Keep air traffic controllers in Westbury

Air traffic controllers who monitor the planes traveling through our region's airspace have a difficult and pivotal job upon which every air traveler depends.

So it's unwise to wreak havoc on 17 of those experienced workers and their families by attempting to force them to relocate from Westbury to Philadelphia, as the Federal Aviation Administration seems prepared to do. Such a move could do more harm than good. There has to be a better way to achieve everyone's goals.

At the top of that list: safety.

The FAA's job is to keep everyone safe and make sure its controllers are trained properly and in the best position to handle New York's airspace, which is the most congested in the country. The forced move raises significant safety concerns. The FAA has enormous difficulty recruiting and training controllers. What happens if those 17 people — all experienced, certified controllers — decline to make the move, as some indicated in a recent Newsday story? It would create an immediate gaping hole in the controller workforce.

FAA officials say staffing levels are relatively low at the Westbury office, known as the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control, or TRACON — just 59% of what it should be. Recruiting, they say, might be easier in Philadelphia. But that's not the whole story. FAA officials said there are currently 134 certified professional controllers in Westbury, and an additional 74 trainees. If all trainees complete the training, the Westbury facility would have 208 of the 226 controllers for which it's authorized.

Just 32% of those hired recently in Westbury have become fully certified controllers. Clearly, the FAA should improve its recruitment and training and consider whether other factors are at work. Forcing existing controllers to move might discourage anyone considering a career there. Also important: After the FAA tried to move workers last year and then rescinded its effort, there was talk of modernizing the Westbury building. That's critical to retaining local workers and should be a priority.

In a statement, an FAA spokeswoman provided little wiggle room, saying Philadelphia's TRACON “will take over the Newark airspace” this summer. But that boost in Philadelphia's workforce needn't come at Westbury's expense. The FAA should consider recruiting from elsewhere to fill the 17 vacancies in Philadelphia. The agency's proposed $100,000 incentive package for Westbury workers could entice qualified controllers from anywhere in the country to move.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Reps. Tom Suozzi, Nick LaLota, Anthony D'Esposito and Andrew Garbarino signed a letter asking the FAA to reconsider. They're right. If the FAA doesn't do this on its own, a legislative fix may be necessary. The best flight path for the FAA would be to first work with elected officials to find the right solutions.

Then our controllers — right here in Westbury — can focus on their most important job: keeping our skies safe.