A DIFFERING VIEW: Air traffic controllers want safer skies
Contrary to the Rocky Mountain News’ view (“User fees on aviation,” May 18), nobody wants to modernize the U.S. air-traffic control system more than the nation’s air-traffic controllers. The Government Accountability Office, in recent testimony before the House Aviation Subcommittee, reaffirmed its long-held view that failing to involve controllers in the technology development process has led to costly reworks and delays.
Controllers worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration from 1997 to 2002 developing, testing and successfully implementing new air-traffic control equipment and procedures. But the current FAA leadership sent all of our technical experts home, refused our requests to be involved in modernization and implemented a “sit down and shut up” attitude toward collaboration with controllers on anything.
Despite this prisoner-like treatment, controllers are optimistic about talk of a next-generation air traffic system and want to be involved in making it happen.
In the meantime, what controllers are asking from Congress is a fair collective bargaining process. We do not have a contract. The FAA unilaterally imposed pay and work rules on controllers last September that the Department of Transportation inspector general says fueled a surge in controller retirements. This has made an unsafe staffing situation critical, including at the control tower at Denver International Airport and the major FAA radar control centers at both the airport and in Longmont.
The FAA’s iron-fisted rule has forced controllers to work longer than ever before, raising a serious safety concern expressed last month by the National Transportation Safety Board. The FAA must be held accountable before we are talking about lost lives instead of lost dollars.
Patrick Forrey is president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. He writes from Washington, D.C.
Just another whining session by NATCA over the contract the FAA rammed down their throat. If Forrey thinks the American people will get behind him he's kidding himself.
Posted by Jim on May 22, 2007 07:57 AMThis American realizes that happy and rested air traffic controllers makes the skies safer for my family and the American public...contract issues aside.
This would seem to be common sense, something it seems the FAA lacks.
If the FAA or any company for that matter is really interested in whats best for its customers(safety) then it should realize that collaboration and cooperation with its workforce is paramount in achieving those goals as a company.
If my employer rammed a so called "contract" down my throat and refused to collaborate with me on issues/projects which affected my day to day ability to do my job and ensure safety, I would walk away and not look back.
I think that is what is now happening to this country's air traffic controller workforce and it is only a matter of time before disaster occurs.
Posted by JimR on May 22, 2007 09:48 AMBig business Jim,
Whining about a contract rammed down their throat?! Wow, you are right, I can't see why NATCA would complain about that. (Srcsm). That's not even what Forrey was saying here. He's talking about collaboration with CONTROLLERS for the proposed NEXTGEN air traffic CONTROL system (words capitalized to highlight for you, Jim). Doesn't that collaboration just make sense? As far as organized labor getting a "contract rammed down their throat", well, it seems that you just wouldn't understand why that's just plain wrong. Another time, maybe. Welcome to a sensible counterpoint Jim, from "an American voter".
We can disupte these work rules being rammed down Air Traffic Controllers throats all day long. The bottom line is the safety margin that has kept America's air traffic system the best in the world is diminishing daily at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, we may be to the point where the only thing that will fix it is a national tragety. It doesn't have to be that way. It is obvious that the people at the top no longer care about safety, only their golden parachute when they sell off this national treasure. How comfortable would you be in an airplane that was designed by people other than those that do it every day? Not very! And that is what is happening to the air traffic control system. Poor planning and loss of experienced Controllers mean the public is suffering. Hopefully, Congress will act to fix it before it is too late.
Posted by Mike on May 22, 2007 10:18 AMHello Jim,
Your little comment about the "Contract getting rammed down our throats". YES it did.
I'm not sure who you are or what you do for a living, but keeping the skies safe for you and every other American is our job! That's our number one priority.
Come fly out of Long Beach Airport. We get to work six days a week and we get to work 10 hours a day. It's not fun or safe.
This is the United States of America.
What happened to keeping this Great Country safe?
God Bless us all...
Rene
Posted by Rene on May 22, 2007 10:42 AMThis whole subject concerns me as a pilot and traveller. Who else knows the air traffic system than the controllers who are still left and work it understaffed everyday.
Isn't it time for the Marion Blakey to listen to some of her own PR spin and include the air traffic controllers as stakeholders (whatever that is supposed to mean?).
For that matter how about including General Aviation as another stakeholder. I would love to have some say as to what happens with my National Airspace System.
Instead of reading about the poor airlines and how they are paying more than their fair share and can't make a buck. Then seeing how GA will be punished for Airline mismanagement and greed at the top. That's another issue...
Seems like the only stakeholders she listens to are the Airlines (make that Airline CEO's).
How about including those of us that use the system.
How about including those that work the system and are responsible for its success?
Today, another controller I know quit. This individual has a few years in the FAA and said, "Forget it. It is not too late to start over at something new." I've known a few people who have done the same rather than deal with the stress day in and day out. People have moved up retirement dates rather than stay in this hostile environment. I am too far into my career to start over, regrettably.
