Wed, Jul 07, 2010
Six Month Total In The Washington, D.C. Area Has Already
Surpassed 2009
Reports of near collisions of aircraft in congested airspace are
increasing, according to statistics from the NTSB, and the bump
seems to correspond with an increase in the number of
less-experienced air traffic controllers training to replace
retirees.
Then-President Ronald Reagan fired nearly all of the nation's
air traffic controllers in 1981 when PATCO, the controllers union
at the time, went on strike. The strike was illegal under federal
law, which was the reason given by Reagan for his actions. But now,
nearly 30 years later, many of the controllers hired at that time
are approaching retirement, and the FAA is accelerating training
programs in an effort to maintain a full staff. Controllers are
required to retire at age 56, or after 25 years of service, which
ever comes sooner.
In 2009, there were 18 incidents where airplanes were allowed to
get closer than separation minimums in the Washington, D.C. area,
and the Washington Post reports that the number of near-collisions
in 2010 has already surpassed that number. While the number of
incidents nationally in 2009 showed a substantial drop over 2008,
it was significantly higher than in pre-recession 2007, when there
were nearly 10 million more flights in the NAS.
There have already been nearly a dozen near-collisions reported
nationally since the NTSB instituted mandatory reporting of such
incidents in March.
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt says the new contract with NATCA
will make it more attractive for more experienced controllers
currently at lower-stress airports to move up to higher-traffic
areas. And, he says, "I am very comfortable that we run an
incredibly safe system."
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