Will Add 12,000 New Controllers Over Next Ten Years

After being criticized for months over what many in the aviation community saw as foot-dragging, the FAA Tuesday rolled out its plan to hire 12,000 new air traffic controllers over the next ten years.

At a Washington news conference, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey told reporters the agency would hire 435 controllers next year and 1,249 in each year until 2014.

Time is an issue. It takes years to properly train a controller. Money is also an issue. The cost of the training project is expected to run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. "We do expect that kind of funding will be there from Congress," Blakey told reporters.

Statement From DOT Secretary Norman Mineta

The plan is a first step in confronting the challenges that must be addressed if we are to ensure the continued efficient operation of the nation's airspace. It outlines the reforms needed to meet the expected growth in air traffic over the next ten to twenty years. The plan adds controllers, makes better use of technology in the training programs, and includes efficiencies taxpayers demand. I look forward to working with all the parties involved to refine the plan and provide added details in the months to come.

FMI: www.faa.gov