The pay has been cut, and the money is not worth the heartache. I only wish that they would offer an early retirement option, but we were excluded because there are too few of us to let anyone go.
Each time Ms. Blakey refers to us as "colleagues," I have wonder when she EVER picked up a headset and kept planes apart. Oh, yeah. She's NEVER been a controller. Bruce Johnson: he's a has-been. This agency is as big a boondoggle as Iraq.
Marion, you are no colleague of mine, so can it.
Posted by Withheld on May 22, 2007 12:47 PMPat hits the nail right on the head! As an Air Traffic Controller in Colorado Springs I can confirm that the Agency has no use for the advice of controllers. We recently received an updated radar system here and when it came to certifying it the Agency brow beat the tech people into certifying the equipment without air traffics agreeing. We now have a digital radar system that has to be dummied down to even be displayed on our antiquated displays. Plus the weather portion of the system has serious flaws that can lead to false readings. Add to that the displays we have can only show two levels of weather at a time so you could actually turn aircraft into heavy weather thinking there was no weather in the area!
We also recently had a lightning strike that took out our IDS system. We use this system as an informational tool. It has all of our airspace and technical data handy at a glance. Well the current system is (Get this!) based on DOS and running on 286 computers! The software isn't even supported anymore! We thought that this would be a perfect time to update this very important tool. Well, the Agency disagreed and decided it made more sense to replace it with more antiquated equipment that was just lying around.
One thing I will say about NEXGEN that Pat didn't mention. While I really hope the Agency includes controllers in the development process, if they don't I can safely say that I will be very concerned on what the outcome of that process looks like. I don't really have a lot of trust in an employer that hates it's employees the way the Agency obviously hates us.
Posted by TimD on May 22, 2007 12:48 PMToday, another controller I know quit. This individual has a few years in the FAA and said, "Forget it. It is not too late to start over at something new." I've known a few people who have done the same rather than deal with the stress day in and day out. People have moved up retirement dates rather than stay in this hostile environment. I am too far into my career to start over, regrettably.
The pay has been cut, and the money is not worth the heartache. I only wish that they would offer an early retirement option, but we were excluded because there are too few of us to let anyone go.
Each time Ms. Blakey refers to us as "colleagues," I have wonder when she EVER picked up a headset and kept planes apart. Oh, yeah. She's NEVER been a controller. Bruce Johnson: he's a has-been. This agency is as big a boondoggle as Iraq.
Marion, you are no colleague of mine, so can it.
Posted by Withheld on May 22, 2007 12:48 PMIf memory serves, it was the old Hollywood has been ham, Ronnie Ray-Gun, who fired most of America's staff of Aircraft Controllers over the idea of even having a real Union in the first place. Now, with Dubbya the Dimwit in the Oval Office, we are to expect a different attitude? We should live so long, yet!
Posted by Old Grouch on May 22, 2007 12:58 PMIt goes without saying how the quality and professionalism in our jobs as ATC's is going by the way side. The slap in the face to all the new controllers (although they knew what their pay was going to be when they hired on) is pathetic! It's hard for us journeyman to motivate the newcomers and teach them professionalism. I have people working next to me making 1/3 of my salary and there's no relief insight for these people.
I know retail people that make more than the new controllers and have better working hours!
The safety of the US air traffic system is at stake and I'm now off to work to control airplanes on a 1970's radar scope using a digital radar. In Colorado Springs, we are using displays that aren't compatible without the help of some adapter from the new radar. This is not just in Colorado but all over the country!
It's like the rest of this country.. Money driven and all the values have been taken out of wanting to go to work. Micro-managing and incompetence is all around the ATC system.
If this country would get back to family values, allowing workers to be human and not worry about the almighty (worthless) dollar, then maybe, just maybe people would enjoy going to work!
"Turn left heading 350, vector for Colorado Springs airport!"
Posted by AlanG on May 22, 2007 01:18 PMDear Lawrence, No, not big business but a retired Controller. Was fired in '81 for striking, rehired in '96 because I was one of the few picked to return. Retired in '03. If you knew anything about the history here, you would acknowledge all the 'sweet-heart' contracts the FAA signed off on for more than 10 years. Finally, under pressure of a possible sale of the ATC System to the private sector, the fed. said ENOUGH and gave them the contract more suited to their irresponsible ways. Got it Larry ?
Posted by Jim on May 22, 2007 02:01 PMUnfortunately comments like the one from Jim about sweetheart deals and pressure of a possible sale of the ATC system are very difficult to argue in this forum.
Suffice it to say that what Jim as a PATCO controller got fired for in 1981 was an illegal strike. What PATCO was fighting for is many of the same things NATCA is fighting for.
What that should tell the casual reader here is that from 1981 to today the Agency has refused to address a lot of the same problems that were active in 1981. Poor equipment, terrible working conditions in a lot of the Facilities Nationwide, a management style that belongs in the 1960's, and employee moral that is at an all time low.
