Overwhelmed? DC crash puts spotlight on US air traffic agency
By AFP
January 31, 2025
The control tower pictured at Reagan National Airport after an American Airlines plane crashed on its approach to the runway
- Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File Andrew Harnik
John BIERS
Prior to this week’s fatal airplane crash in Washington, the US air traffic control (ATC) system was regarded as an understaffed operation beset with old and sometimes obsolete equipment.
While the investigation into the collision between a regional passenger jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter remains at an early phase, the tragic end to the United States’ 16-year streak of no fatal commercial air crashes promises to keep the ATC’s issues in focus.
A government auditor warned last year the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) troubling record on technology upgrades risked leaving it overwhelmed amid rising demand.
Turning things around “will be the work of many years and billions of dollars,” Kevin Walsh of the Government Accountability Office told a Senate panel.
Longstanding troubles have led to periodic efforts to privatize US air traffic control — something conservatives were positioning for ahead of the second Trump administration.
In December, the libertarian Cato Institute described the ATC system as “antiquated, mismanaged and… headed for a crisis,” arguing the ATC was ideal for privatization under White House advisor and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s push to slim down government.
But Michael McCormick, a former FAA control tower manager, noted that privatization campaigns have previously failed because of opposition from established aviation interests.
“This tragic accident is definitely going to put a spotlight on the national air traffic system and may finally result in a proper funding level so the system can be upgraded and maintained,” he said in an interview.
McCormick credited newer technology with enabling the ATC system to shift from ground- to satellite-based infrastructure, facilitating the ability of controllers to transmit messages directly to planes without using a phone
– Staffing crunch –
The agency’s staffing shortfall is a longstanding problem, McCormick added, due partly to the mandatory retirement age and periodic government shutdowns that have hit recruitment.
These problems worsened during the pandemic, which temporarily halted training.
A shortage of air traffic controllers became a major gripe when airlines began ramping up service amid a surge in travel demand from consumers eager to see the world after Covid-19 lockdowns.
Busy hubs like New York City and Miami now have two-thirds or fewer of the number of needed air traffic controllers.
In light of the shortage, the Federal Aviation Administration has waived minimum flight requirements at New York airports, allowing carriers to fly fewer flights while still retaining their takeoff and landing slots.
The FAA has renewed this waiver — first granted in 2023 — through October 2025 in a sign the agency does not expect the air traffic controller labor crunch to ease this summer.
Industry officials point to a FAA report which cited a staff shortage of about 3,000 controllers.
There were around 10,800 air traffic controllers at the end of 2024. The agency hired more than 1,800 last year and has a goal of hiring 2,000 this year, the Department of Transportation said in December.
Airlines for America, which represents major US carriers, has worked with the FAA and universities to expand controller training at more schools, expanding capacity beyond the FAA’s training center in Oklahoma City.
Louisiana Tech University was recently approved by the agency to offer curricula. It will begin offering basic instruction this spring under its four-year undergraduate program.
The FAA “really want us to get in the program,” said Matthew Montgomery, head of professional aviation at Louisiana Tech University. “They want more people in there to relieve the stresses.”
John BIERS
Prior to this week’s fatal airplane crash in Washington, the US air traffic control (ATC) system was regarded as an understaffed operation beset with old and sometimes obsolete equipment.
While the investigation into the collision between a regional passenger jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter remains at an early phase, the tragic end to the United States’ 16-year streak of no fatal commercial air crashes promises to keep the ATC’s issues in focus.
A government auditor warned last year the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) troubling record on technology upgrades risked leaving it overwhelmed amid rising demand.
Turning things around “will be the work of many years and billions of dollars,” Kevin Walsh of the Government Accountability Office told a Senate panel.
Longstanding troubles have led to periodic efforts to privatize US air traffic control — something conservatives were positioning for ahead of the second Trump administration.
In December, the libertarian Cato Institute described the ATC system as “antiquated, mismanaged and… headed for a crisis,” arguing the ATC was ideal for privatization under White House advisor and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s push to slim down government.
But Michael McCormick, a former FAA control tower manager, noted that privatization campaigns have previously failed because of opposition from established aviation interests.
“This tragic accident is definitely going to put a spotlight on the national air traffic system and may finally result in a proper funding level so the system can be upgraded and maintained,” he said in an interview.
