Understaffed air traffic control in Houston is flying under the radar

[elehhhhna]

Sept. 23, 2006, 8:46PM
Understaffed air traffic control in Houston is flying under the radar
By LUKE BALL

...

I am an air traffic controller at Houston Intercontinental Airport(IAH). Despite the fact that IAH is one of the busiest airports in the country, I have watched — not quietly, I can assure you — as staffing levels have fallen for years. The Federal Aviation Administration authorizes our control tower to have 42 controllers to safely and effectively handle air traffic levels in Houston. We currently have 29 on staff, with 11 more eligible for retirement by next year. The FAA says we will be getting 6-8six to eight new controllers by then, but that is small solace when you take into account the fact that it can take up to two years to train a new recruit for traffic.

The recent tragedy also shed light on the very strenuous schedules air traffic controllers work, particularly the "mid" — the midnight/overnight — shift. The situation in Houston highlights this dynamic. We schedule two controllers on the overnight now, but for a long time, the FAA allowed us only one. Just a few years ago, we got the FAA to agree to a permanent two-controller policy on the "mid," but only after we were made to agree to the following: In the event someone called in sick or was otherwise unable to work their "mid" shift, overtime would not be allowed for whoever stepped in to help out.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4209791.html

[Stargazer99]

1. And still John Q. Conservative kisses the a** of this administration

It is all done in the name of profit and privitizing....when will the average citizens wake up?

[madrchsod]

3. never

[dogday]

2. My husband is flying in Houston Hobby Airport tomorrow

I hope they are staffed better than Intercontinental....