Shutdown Impacts Unpaid Aviation Workers, Disrupts Flights And ATC Modernization

The National Air Transportation Association joined more than 50 aviation stakeholders who, in an open letter published in The Washington Post, emphatically called on Congress to end the shutdown immediately that has gone on for 41 days and is significantly impacting air travel in the U.S.

The Modern Skies letter reads, in part:

"The job of keeping aviation safe and secure is tough every day, but forcing federal employees to do it without pay is unacceptable. Without immediate government action, the federal employees charged with the safety of our aviation system are missing paychecks again this week. We owe public servants at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies supporting aviation, like the National Transportation Safety Board, the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection, a debt of gratitude and a swift ending to this shutdown.”

The shutdown has put unnecessary stress on our air traffic control (ATC) system resulting in flight reductions affecting all sectors of the aviation industry and disrupted progress on a new ATC system.

The letter continues, "Congress recently made a significant down payment on modernizing the FAA’s antiquated air traffic control system and the Department of Transportation (DOT) has prioritized ‘supercharging’ hiring to get air traffic control facilities fully staffed. But those initiatives are challenged as the shutdown continues. As Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has championed, we need much, much more for air traffic investment in this country. The shutdown takes all of that in the wrong direction."

The Coalition believes Congress can restore momentum on ATC modernization by ending the shutdown and passing a full year transportation appropriations bill, saying, "Despite this current setback, the Modern Skies Coalition is still bullish on delivering a new air traffic control system that is a global leader, but every day of the shutdown makes the task harder”

Modern Skies ends the letter with a strong message: “Congress, end the shutdown now!"

FMI:  nata.aero/ , modernskies.com/