Jan 25, 2008 11:08 am US/Pacific
Battle Brews Over Air Traffic Controller Staffing
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
It was January 10, over the skies of Monterey. An air traffic controller, in training, tells the pilot of a Southwest Boeing 737 he is clear to begin his descent into San Jose. It was a bad call, because a commuter flight was just below the Boeing within 800 feet and 1.83 miles behind the smaller plane without the trainee's instructor realizing a close call had been made.
"It shook me up when I saw the replay," says Steve Hefley.
Steve Hefley has seen a lot of replays. He represents the local union of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. He points to the incident in Monterey as an example of controllers being overworked. He says they're also underpaid, and some cases, inadequately trained.
"I don't have enough bodies to staff my aerial sectors, so I have to space out the airplanes that are arriving at the airport. I don't have enough bodies for my departure sector, so you're going to sit on the ground longer. You're going to miss your departing connection," explains Steve.
The FAA, not only calls the Monterey mishap 'minor,' they insist Sacramento and Bay Area airports are adequately staffed and they quote from statistics. Sacramento has 14 controllers, 12 are working, and two are training on the job.
"What you're seeing today is an attempt by the union to generate public alarm and media attention on their position before they engage in their lobbying effort," says Ian Gregor, FAA Communications Manager.
The union is lobbying for anew contract with the FAA. They say they don't want a pay raise; they just want a wage enticing enough to attract newcomers capable of dealing with a high stress job where lives are always at risk.
The union considers this a staffing emergency, because not only are veterans retiring, some are on military, medical, or personal leave and that's requiring others to pull double duty. And in a job like, this double duty can be dangerous.
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