Says FAA Has Agreed With Three Of Five Recommendations.

A report issued by the Department of Transportation Inspector General on the FAA's oversight of staffing and training at its most critical air traffic control facilities indicates that staffing levels and training at some of the nations' most critical Air Traffic Control facilities is not up to par. 

DOT IG Calvin Scovel

The IG's office conducted its review at the request of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. It says that, after identifying 21 critical facilities, it found that enhanced oversight of staffing and training at FAA's critical facilities is needed to maintain continuity of air traffic operations. Critical facilities face a potential shortage of certified professional controllers, as they have higher rates of retirement eligibility, controllers-in-training, and training attrition than other facilities nationwide.

The report indicated that those "critical" facilities include New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Southern California. The report indicates that in 15 of 21 critical facilities, there was a higher percentage of controllers in training than the national average of 25 percent. And, over the two year period encompassing fiscal years 2008-2010, there was a trainee attrition rate of nearly 40 percent at critical facilities.

In its executive summary, the IG's office says that as the FAA begins deploying Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) technologies, critical facilities will require even more training resources for both veteran and new controllers. The IG's office said it made five recommendations to assist FAA in ensuring the continuity of operations at its most critical facilities, and FAA concurred or partially concurred with all five. Based on FAA’s response, it is are closing three recommendations, and consider the remaining two resolved but open pending completion of planned actions.

But television station KNSD in San Diego reports that the FAA disputes the IGs findings, saying it is on target with hiring and training Certified Professional Controllers. "The FAA continues to meet overall goals for hiring, training time to certification and number of certified controllers,” it said in a statement.

FMI: www.oig.dot.gov