By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. House of Representatives panel will hold a hearing next week on air traffic control issues after a series of incidents highlighted concerns about persistent staffing shortages.
Witnesses from Airlines for America, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Government Accountability Office, National Air Traffic Controllers Association and Professional Aviation Safety Specialists unions will testify before the Transportation and Infrastructure’s aviation subcommittee on Tuesday, officials said.
Last week, the U.S. aviation sector called for “robust emergency funding” from Congress for air traffic control technology and staffing after a series of crashes. Lawmakers have also called for new funding.
Airlines for America, a trade group which includes American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, was among those pressing for new funding.
A persistent shortage of controllers has delayed flights and led to mandatory overtime and six-day weeks to cover shifts at many facilities. The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and has about 10% fewer controllers than in 2012.
Earlier this month, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he was reconsidering rules that had allowed air traffic control supervisors to reduce staffing at Washington’s Reagan National Airport before a fatal Army helicopter-plane collision there killed 67 people in January.
Duffy, who will visit the FAA’s air traffic control academy in Oklahoma City this week, plans to soon announce steps to increase air traffic control training and applicants. He is considering new incentives to keep retirement-eligible controllers on the job or could propose to extend the mandatory retirement age of 65 for controllers.
Last year, the FAA cut minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October, citing air traffic controller staffing shortages.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Richard Chang)
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