US FAA hires 1,500 air traffic controllers but staffing challenges remain

The US FAA said Thursday it had met its goal of hiring 1,500 ATC for the year even as staffing challenges continue to impact travel and aviation near misses prompt safety concerns. The FAA has about 2,600 controllers at various levels of training. The Transportation Department said in March it is seeking $117m to hire another 1,800 next year, in addition to the 1,500 it planned to hire through Sept 30. More than 12,000 people applied earlier this year for the roles. The FAA is also holding runway safety meetings at 90 airports after troubling close-call incidents and said on Wednesday it awarded $121m to airports to reduce runway incursion risks including reconfiguring taxiways and installing new lighting systems. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA are investigating an Aug. 11 near collision between a Southwest Boeing 737 and a Cessna business jet in San Diego. The NTSB is investigating seven runway incursion events since January, including the San Diego incident. Citing ATC staffing issues, the FAA this month agreed to extend temporary cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports and Washington National Airport through Oct. 28. The Transportation Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) said in June critical ATC facilities face significant staffing challenges, warning of the risks posed to the continuity of air traffic operations.<br/>