McCormick credited newer technology with enabling the ATC system to shift from ground- to satellite-based infrastructure, facilitating the ability of controllers to transmit messages directly to planes without using a phone
– Staffing crunch –
The agency’s staffing shortfall is a longstanding problem, McCormick added, due partly to the mandatory retirement age and periodic government shutdowns that have hit recruitment.
These problems worsened during the pandemic, which temporarily halted training.
A shortage of air traffic controllers became a major gripe when airlines began ramping up service amid a surge in travel demand from consumers eager to see the world after Covid-19 lockdowns.
Busy hubs like New York City and Miami now have two-thirds or fewer of the number of needed air traffic controllers.
In light of the shortage, the Federal Aviation Administration has waived minimum flight requirements at New York airports, allowing carriers to fly fewer flights while still retaining their takeoff and landing slots.
The FAA has renewed this waiver — first granted in 2023 — through October 2025 in a sign the agency does not expect the air traffic controller labor crunch to ease this summer.
Industry officials point to a FAA report which cited a staff shortage of about 3,000 controllers.
There were around 10,800 air traffic controllers at the end of 2024. The agency hired more than 1,800 last year and has a goal of hiring 2,000 this year, the Department of Transportation said in December.
Airlines for America, which represents major US carriers, has worked with the FAA and universities to expand controller training at more schools, expanding capacity beyond the FAA’s training center in Oklahoma City.
Louisiana Tech University was recently approved by the agency to offer curricula. It will begin offering basic instruction this spring under its four-year undergraduate program.
The FAA “really want us to get in the program,” said Matthew Montgomery, head of professional aviation at Louisiana Tech University. “They want more people in there to relieve the stresses.”
'Excuse me': Trump gets snippy with reporter as he doubles down on DEI claim
Sarah K. Burris
January 31, 2025
January 31, 2025
RAW STORY
President Donald Trump got snippy with reporters Friday afternoon who questioned his claims that diversity programs contributed to a mid-air collision this week that killed 67 people in Washington, D.C.
Speaking to reporters while signing another executive order that will usher in 25% trade tariffs on all imports coming in from Mexico and Canada, Trump doubled down on his claim.
"I was right on all of it," he said, "but they'll still do an investigation just to check it o
ALSO READ: Tears turn to anger at Capitol as Trump blames DEI for American Airlines crash
"This was all caused by bad rules, regulations and other things by [President Joe] Biden," Trump repeated. "The Biden administration — and when you look at the way they ran things, in fact, if you look, we hired — one of the first things I told them to do, I said, get talented people in those, in those beautiful towers overlooking runways. You better get them in there fast, because we don't have people there that are qualified."
Trump made large staff cuts at federal agencies responsible for aviation oversight. One was removing the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, but he also eliminated all the members of a key aviation security advisory group.
The Federal Aviation Administration was another place where Trump ushered in his shake-up. Tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk has feuded with the top FAA team for issuing fines to his SpaceX for violating airspace regulations. Those top two employees quit on Jan. 20, leaving the department without leadership.
"You knew that because planes were landing very, very late. They were circling all over the place. We had people that didn't know what the hell they were doing," claimed Trump.
The reporter attempted to fact-check his statements from the government agencies conflicting with his account and Trump appeared to become agitated.
"And if you look, excuse me, and there are other — excuse me, excuse me," Trump snipped. "They, uh, we have to have the best people, the smartest people, the sharpest people as control tower experts. And that's what they have to be. They have to be experts, and they have to be very smart. And we didn't have our best. And if you read the quote that I read yesterday at the news conference, it talked about people that were psychologically injured, were okay, and people that had lots of problems were — okay? I'd read it again if you'd like me to, but I don't think I have to waste your time."
See the video below or at the link here.
President Donald Trump got snippy with reporters Friday afternoon who questioned his claims that diversity programs contributed to a mid-air collision this week that killed 67 people in Washington, D.C.
Speaking to reporters while signing another executive order that will usher in 25% trade tariffs on all imports coming in from Mexico and Canada, Trump doubled down on his claim.
