A report—because who doesn’t love a good bureaucratic finger-pointing exercise—was released on Wednesday, spotlighting the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) perpetual game of musical chairs with air traffic controllers. Spoiler alert: they’re losing. Apparently, Congress needs to swoop in like a caped crusader to rescue the FAA from its staffing woes.
This enlightening piece of literature, courtesy of a nonprofit that churns out reports for Congress, blames the usual suspects: government shutdowns, the COVID-19 pandemic, and outdated technology. Because, of course, the FAA couldn’t possibly be at fault for its own inefficiencies. Near-misses and accidents have become the new normal, adding a dash of excitement to air travel. Who needs roller coasters when you can have a mid-air scare?
William J. Strickland, former head honcho of the Human Resources Research Organization—yes, that’s a real thing—declared that America needs a course correction. Well, isn’t that a revelation? Let’s hope Congress can fix this before pigs fly.
The Transportation Research Board, under the watchful eye of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, decided to gift us this report, ordered by lawmakers as part of legislation pushing the FAA into new ventures. These include hiring more air traffic controllers and investing in aviation infrastructure and technology. Because nothing screams efficiency like a government-mandated hiring spree.
This report comes on the heels of heightened scrutiny—because a deadly crash and a series of near-misses tend to do that. Newark International Airport, in particular, has been a shining example of how not to staff an air traffic control tower. But don’t worry, Congress is on it. Surely, they’ll have this resolved in no time.
So, as we sit back and watch the FAA scramble to fill its towers, let’s remember that these staffing shortages are merely a blip on the radar of history. After all, what’s a little turbulence in the grand scheme of things?
