I showed up to work this afternoon to learn about an interesting story that happened this week. Apparently one of my fellow air traffic controllers showed up for work in Levis and a T-shirt (which is against the strict dress-code), walked to the HR department, and turned in his instant resignation. Why did he do this? Apparently it was because he was being refused vacation leave in January due to low staffing levels and he was tired of hearing “no” at each leave request. Yes, this is a true story, as I know the man personally and it feels bitter-sweet. Sorry to see such an optimist leave the workforce, yet thrilled to see him enter this new stage of his life. So why do I make such a rumble about this story? Here is why….

When I hired on with the FAA over 5 years ago, we had 49 air traffic controllers working in my specialty, permitting 7 controllers on each crew (1 crew for each set of days off during the week, Sun/Mon, Mon/Tue, etc.). This rotation provides 5 crews of controllers to work every day (2 crews are off), 3 during the day shift and 2 in the evening shift. Normally 3 controllers from the day shift are also moved to a mid-shift to provide 24-hour round-the-clock coverage. This rotation equated to 18 controllers assigned to each day shift and 14 to each evening shift (Now do not forget that normally 3 or more controllers would normally be off for vacation, sick or other leave). This normally provided 28 or so controllers to work the average day/evening within my speciality in 6 sectors of airspace. Over this 5 year period while I have been employed at the FAA a dramatic change has happened.

First and foremost is a simple fact. We no longer have 49 controllers in my area of specialty, but rather as of today we only have 37. By January 3rd, 2008, this number will be 36 due to another mandatory age retirement (yet another friend leaving). It has already been spoken among my cohorts that by Fall 2008 there will be an additional 3 retirements, taking us to an astonishing 33 controllers! Now I must admit the right-wing attitude in my own bloodstream tells me that this would be a sign of efficiency within the endless bureaucracy that is the FAA. Some may even argue that air traffic has decreased, warranting the lessening of the staffing levels. However I can attest to you firsthand neither of these is true. The simple fact is that traffic has increased and what appears to be efficiency is in fact a lowering level of public safety due to a shortage of staffing. In fact traffic has increased to such a level that in my area of specialty we now have 8 sectors in the exact same airspace in order to split-up the workload during the heaviest periods. So yes, we are working higher levels of traffic with fewer controllers. Now as stated above we used to have 28 controllers working the average day/evening shifts, but by the end of next year we will only have 17 to 18 controllers working the same shifts. Is there anyone out there who is thinking safety is becoming an issue here? Let me provide some more insight into the quagmire of the FAA.

On one side you have the union essentially fighting for more controllers, higher controller salary, less on-position time, and less management headache, in that order. On the other hand you have the FAA saying staffing levels are fine, cutting controller pay, forcing more on-position time, and micro-managing every aspect of controller duties. Both sides claim their primary goal is safety, yet both have complete opposite points of view. So there you have the tug-of-war that is found within the agency. We are in a dire mess.

Let me show you an example how FAA’s executive management is failing based on a March 7th press release from this year. The press release indicates several key elements:

1) The FAA’s hiring plan will “staff facilities based on actual and forecasted traffic demands” - that’s a quote from FAA Administrator Marion Blakey
2) The FAA’s hiring plan considers new hires the full designation of “controllers”
3) The FAA’s hiring plan increased the capacity of students at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City
4) The FAA’s hiring plan will lessen onsite training time at ATC facilities
5) The FAA’s hiring plan includes better management to leave

#1 is false because I have already explained above that traffic demands have already increased at my ATC facility, yet staffing has been cut by 48% as of today, and will be a total of 67% by late next year. Yes, 67%! Sorry Miss Blakey, but traffic demand has already been elevated yet staffing levels continue diminishing.

#2 is false because when new hires enter the facility, although they carry the title “air traffic control specialist,” they are not able to perform all duties until 3 to 5 years AFTER their hiredate. This is clearly a farce.

#3 is a misleading statement because although training capacity has increased at the FAA Academy, what the FAA fails to tell the public is that they eliminated the educational hiring processes known as MARC and CTI. Specifically MARC students were able to eliminate the FAA Academy process altogether and begin work at their respective ATC facilities on their first day of employment. So not only has the FAA reduced the number of controller hires, but has increased the tax-payer cost for each hire since the FAA now requires all hires to report to the FAA Academy and be paid a federal salary and receive per diem.

#4 is false because although we have new equipment at our facility, mysteriously training classes have not increased. A further mystery is that we recently learned that our additional equipment will be disappearing by this time next year. Huh?

#5 is misleading because although leave is better-managed (meaning they can track it via a computer), controllers are not getting it when it is needed or requested. In fact, I personally did not have the opportunity to ask for a single day of vacation between May 1st and August 31st next year. Why? We are told that we staffing is at critical levels during the summer. So apparently the FAA can admit there is a staffing problem internally, but publicly the problem does not exist.

So there you have it, the FAA dilemma in a nutshell. The FAA is working higher levels of air traffic with fewer controllers while they have refused to hire appropriate numbers of replacements. Meanwhile, controllers are now working overtime regularly, being refused and/or discouraged to utilize sick leave (even for sanity’s sake), not provided appropriate annual leave opportunities, and working longer on-position sessions during elevated traffic periods. What can be done? Simple. We need an all new FAA.

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving everyone.