FAA: Air Traffic Controller Crisis

[Fox Xray]

Very good story from ABC News World News Tonight on 1/10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhsNwK9ig08

1/10/08 - Faced with a record number of air traffic controller retirements, air safety is being jeopardized.

[P&H]

Before you know it, ATP will be offering a "90 day fast-track Air Traffic Controller Program" and then the FAA won't have to raise the ATC wage to attract more candidates.

[PCL_128]

Maybe if Congress would force the FAA to give you guys the contract that you deserve, then they would get some more qualified applicants to handle this problem. Of course, as is usually the case with the FAA and Congress, it will take spilled blood to wake up to reality and fix the problem.

[moxiepilot]

actually I don't think the story was informativfe enough. I know the spot was about 5 minutes and Charlie Gibson needs to say G'Night, but you think in the age of sensationalism, they might have stressed the urgency a bit more.

There was no information as to the reason why, addressing that the shortage is partly caused by the limiting hiring age. The applicant pool would grow if 30/31 was not the cutoff without previous hiring.

The experience level is being cut because of poor planning, which they never addressed and never mentioned anything about contract negotiations.

While it's good to get publicity, they could have done a much better job.

I did get a kick out of the FAA stating that he has no problem getting on a plane with his family. Neither do I. That's not the problem.