicants, such as those who have completed a certified college program, bypass the training academy?
The Joe Biden administration knew there was an infrastructure problem, and no one did anything. The Trump administration is promising to rebuild the communication system, specifically at Newark.
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