Latest news with #NationalAirTrafficControllersAssociation
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Air traffic controller union is … out of control
As the air traffic control crisis drags on, putting lives in danger and snarling logistics at key travel hubs, a new villain has emerged: the controllers union. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy came up with a smart, fast fix to the immediate staffing crisis (which brings serious safety concerns as well as delayed/cancelled flight chaos): keep senior controllers working a bit longer. He'd offer cash bonuses to controllers below the mandatory retirement age of 56 to keep them on the job, and maybe work out waivers so some could serve past 56 until turning 61. Advertisement (He has other, longer-term plans as well, including moving fast to address the aging-equipment mess left behind by his Biden-era predecessor, Pete Buttigieg.) Extra pay for crucial work, on a totally voluntary basis with an eye to ending a terrible and worsening problem: Who could have a problem with that? Why, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association: The union hates the idea, and has voted to punish any controller who signs a waiver with a seniority cap (i.e., you stop accruing seniority the day you take Duffy's offer). Advertisement The union's rationale: 'Each waiver puts early retirement at risk by showing the Agency [the FAA] and Congress that mandatory retirement is unnecessary.' That is, a policy that plays a crucial role in driving controller shortages might be 'unnecessary,' and NATCA doesn't want that fact exposed: It would rather the crisis continue. And the union has the chutzpah to state this publicly. Advertisement Looks like President Ronald Reagan didn't go far enough after smashing PATCO, the original controllers union: He should've salted the earth rather than let NATCA form. Via NATCA, todays controllers are acting neither in the best interests of the taxpayers who cover their salaries nor the air travellers whose safety they are responsible for. Duffy and the president need to hit back twice as hard, before this crisis spirals fully out of control.
Skift
12-05-2025
- Skift
Newark Outages Expose Air Traffic Control Crisis — What to Know About the Fix
As disruptions at Newark continue to mount, outdated technology and an acute air traffic controller shortage are receiving increased attention from Washington. After a string of disruptions out of Newark Liberty International Airport and a fatal plane crash near Washington, D.C., the nation's aging air traffic control system is receiving new scrutiny. The airline industry has long struggled with outdated technology and staffing shortages, but the problem came to a head last week after Newark experienced multiple outages. There are just 10,800 air traffic controllers — around 3,000 short of the Federal Aviation Administration's staffing goal, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. The Federal Aviation Administration is now slated to meet with major carriers on Wednesday to discuss restricting the number of flights out of Newark. Here's what you need to know: What Happened at Newark? Newark is one of the most congested airports in the U.S. and often faces disruptions. In an effort to ease some of that congestion, the FAA moved air traffic controllers responsible for Newark from Long Island to Philadelphia last year. On April 28, air traffic controllers who guide planes in and out of Newark faced an o
Times
12-05-2025
- Times
Newark Airport hit by second radar outage in a fortnight
An American airport has experienced a second radar failure in less than two weeks, adding to concerns over the safety of air travel in the United States. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic control employees guiding aircraft in and out of Newark International Airport in New Jersey were unable to communicate or see radar displays for 90 seconds on Friday. The screens went dark at about 4 am at the facility, in Philadelphia, which oversees air traffic at Newark. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said ground staff were 'unable to see, hear or talk' to pilots. The FAA blamed the incident on its 'antiquated air traffic control system [which is] affecting our workforce'. It is the second blackout the airport has experienced
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Duffy: Federal government reducing flights out of Newark airport
GLEN RIDGE, N.J. — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the federal government had reduced the number of flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport after two major air traffic control technology outages. In an interview with NBC's 'Meet the Press' that aired Sunday, Duffy sought to reassure Americans of the safety of flying through Newark, while acknowledging the need for significant changes. When asked if it was still safe to fly into and out of Newark, Duffy said, 'It is,' and he highlighted steps taken in response to the incidents. 'We actually have brought down the number of airplanes that come in and leave Newark because, listen, our mission is safety,' Duffy said. 'So — yeah, I hate delays. I hate cancellations. And I hate [how] families who come with little kids [are] sitting there for four hours,' he continued. 'I've done that myself on occasion. It's hard. But I want you to get to where you're traveling. And if that means slowing down flights into Newark, we slow them down to make sure we can do it safely.' For 90 seconds on April 28, controllers at a Philadelphia air traffic control center, who were responsible for monitoring air traffic in and out of the airport, lost radar and communications with the flights. They were unable to 'see, hear, or talk to them,' the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said, according to The New York Times. A subsequent outage on Friday deepened a major backlog of cancellations and delays at Newark, which is one of the three main New York-area airports and one of the busiest in the nation. When asked if there were other specific airports Duffy was worried about, he said he was 'concerned about the whole airspace' and the prevalence of outdated technology across U.S. airports. 'Is it safe? Yes, we have redundancies, multiple redundancies in place to keep you safe when you fly. But we should also recognize we're seeing — we're seeing stress on an old network, and it's time to fix it,' Duffy said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
11-05-2025
- The Hill
Duffy: Federal government reducing flights out of Newark airport
GLEN RIDGE, N.J. — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the federal government had reduced the number of flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport after two major air traffic control technology outages. In an interview with NBC's 'Meet the Press' that aired Sunday, Duffy sought to reassure Americans in the safety of flying through Newark, while acknowledging the need for significant changes. When asked if it was still safe to fly into and out of Newark, Duffy said, 'It is,' but highlighted steps taken in response to the incidents. 'We actually have brought down the number of airplanes that come in and leave Newark because, listen, our mission is safety,' Duffy said. 'So — yeah, I hate delays. I hate cancellations. And I hate [how] families who come with little kids [are] sitting there for four hours,' he continued. ' I've done that myself on occasion. It's hard. But I want you to get to where you're traveling. And if that means slowing down flights into Newark, we slow them down to make sure we can do it safely.' For 90 seconds on April 28, controllers at a Philadelphia air traffic control center, who were responsible for monitoring air traffic in and out of the airport, lost radar and communications with the flights. 'They were unable to 'see, hear, or talk to them,' the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said, according to The New York Times. A subsequent outage on Friday deepened a major backlog of cancellations and delays at Newark, which is one of the three main New York-area airports and one of the busiest in the nation. When asked if there were other specific airports Duffy was worried about, he said he was 'concerned about the whole airspace' and the prevalence of outdated technology across U.S. airports. 'Is it safe? Yes, we have redundancies, multiple redundancies in place to keep you safe when you fly. But we should also recognize we're seeing – we're seeing stress on an old network, and it's time to fix it,' Duffy said.
