Aviation Workers Spent More than 40 Days Working Without Pay

The US aviation system was pushed to its breaking point during the 43-day shutdown, and unions are urging Congressional action to prevent a repeat by passing the Aviation Funding Stability Act. This would allow the FAA to borrow funds from the Airports and Airways Trust Fund to keep critical employees paid for 30 days in the face of another shutdown.

The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents more than 80,000 pilots across the US and Canada, is leading the charge. Along with the Aviation Funding Stability Act, it is continuing to back the ROTOR Act, the Mental Health in Aviation Act, and other initiatives that boost safety and public confidence.

“Aviation isn’t a partisan issue—it’s the backbone of America’s economy and a lifeline for communities nationwide,” said ALPA President Capt. Jason Ambrosi. “While we’re relieved Congress reached a deal, the past 43 days set a dangerous precedent that caused unnecessary strain on the world’s safest aviation system.”

When government funding lapsed, the effects were immediate. Air traffic controllers and other FAA specialists were either furloughed or required to work without pay, leaving facilities understaffed and fatigue levels skyrocketing. Early on, airlines saw roughly 6,000 combined daily delays and cancellations. The situation worsened rapidly, leading the FAA to issue an Emergency Order that mandated flight cuts of 4 percent on November 7 and rose to 10 percent by November 14 across 40 major airports.

This was a very public pain for travelers and airlines, but was most harmful to behind-the-scenes FAA employees. Controllers were working six-day weeks, many even seeking second jobs to cover basic expenses.

So, while unions were thrilled to see the government back up and running, their main focus quickly shifted to keeping it from happening again. If passed, the Aviation Funding Stability Act would allow the FAA to remain operational and pay its employees for an additional month using its dedicated trust fund. Rep. Carson, a sponsor of the bill, argued that “a government shutdown shouldn’t interrupt aviation or create unnecessary chaos.”

FMI: www.alpa.org