Air traffic controllers' understaffing leading to flight delays, as their paychecks end
Understaffing among air traffic controllers during the federal government shutdown is leading to delays at airports, transportation officials said.
Some transportation experts have warned that delays could cause further disruption if unpaid air traffic controllers call out as the weekslong federal government shutdown drags on. On Tuesday, air traffic controllers are set to get a partial paycheck for work carried out prior to the shutdown and the next one, due Oct. 28, will not be paid unless the stalemate is resolved in Congress.
"As [Transportation] Secretary [Sean] Duffy has said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system. When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement emailed to Newsday on Monday.
Already, the FAA said that it has seen understaffing at airports in several places, including New York, New Jersey and Chicago, Reuters reported.
Air controller staffing is a flashpoint issue as the government remains closed, as Democrats and Republicans spar over health care subsidies that are lapsing.
In 2019, the 35-day government shutdown concluded after a number of air traffic controllers called in sick, resulting in flight delays.
Duffy noted in an interview with Fox Business that more than 90% of controllers have been clocking in, but said that those who don’t go to work create a "massive disruption.”
"And if we have some on our staff that aren’t dedicated like we need, we’re going to let them go," Duffy said in the interview.
Transportation officials say the controllers will receive back wages when the government reopens.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a labor union, said on its website that it doesn’t “endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the NAS [the National Airspace System], or any other activities that undermine the professional image and reputation of the people we represent."
NATCA President Nick Daniels told The Associated Press that controllers might be absent to work another job to scrape by.
"It’s going to eventually be that when people don’t have money, they have time to start making life choices and life decisions. And it shouldn’t be waiting for air traffic controllers to break because of having to take out loans, credit card debt, paying bills, gas, groceries, mortgages," Daniels said.
On Long Island, Brookhaven Calabro Airport is not "affected by the problems experienced by other larger air traffic-controlled airports in our area," Drew Scott, a town spokesman, said in an email to Newsday.
That’s because the airport doesn’t have a control tower and "pilots call out their intentions on a shared radio frequency," Scott said.
The Town of Islip did not immediately respond to comment on Monday about the staffing shortages at its Long Island MacArthur Airport, nor did Suffolk County for Francis S. Gabreski Airport.
Michael Canders, an associate professor in aviation at Farmingdale State College, said the government should have some type of provision to pay air traffic controllers and other positions dealing with public safety during a shutdown.
"Both parties, together, have to solve this problem, and that needs to be a top priority," he said in a phone interview.
Newsday's Billy House contributed to this story.
Tiffany Cusaac-Smith is a general assignment reporter for Newsday. She previously worked at USA TODAY and is an alum of Howard University.
My Little Pony, Furby making a comeback this holiday season NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland and Newsday family writer Beth Whitehouse have your look at the hottest toys this holiday season.
My Little Pony, Furby making a comeback this holiday season NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland and Newsday family writer Beth Whitehouse have your look at the hottest toys this holiday season.
