FAA to investigate exhaustion among air traffic controllers
The FAA is planning to form a panel to look into the potential risks posed by exhaustion among air traffic controllers, many of whom have been working round-the-clock schedules that have pushed them to the physical and emotional brink. The FAA expects to announce more details about the three-member panel on Wednesday, said Jeannie Shiffer, a spokeswoman for the agency. Michael Whitaker, the FAA administrator, said at a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday that “as far as fatigue goes, we’re taking this issue very seriously.” “We’re looking at launching a group to examine fatigue among air traffic controllers in the very short term to identify if there are risks,” he said, “and if there are, we will act accordingly to mitigate those risks.” The FAA is creating the panel in the wake of a New York Times investigation this month that revealed how a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers had resulted in an exhausted and demoralized work force that was increasingly prone to making dangerous mistakes. Whitaker said on Tuesday that the FAA was trying to address the staffing shortage. “We know we need more air traffic controllers,” he said. “We’re working hard to hire from a variety of sources and keep them moving through the training pipeline.” Investigations published by The Times this year showed how the nation’s vaunted aviation safety system, while still remarkably safe, was under mounting stress. Potentially dangerous close calls have been happening, on average, multiple times a week this year. Some air traffic controllers say they fear that a deadly crash is inevitable. Errors by air traffic controllers have been one major factor. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, there were 503 air traffic control lapses that the F.A.A. preliminarily categorized as “significant,” 65% more than in the prior year, according to internal agency reports reviewed by The Times. During that period, air traffic increased about 4%. Story has more.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2023-12-20/general/faa-to-investigate-exhaustion-among-air-traffic-controllers
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FAA to investigate exhaustion among air traffic controllers
The FAA is planning to form a panel to look into the potential risks posed by exhaustion among air traffic controllers, many of whom have been working round-the-clock schedules that have pushed them to the physical and emotional brink. The FAA expects to announce more details about the three-member panel on Wednesday, said Jeannie Shiffer, a spokeswoman for the agency. Michael Whitaker, the FAA administrator, said at a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday that “as far as fatigue goes, we’re taking this issue very seriously.” “We’re looking at launching a group to examine fatigue among air traffic controllers in the very short term to identify if there are risks,” he said, “and if there are, we will act accordingly to mitigate those risks.” The FAA is creating the panel in the wake of a New York Times investigation this month that revealed how a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers had resulted in an exhausted and demoralized work force that was increasingly prone to making dangerous mistakes. Whitaker said on Tuesday that the FAA was trying to address the staffing shortage. “We know we need more air traffic controllers,” he said. “We’re working hard to hire from a variety of sources and keep them moving through the training pipeline.” Investigations published by The Times this year showed how the nation’s vaunted aviation safety system, while still remarkably safe, was under mounting stress. Potentially dangerous close calls have been happening, on average, multiple times a week this year. Some air traffic controllers say they fear that a deadly crash is inevitable. Errors by air traffic controllers have been one major factor. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, there were 503 air traffic control lapses that the F.A.A. preliminarily categorized as “significant,” 65% more than in the prior year, according to internal agency reports reviewed by The Times. During that period, air traffic increased about 4%. Story has more.<br/>
