Union Warns Air Traffic Controller Shortage Could Lead To Delays For Chicago Travelers
(CBS) -- Chicago air passengers could be facing increasing delays if the numbers of air traffic controllers doesn't increase. That's the warning from the controllers' union, which says the situation here in Chicago and nationwide, has reached a critical stage.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley has more.
During an FAA media tour today, the O'Hare tower, pretty much empty, which is exactly what air traffic controllers fear if hiring doesn't increase.
"We're way short of controllers," said DePaul professor and transportation expert Joe Schwieterman. "It comes at a time the industry's boosting flights. We're really shocked at how the FAA just hasn't delivered the numbers they promised."
At Chicago's FAA center, full staffing is 100 controllers, but there's only 70 on board, with 19 of those eligible for retirement now, under a heavy workload.
"Since 2007, most people have been scheduled to work six day weeks pretty much every week," said James Hall of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
The Chicago numbers mirror figures nationwide with about 11,000 controllers across the country, the lowest level in 27 years. In time, fewer controllers could trigger longer delays.
"Spacing out aircraft, slowing things down to make sure safety's not compromised even slight changes to that can back up a place like O'Hare," said Schweiterman.
What's more, because it can take two years or more to train a new controller, there's no quick fix.
"If you can't replace the people who've retired and already left, at some point, there's a tipping point where you can't physically staff all the positions," Hall said.
The FAA has missed hiring targets for controllers for five consecutive years.
Nationwide, almost a third of controllers are eligible to retire.
In response, the FAA says its shares the union's frustration. It blames funding cuts, and ongoing budget uncertainty, for much of the problem.
