Says SoCal TRACON Has Seen More Near-Misses

Now more than ever, we need experienced controllers watching over America's skies... that's the message California senator Dianne Feinstein has for FAA Administrator Marion Blakey.

In a letter sent this week, Feinstein says she has "deep concerns" over aviation safety, in the wake of last month's tragic crash of a regional jet at a Kentucky airport, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

As Aero-News reported, investigators determined only one controller was on duty in the tower at Lexington's Blue Grass Airport on the morning of August 27, when the Comair CRJ tried to takeoff from the wrong runway at the airport.

The FAA since admitted it violated its own staffing rules at that airport, and has added a second controller to the overnight shift... but Feinstein says a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune shows controller shortages are a widespread problem in Southern California, as well.

The report says there were 12 "operational error" reports -- most of them involving improper aircraft separation -- in 2004 at the Southern California TRACON... and over twice as many such reports in 2005.

Already this year, close to 20 operational errors have been recorded at the SoCal facility... and understandably, Feinstein says that is "unacceptable."

An FAA spokesman denies a correlation between staffing levels and error reports.

"We believe that we're properly staffed today to safely and efficiently handle all the air traffic that we have," FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. "We have a comprehensive controller hiring plan in place that establishes targeted staffing levels for each of our facilities, based upon their specific operational needs."

FMI: http://feinstein.senate.gov/, www.faa.gov