FEINGOLD,
KOHL RAISE CONCERNS OVER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER SHORTAGE AT GENERAL
MITCHELL
Senators Say FAA Must Take Action to Relieve Stress on Air Traffic
Controllers in Order to Ensure the Safety of the Travelling Public
February 12, 2008
Washington D.C. – U.S.
Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl are calling on the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) to address an air traffic controller shortage at
General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. Feingold and Kohl’s
concerns were raised after hearing that the Milwaukee airport is currently
suffering a 30 percent shortage in air traffic control specialists.
The shortage is putting stress on air traffic controllers due to longer
work days and only one day off per week. In a letter to the FAA Administrator,
Feingold and Kohl wrote that FAA policies should reflect their belief
that the safety of the traveling public must remain paramount.
A copy of the letter is available
at http://feingold.senate.gov/pdf/ltr_faa_21108.pdf.
The text of the letter reads:
February 11, 2008
Robert A. Sturgell
Acting Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591
Dear Administrator Sturgell:
We are writing to express
our concern about the increased challenges facing air traffic controllers
at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We
have heard from a growing number of constituents about mounting shortages
of controllers as well as a lack of training for new controllers. And
while the current lack of trained controllers is a cause for concern,
we believe an impending expansion of the Milwaukee air space could greatly
exacerbate the situation and strain the system’s ability to ensure
public safety.
Full staffing for the Milwaukee
Approach Area would require 51 air traffic control specialists. But
the current staffing level is only 40 air traffic controllers, with
two specialists scheduled to retire this month. This staffing shortage
-- of almost 30% -- already requires longer work days and only one day
off per week at the facility.
The FAA is facing shortages
and a high retirement rate nationwide, which leads us to wonder whether
the concerns expressed to us by Wisconsinites are part of a broader,
systemic problem. Our constituents have also warned that overly burdensome
work schedules such as those in Milwaukee, combined with working under
an FAA-imposed contract, have led to low morale among employees and
encouraged retirements. With an agency facing major staff shortages,
this is a move in the wrong direction and has the potential to become
a negative feedback loop as retirements and shortages mount.
Of more immediate concern
for Milwaukee air traffic controllers is the doubling of the airspace
under their control scheduled for February 14, 2008, when the Ripon
Approach Control Area is added. We understand that this additional airspace
will increase the necessary staffing level to 56 air traffic control
specialists. In addition, expanding the air space requires additional
training and certification, as the job requirements and procedures for
the new airspace are somewhat different than those for the current airspace.
Several constituents have expressed concerns that the training has predominately
been in the classroom and has not included working live traffic under
the supervision of experienced controllers. As of late January, we understand
that only one air traffic control specialist was certified to work the
Ripon Approach Area.
We find these reports from
Wisconsin very troubling, and would like to know what long- and short-term
actions the FAA is taking alleviate the growing stress on the air traffic
control system nationwide and particularly in Wisconsin. We believe
that the safety of the traveling public must remain paramount and hope
that FAA policies will reflect that. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Senator Russell D. Feingold
Senator Herb Kohl
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