Overworked Traffic Controllers Mean More Danger on Runways

by Mike Hall, Feb 14, 2008

Runway incursions—including fully loaded airliners taking off and landing within 35 feet of each other—last year reached the highest level since 2001, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). As Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots (ALPA), told a House subcommittee yesterday:

Considering the consequences of a high speed collision, the potential for catastrophe is high….The runway incursion risk is real and growing larger as our National Airspace System is pushed to the max….This rate of occurrence is inexcusable.

At the House Aviation Subcommittee hearing, Prater and Pat Forrey, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), and several other witnesses outlined some of the causes for the increase in runway incursions and offered recommendations to improve runway safety.

The hearing came a day after ALPA launched an interactive website “Hold Short for Runway Safety,” designed to raise awareness of measures that can prevent runway hazards.

According to the GAO report, between September 2006 and September 2007, there were 370 such incidents, nearly matching 2001, when 407 incursions were reported. The GAO report points to overworked and fatigued controllers as one reason air travelers face a high risk of a catastrophic runway collision. An April report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also found controller fatigue affects runway safety.

Since 2006, when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) walked away from negotiations with NATCA, record numbers of controllers have left the towers and retired, rather than endure the FAA’s unilaterally imposed work rules. Meanwhile, the remaining controllers are forced to work mandatory overtime to make up for the staff shortages.

Forrey told the committee that one way to prevent controller fatigue and improve aviation safety would be for the FAA to return to the bargaining table.

Today, there are 1,500 fewer fully-certified controllers than there were on 9/11—leaving fewer eyes to watch more planes, and the result is increased controller fatigue.

If the FAA were to return to the bargaining table where the parties left off and negotiate in good faith with NATCA, the effort would make staying in the FAA more attractive to both newly-hired controllers and those eligible for retirement.

The current rate of controller attrition is 6.2 per day, and the system can’t sustain that rate for much longer.

Recently NATCA has declared staffing emergencies at several major airports and their surrounding airspace. The emergency declaration means controllers do not have sufficient numbers of trained and experienced personnel on the ground to safely handle the volume of traffic in the air and takeoffs and landings at major airports.

The FAA continues to insist site that air traffic control staffing is adequate and doesn’t present a safety problem. But Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), subcommittee chairman, said:

While the FAA may not admit there is a problem, I can assure you after talking to all the users of the system, there is a problem.

Along with improving controller staffing levels, Forrey and Prater offered several technical and equipment recommendations, including ranging from better runway markings and lighting to improved ground radar.

Click here to read Forrey’s full testimony and here for Prater’s and click here to visit “Hold Short for Runway Safety.” 

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (0)