Air traffic controllers play a critical role in the US aviation industry. Every day, as over 45,000 flights take off across the country, they are responsible for ensuring the safety of flights through airspace oversight to help connect passengers to their final destinations.
However, an air traffic controller shortage has persisted in the United States. Facilities across the nation lack the labor needed to ensure safe and smooth aircraft operations. In fact, earlier this week flights were delayed at Austin due to a controller shortage. Safety incidents have continued to rise at major airports nationwide as the issues continue, putting pressure on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enact change.
According to a report from NPR, in June 2023, the United States Department of Transportation Inspector General found that 77% of air traffic control facilities critical to the industry's daily operations were short-staffed. And the challenges show no signs of resolving on their own.
The FAA estimates that in the next 10 years, there will be 1,000 fewer fully certified air traffic controllers than today. Given that the federal agency anticipates gaining less than 200 new controllers, the industry is looking at a deficit of 800 controllers.
However, aviation continues to grow in the wake of COVID-19, and additional workers and infrastructure will be needed to ensure safe and sustainable growth. While estimates of the demand for new air traffic controllers for the next decade vary, many agree that 2500 to 3000 new controllers will be needed.
The current shortage of air traffic control workers stems from the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak brought a record-breaking demand shock, particularly for commercial aviation. Many air traffic controllers retired with fewer flights operating, especially at major hub airports.
However, in the years following the pandemic, the commercial aviation industry saw a strong reemergence of demand. Airlines swiftly added back capacity as they brought more planes out from storage, leading to an uptick in daily flights.
In addition to offering early retirements, Airport Industry Review claims many agencies worldwide let go of trainees and stopped hiring and training altogether. With a record-breaking number of passengers taking to the skies, these decisions are still having lasting effects on the industry as the FAA tries to catch up.
To keep up with the massive volume of flights returning to the skies, some air traffic controllers are getting pushed to their limits. Reuters reports that some controllers are forced to work mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks at many facilities. This has drawn attention to concerns regarding fatigue, as the United States has seen an uptick in safety-related incidents.
Since May 2024, the FAA has recorded 1,115 runway incursions. Furthermore, over 180 operational incidents were recorded that could be traced back to air traffic controllers' decisions. In 2023, for example, several high-profile near misses occurred between commercial airliners:
- A Southwest 737 narrowly avoided a Delta 737 upon landing at New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport
- An American and Frontier flight came dangerously close to colliding with each other at San Francisco International Airport
- An American Airlines flight was forced to take steep climb to avoid a United flight over Dallas.
According to Avionics International, in August 2023, 46 close calls regarding commercial aircraft occurred. Many attribute these incidents to fatigue and overworked controllers.
The incidents have shed light on the dangers of fatigue among air traffic controllers. In December 2023, the FAA named a panel of experts to address air traffic controller fatigue. The three-person panel, which started in January 2024, was created to review the latest sleep and fatigue science that can be applied to scheduling.
The shortage has also disrupted aircraft operations by causing delays at major hubs, especially in the New York area. Newark Liberty International Airport experienced significant delays as staffing was 59% below targeted levels. Given the airport's importance as an international hub, delays here can spiral to airports and flights across the world.
When staffing shortages take hold, airports have to slow down the number of flights arriving in Newark. This is known as a staffing trigger. From August 2021 to August 2022, 170 staffing triggers were recorded in the New York area.
With increased scrutiny from senators and the safety of the general public on the line, the FAA has taken steps to resolve the shortage. The Chief Operating Officer of the FAA’s Air Traffic Control Organization has explained that it is working to train and certify controllers as quickly as possible, and progress has already been made:
“While we have a long way to go, many of the facilities are much healthier than they were previously.”
Further work by third parties has been initiated to improve pipelines and enhance equal access to information. Currently, prospective controllers have several ways of entering the industry. They can apply and study at one of 30 accredited AT-CTI facilities across the country or serve as controllers in the military first.
Recently, a group of industry representatives met with members of Congress and the FAA to make recommendations to improve pipelines leading to jobs in air traffic control. These suggestions included building greater awareness and providing more equitable access to information about the industry.
The airline industry relies on air traffic control to ensure safe and reliable operations. The FAA must address the air traffic controller shortage to support safe and sustainable growth into the future.
