FAA Exodus Sparks Concerns Over Fatigue

The number of certified air traffic controllers is the lowest in more than a decade, raising concerns from members of Congress and outside analysts about the possibility of fatigue.

The potential problem stems from a long-anticipated exodus of experienced controllers -- the result of a bulge of workers hired after President Ronald Reagan fired striking controllers in 1981. FAA officials, who say there is no staffing shortage, expect more than 13,000 controllers to leave the workforce by 2016.

"This is going to get worse before it gets better," said Marty Lauth, a former FAA air traffic control supervisor who is now an assistant professor of air traffic management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. "You are going to have less controllers to work airplanes, and less-experienced controllers are going to be put into the situation of handling a lot more airplanes than they have had to in the past."

There have been few outside studies of the issue, but government officials have been focusing more attention on staffing and fatigue. In December, the Government Accountability Office reported that at least 20 percent of controllers at 25 facilities, including towers at major airports, were working six-day weeks. The report said such heavy reliance on overtime "could cause fatigue." Last year, the National Transportation Safety Board added controller fatigue to its list of Most Wanted safety improvements.

The Transportation Department's inspector general is conducting several studies of controller staffing.

"Everyone recognizes that there is a problem," said Jerry F. Costello (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Transportation Committee's aviation subcommittee, which is expected to hold hearings on the matter.

The staffing debate is occurring in a charged atmosphere remaining from a contract fight between the National Air Traffic Controllers Association union and the FAA. The government imposed a work deal in 2006. The controllers' union regularly blasts FAA management in news releases and news conferences; the FAA does not hesitate to fire back.

The controllers' union president, Patrick Forrey, called the staffing situation a "crisis."

The FAA says there is no staffing problem and that officials are working hard to recruit controllers. The agency hired 1,800 controllers out of 25,000 applicants last fiscal year.

"Overall, the numbers are good," said Hank Krakowski, the agency's chief operating officer.

However, Krakowski conceded there were staffing issues at some facilities.

"We have some places that are under a little bit of strain," Krakowski acknowledged, pointing to facilities that control air traffic in the Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas areas, which are some of the nation's busiest.