Air Traffic Controllers Continue Slams Against FAA
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association continued their campaign against the FAA on many fronts in the past week. On Tuesay the NATCA blasted the FAA for not allowing the families of controllers in the Houston area to take shelter in ATC facilities.
“Many still had families in town. They did not evacuate their families early because they believed our employer would allow their family in considering the danger such a storm would pose. But the FAA didn’t budge. The FAA’s heartless actions, while not surprising, stand in stark contrast to other employers of essential personnel in Houston, who went out of their way to protect employees and their families”
Then on Wednesday the NATCA announced a media conference call to discuss “serious threats to public safety from FAA mismanagement”.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Americans everywhere have been reminded of the indispensable role federal agencies play in protecting the public and the stakes of poor planning and mismanagement. Now, as the nation assesses these agencies, America’s air traffic controllers blow the whistle on serious and dangerous mismanagement by the FAA that is threatening passenger safety.
Then later on Wednesday the NATCA announced a new internet, TV, and media campaign against the FAA regarding staffing and modernization issues.
“If the FAA won’t step up to the plate to ensure safety, then America’s air traffic controllers certainly will,” said Carr, “We know the public puts an equally high priority on safety in the skies, and we’re expecting considerable support in this effort.”
More details about the campaign and the new television commercial can be found at the campaign’s action headquarters at www.flyussafe.com.
And finally yesterday the NATCA released a statement regarding failing radar equipment in the Washington Center sectors.
“This is a disturbing and dangerous example of a flight safety problem that represents a disaster waiting to happen,” said Washington Center Controller Tim Casten, the facility representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. “Not only does this show how badly run the FAA’s technical operations are but it calls into question the agency’s ability to ensure both the safety and security of the region’s airspace. We are calling on the FAA to take emergency action.”
If NATCA, the air traffic controllers union, would agree to reduce salaries to market levels ($70K per year insteas of $130K per year) and agree that controllers should work 6 hours on position instead of the usual 4 to 4 1/2, the FAA would stop playing harball.
The controller pay raise in 1999 was way out of line and it hurt the whole agency.
You are right! There is no way that my work at O’Hare is anywhere near the level of effort or expertise that my neighbors the so-so college grads who makes over 200K a year are. How could I be so stupid as to pressume that my 26 years of experience and level of accomplishment should be compensated at any more than a third of them. Thank you for setting me straight. I don’t know about all of the facilities, but we see many more days with much more than the 4-41/2 hours of work that you are mentioning. I also have worked a desk job in the past and can attest to the fact that while they are there for 81/2 hours, they spend more time looking for something to do than actually working and that work isn’t very challenging. Oh yes, did I mention the fact that they are guarenteed to make more than the controllers? Sounds like White Trucking all over again. No one should make more than management! Whoops, we forgot that management doesn’t actually accomplish the goals of the company, that is to produce product or actually provide the service that we are in business to provide. You want the people taking care of your airplane to be the best qualified and best paid. If they aren’t, then I suggest you take the bus for safety’s sake.
Bob,
You don’t have a *%^$% clue what you are talking about. The state of the FAA is not because of controller’s salaries. It is because of the mismanagement of billions of dollars that the FAA has squandered on failed projects. And now the FAA is blaming the controllers. Obviously you have never put a headset on in your life and are not qualified to even make such an observation. The FAA is quickly being run into the ground and the flying public is in jeopardy. Until you actually strap into one of those chairs and start talking to real aircraft keep your FAA dogma to yourself and get a friggin clue.
NATCA #1,
Do you think that you should make more than many airline pilots when they are truly in “control” of the airplane and not just keeping them separated? Gimme a @&%$#*/ break!!
One of my best friends is a team sup. He hits 56 soon and he says that he’ll be handing out carts at Walmart when he retires. He admits that he has no skills applicable to the real world and that he and others have been overpaid for years. He’s worked all over the FAA and he also believes that controllers are going to go the way of the FSS’s. My advice to you is quit surfing the internet and looking at blogs that help you feel better about your lot in life and take the steps necessary to prepare youself for your next career.