ATCO shortages in USA
 

Maybe another bolt hole from Manchester ? ;)


Sen. Frank Lautenberg to Join Newark Air Traffic Controllers to Sound Alarm on Looming Staffing Crisis

5/13/2004 10:50:00 AM


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To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Doug Church of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, 202-220-9802 or 301-346-8245 (cell)

News Advisory:

-- Shortages at New York Area's Busiest Tower Symptomatic of a Much Larger Problem Brewing in System Nationwide

On Friday, May 14, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., will join Newark air traffic controllers to discuss the serious controller shortages facing Newark Liberty International Airport and the potential travel and safety concerns associated with having too few eyes landing planes.

The Federal Aviation Administration itself anticipates a controller shortage nationwide of up to 50 percent in the next 10 years. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has called upon the FAA and Congress to start training 1,000 new controllers each year to meet demand. At Newark, the staffing problems are only going to get worse in a few short years.

WHAT: Press conference to discuss staffing shortage of air traffic controllers at the Newark Liberty Airport control tower and impact on the flying public.

WHO: Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.; Newark Tower Air Traffic Controller Russ Halleran, local chapter president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

WHERE: Outside, on the departures level of Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport (far end of terminal). Parking available in the short term "B" lot. For questions, John Fuller from Sen. Lautenberg's office will be on site, 732-690-3273.

WHEN: Friday, May 14, 11 a.m.


http://www.usnewswire.com/

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Everyone but the FAA has realized that the majority (over 60%) of us were hired between 1981 and 1986, and by 2006 this majority will be able to retire if we want too.

Mike
NATCA FWA

Plus the fact you must have US citizenship to be a controller. So no overseas hiring for the time-being.

Bit of a p*sser really. Would love to live & work in US. C'mon FAA, I'm a Brit for crying out loud. Hasn't my PM kissed enough of George's butt yet!!?? :}

It only works if you voted him in, Squibbler!

I think the phrase I'm looking for rhymes with "clucking bell".

:{

Is it even being kicked around as an idea (hiring foreigners)?

Let's face it- the shortage has been looming for years, and isn't exactly a surprise. Wasn't there a senate committee looking at it until Sept 11 (temporarily) solved the problem?

Ferris and all;

The idea about hiring folks from outside the borders has never been kicked about here. Not even when they fired most of the folks back in 81. Probably the reason is that there has never been a lack of applicants. The military alone puts out quite a few folks who have what we call a CTO (Control Tower Operators Certificate). The only problem that we are facing is that the FAA isn't hiring anyone right now due to a monetary problem. As in not enough of it for the agency.

We are supposed to hire 800 the end of September (our fiscal year starts in October) but even that may not happen. The money for this year for hiring has been nil, and next year looks even worse. So our problem isn't one of not being able to find folks who want the job, it is having the money to hire anyone... That is part of the problem that one has when at the whims of politics. <sigh> Oh well, such is life, I see that NAVCanada just upped the price of flying even more and they still don't have 100% staffing, nor does NATS from what I hear...

take care

Scott
18 months and elligible to retire <G>.