"I was right on all of it," he said, "but they'll still do an investigation just to check it o
ALSO READ: Tears turn to anger at Capitol as Trump blames DEI for American Airlines crash
"This was all caused by bad rules, regulations and other things by [President Joe] Biden," Trump repeated. "The Biden administration — and when you look at the way they ran things, in fact, if you look, we hired — one of the first things I told them to do, I said, get talented people in those, in those beautiful towers overlooking runways. You better get them in there fast, because we don't have people there that are qualified."
Trump made large staff cuts at federal agencies responsible for aviation oversight. One was removing the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, but he also eliminated all the members of a key aviation security advisory group.
The Federal Aviation Administration was another place where Trump ushered in his shake-up. Tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk has feuded with the top FAA team for issuing fines to his SpaceX for violating airspace regulations. Those top two employees quit on Jan. 20, leaving the department without leadership.
"You knew that because planes were landing very, very late. They were circling all over the place. We had people that didn't know what the hell they were doing," claimed Trump.
The reporter attempted to fact-check his statements from the government agencies conflicting with his account and Trump appeared to become agitated.
"And if you look, excuse me, and there are other — excuse me, excuse me," Trump snipped. "They, uh, we have to have the best people, the smartest people, the sharpest people as control tower experts. And that's what they have to be. They have to be experts, and they have to be very smart. And we didn't have our best. And if you read the quote that I read yesterday at the news conference, it talked about people that were psychologically injured, were okay, and people that had lots of problems were — okay? I'd read it again if you'd like me to, but I don't think I have to waste your time."
See the video below or at the link here.
FAA workers pushed to find ‘higher productivity jobs’ 24 hours after deadly crash: report
Erik De La Garza
January 31, 2025
RAW STORY
A view of the air traffic control tower at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 31, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Just 24 hours after the worst U.S. aviation disaster in decades, employees at the Federal Aviation Administration received a mass email encouraging them to search for more productive jobs outside of government.
That’s according to a new report in The New York Times, which added that the email sent by the Office of Personnel Management just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday urged FAA employees – including air traffic controllers – to act on an offer to resign sent across federal agencies earlier in the week.
“We encourage you to find a job in the private sector as soon as you would like to do so,” according to the email, which the Times reviewed. “The way to greater American prosperity is encouraging people to move from lower productivity jobs in the public sector to higher productivity jobs in the private sector.”
The email also suggested that federal employees could seek out a second job or even travel to a “dream destination” of their choice while still remaining on the government payroll for months before their permanent departure, the Times reported.
But details about that offer remain murky as it has been relayed to employees throughout the years that taking a second job while employed by the federal government is not legal.
Employees throughout federal agencies, including Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Justice Department, reportedly also received the email.
But, as the Times noted, “its tone and timing hit hard at the F.A.A., current and former employees said, given its proximity to the fatal air crash that may have stemmed in part from reduced staffing.”
The email came as a follow-up to a proposal the federal workforce began receiving Tuesday offering them resignation buyouts, though some federal employees reported being skeptical of the offer, which some say created chaos.
Erik De La Garza
January 31, 2025
RAW STORY
A view of the air traffic control tower at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 31, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Just 24 hours after the worst U.S. aviation disaster in decades, employees at the Federal Aviation Administration received a mass email encouraging them to search for more productive jobs outside of government.
That’s according to a new report in The New York Times, which added that the email sent by the Office of Personnel Management just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday urged FAA employees – including air traffic controllers – to act on an offer to resign sent across federal agencies earlier in the week.
“We encourage you to find a job in the private sector as soon as you would like to do so,” according to the email, which the Times reviewed. “The way to greater American prosperity is encouraging people to move from lower productivity jobs in the public sector to higher productivity jobs in the private sector.”
The email also suggested that federal employees could seek out a second job or even travel to a “dream destination” of their choice while still remaining on the government payroll for months before their permanent departure, the Times reported.
But details about that offer remain murky as it has been relayed to employees throughout the years that taking a second job while employed by the federal government is not legal.
Employees throughout federal agencies, including Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Justice Department, reportedly also received the email.
But, as the Times noted, “its tone and timing hit hard at the F.A.A., current and former employees said, given its proximity to the fatal air crash that may have stemmed in part from reduced staffing.”
The email came as a follow-up to a proposal the federal workforce began receiving Tuesday offering them resignation buyouts, though some federal employees reported being skeptical of the offer, which some say created chaos.
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