In wake of Hurricane Katrina, New National Campaign Highlights
"Need for Urgent Changes at Agency"
(Editor's Note: Before we even get to the
text of this story, it's worth pointing out that air traffic
controllers and the FAA are locked in heated negotiations over a
new contract. As ANN has reported in the recent past, charges and
countercharges have been flying while pilots watch closely,
wondering how much to believe from both sides. We received this
information from NATCA on Wednesday -- and have yet to hear
anything to counter it from the FAA.)
Announcing what it calls a major new
national public education campaign, the National Air Traffic
Controllers' Association Wednesday called on the FAA to address
"serious flaws that are putting the safety of the flying public at
risk."
Launching the "Fly Us Safe Campaign" -– a television,
internet and press effort –- NATCA President John Carr
outlined "how serious mismanagement is putting the safety,
integrity and efficiency of America’s air traffic control
system in danger."
"In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Americans everywhere have
been reminded of the indispensable role federal agencies play in
protecting the public and the high price of poor planning and
mismanagement," said Carr. "Now, as the nation assesses these
agencies, America’s air traffic controllers are blowing the
whistle on serious and dangerous mismanagement by the FAA that is
threatening passenger safety."
Unveiling a new television commercial, internet ads and press
outreach, the national public education campaign will open by
focusing on what NATCA sees as two serious crises facing the
aviation system: an acute staffing shortage caused by FAA cutbacks
and the agency’s failure to adequately modernize and improve
the infrastructure of the country’s air traffic control
facilities.
The staffing crisis: "Air traffic is
increasing to record levels, but already there are 1,000 fewer
controllers than there were just two years ago. The FAA has failed
to address the problem: in fiscal year 2004 only 13 air traffic
controllers were hired. This crisis has been looming for years, but
even though the FAA was repeatedly warned about it, the agency
first ignored, and then completely mismanaged the looming
crisis."
Modernization failures: "The FAA’s current record of
modernization is the story of slowing, cutting or derailing
critical programs, seriously impacting passenger safety and wasting
taxpayer dollars. The agency’s record of shame includes the
cutting of a vital system allowing control over aircraft on airport
tarmacs, the cancellation of the deployment of important global
positioning systems and the failure to deploy next generation
air/ground communications."
The "Fly Us Safe" campaign Wednesday launched with a new ad,
"Dangerous Act," that will run on nationwide television. Web ads
will run on major news, weather and aviation websites. A toll free
action line at 1-877-FLY-US-SAFE will connect members of the public
to their elected representatives to ask them to address serious
safety concerns.
"If the FAA won’t step up to the plate to ensure safety,
then America’s air traffic controllers certainly will," said
Carr, "We know the public puts an equally high priority on safety
in the skies, and we’re expecting considerable support in
this effort."