America's air traffic controller shortage

EmersonHart13

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Jul 18, 2007
54,212
22,334
America's air traffic controller shortage - Oct. 14, 2015

America's airports desperately need air traffic controllers.

Air traffic control towers are understaffed and at their lowest point in 27 years, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

Air traffic controllers are forced to work six-day weeks in extra busy airports in New York, Dallas, Atlanta and Chicago, the union said. The number of air traffic controllers has dropped 10% since 2011, and the FAA is falling short of its hiring goals.

The union said the FAA was supposed to hire 1,772 air traffic controllers in the most recent fiscal year, but hired only 1,178.

More air traffic controllers are needed just to fill gaps from impending attrition. The union said there are 10,859 controllers nationwide, and 30% of them are eligible to retire at any time. Only 1,844 people are training to replace them, and training takes two to four years.

"We have far too few controllers in our towers and radar rooms," said union president Paul Rinaldi, saying if the jobs pipeline isn't filled, airports will experience delays.

The FAA said it "shares NATCA's frustration" and fingered Congress for the problem.

"The past government shutdown and budget cuts closed the FAA's controller training academy for nine months, delaying initial training for several classes of new air traffic controllers," the agency said in a statement.

The FAA said it's been "working hard to hire at an increased rate to meet its air traffic controller staffing targets."

Air traffic controllers make a median pay of $122,340 per year, or $58.82 per hour, according to 2014 figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job only requires an associate's degree with on-the-job training.

But the job isn't easy. "Their work can be stressful because total concentration is required at all times," reads the job description from BLS. "Night, weekend and rotating shifts are common."

In 2011, when there about 4,500 more air traffic controllers then there are today, they were several instances of overworked staffers falling asleep during overnight shifts.
 

Ti28

Cupcake
TCG Premium
Jan 23, 2013
10,388
2,158
Bartlett
Doesnt that apply to all union jobs?

I would tend to say yes?

Hell my woman is looking to jump to another airline, because she is two years from topping out. Been there 10 years. If she switches, her pay drops, she has to retrain. And will be making what she makes now in 3 years and is low on the list. But her top out is alot more.
 

radioguy6

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
May 23, 2008
11,911
24,193
Schaumburg
Real Name
Greg
Here's a good read. The reason is not a shortage of eager and competent applicants...

Trouble in the Skies | Fox Business

The FAA says it created the BQ to promote diversity among its work force. All air traffic control applicants are required to take it. Those who pass are deemed eligible and those who fail are ruled ineligible.

In 2014, 28,000 people took the BQ and 1591 were offered jobs.


So basically, if you are white, graduated with a perfect GPA in a FAA credited university, passed the exam and are fully qualified for the job, BUT fail a stupid government questionnaire asking if you were in high school sports, well then fuck you.
 

Vogz

Moist Ass Bitch
Jul 4, 2006
4,481
233
Batavia, IL
My area at Chicago Center is losing 25% of it's staffing from 2015 to 2016. Almost half of the people left are already eligible to retire. We will be understaffed and overworked day to day and won't be able to get vacation or spot leave without calling in sick. The FAA sucks at planning for mass retirements. They have been warned for the past decade that this was going to happen. Did they start hiring more controllers 10 years ago? Nope.
 

OffshoreDrilling

This is my safe space
TCG Sponsor
TCG Premium
HVAC Guy
Aug 28, 2007
39,149
50,295
Homer Glen
Here's a good read. The reason is not a shortage of eager and competent applicants...

Trouble in the Skies | Fox Business






So basically, if you are white, graduated with a perfect GPA in a FAA credited university, passed the exam and are fully qualified for the job, BUT fail a stupid government questionnaire asking if you were in high school sports, well then fuck you.

Yep. had this happen to a friend. two kids, their father is a controller. both went to school to be the same thing, one has a job in Indianapolis now and the other one can never be a controller now. after spending the money on the education to do it. how messed up is that
 

sickmint79

I Drink Your Milkshake
Mar 2, 2008
26,884
16,592
grayslake
i went on a few dates with a super hot chick who was studying to be one. apparently this is all their own fault with the union not accepting new people for a long time to hold up their wages. it's high stress and takes a lot of training so no surprise this resulted in a shortage. surprised there still is one though, i went out with her quite a few years ago.
 
Old Thread: Hello . There have been no replies in this thread for 90 days.
Content in this thread may no longer be relevant. Consider starting a new thread to get fresh replies.

Thread Info