Union Says Staff Shortages Could Cause Flight Delays

If this week's Republican National Convention in New York causes flight delays at the three major airports serving the Big Apple, don't blame NATCA controllers. The ATC union says it's the FAA's fault. The reason? Staffing shortages.

NATCA spokesman Doug Church told the New York Times that flight delays during the convention are a "distinct possibility." That, he said could set off a chain reaction nationwide because flights whose arrival into JFK, LaGuardia or Newark's Liberty are delayed will be told to stay on the ground until they're cleared.

Church said the problem will crop up at New York TRACON, where controllers are much more carefully monitoring all flights this week. That includes fighters providing beefed-up air security, general aviation flights and the usual stream of commercial flights.

The FAA, however, disagrees with NATCA, saying the TFRs in place over New York and New Jersey will discourage GA pilots from flying anywhere close to the convention and, oh-by-the-way, staffing levels are just fine, thank you.

It's the latest battle in the ongoing war between NATCA and the FAA over staffing levels present and future.

The FAA is also locked in battle with PASS, which just one an appeals court ruling over the number of system specialists fall below 6,100 nationwide. PASS said that means the FAA will have to hire another 200 specialists right away.

FMI: www.natca.org, www.faa.gov