Wed, Sep 13, 2006
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."
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