Yes, in the past NATCA addressed some of these issues, pay, annual leave/sick leave issues, work schedules, collaboration on equipment. What Jim fails to include in his diatride is that PATCO also tried to address many of these same issues and failed. What has changed Jim's position on these issues I cannot say.
As far as the sale of the ATC system comment I can only point to the sale of the Flight Service Stations to Lockheed as the first step in that direction. This was done supposedly for budgetary reasons. We will see if the rest of the ATC system goes in the same direction.
Posted by TimD on May 22, 2007 03:01 PMDear Jim,
Talk about a sweetheart contract. A controller goes on an illegal strike and is rightfully fired in 81. Then doesn't work traffic again until 96 and is allowed to retire shortly thereafter. Luckily for you, NATCA or Clinton didn't ask my opinion about rehiring criminals like you or you would still be selling used cars or whatever you did for those 15 years instead of working traffic, short-staffed like I have been. Enjoy your NATCA endorsed retirement you ungrateful punk.
I would like to ignore JIMBO the PUNK, but I'm a working controller and I'm offended by the PUNK'S attack on my Union and my profession. You are a criminal that used the system and now the American people are going to have to pay for your retirement.
Now on to something of importance. I hope every pilot, congress man/women and anyone who flies keeps up todate with the happenings of today's ATC system. The FAA knows they are in trouble, but they are either stupid, covering their ASS or trying to find another job before the system comes to a grinding halt. I personally know 13 controllers that will be retiring before they wanted to, due to the FAA's attack on our profession. I'm talking about controllers that would love to work another 4,5 or 6 years, but instead will be gone by FEB 08. WHAT A SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by ssman on May 22, 2007 08:14 PMI remember just a few years ago, when I told my manager that "we" needed to fix a particular equipment problem to make the system run safer. She said to me, "There is no "WE", you are my employee, it's just me." Nothing got changed then, as is the case today. Now we aren't even given the ability to add input.
People who don't work the live air traffic are making the decisions of which they don't understand the implications. If the FAA wants to run it like a business, they need to have some consequences. If something is implemented and doesn't work, and you don't run it up the ladder, loose your company millions, your fired. As a controller, I am held to a high standard, they should be also.
Posted by Joshua on May 22, 2007 08:27 PMCPCs: get over "Jim" and stay focused on the problem(s) this noble profession has faced/edured since its' inception: the FAA and politicians having no respect for labor and "particularly" organized labor.
I was PATCO, yes: fired in 1981 and I'm now NATCA, rehired in 2000. My allegiance is to air traffic control and I'm ashamed of controllers who participate in discussions "PATCO vs NATCA", in this forum.
Cleve
Posted by Cleveland Thornton III on May 22, 2007 09:56 PMCPCs: get over "Jim" and stay focused on the problem(s) this noble profession has faced/endured since its' inception: the FAA and politicians having no respect for labor and "particularly" organized labor. I'm a survivor: of 1981 and 2006.
I was PATCO, yes: fired in 1981 and I'm now NATCA, rehired in 2000. My allegiance is to air traffic control and I'm ashamed of controllers who participate in discussions "PATCO vs NATCA", in this forum.
Cleve
Posted by Cleveland Thornton III on May 22, 2007 09:58 PMCPCs: get over "Jim" and stay focused on the problem(s) this noble profession has faced/endured since its' inception: the FAA and politicians having no respect for labor and "particularly" organized labor. I'm a survivor: of 1981 and 2006.
I was PATCO, yes: fired in 1981 and I'm now NATCA, rehired in 2000. My allegiance is to air traffic control and I'm ashamed of controllers who participate in discussions "PATCO vs NATCA", in this forum.
Cleve
Posted by Cleveland Thornton III on May 22, 2007 09:58 PMAnd finally: regardless of how/why, the system survived and eventually thrived after the strike. Politicians feel/suspect mass retirements won't provide the disruption to air traffic, the strike did. As in 1981, our condition/situation is about/the result of politics.
Posted by Cleveland Thornton III on May 22, 2007 10:17 PMI have been a controller for twenty five years in two different facilities in the Denver area. I have seen good and bad people on both sides. Right now is the worst I have ever seen the agency. This is all about a very incompetent group of managers at the top doing every thing they can to cover their shortcommings. The Bush admin gave them a free hand when the Presiden fired the entire Federal Labor Relations Board. He then replaced all with similar dim witted cronies. Just like Tony Sopranno if you dont like the judge kill him and get a new more sympathtic one. This removed any chance of a fair playing field. At this point the harrassment began. Sit down and shut up, we will push you around all we want ,because we are so worried some one will see just how limited our abilities are became the new game If this is how you promote safety I want out. Oh that reminds me I dont have to cover for idiots like Jim anymore I am getting out before the end of the year.
Posted by Mark on May 23, 2007 03:32 PMIn an effort to save money, the FAA is making life so miserable that people will retire. Their plan is working. The problem is that they are not hiring enough qualified people to replace everyone that is leaving. The remaining controllers are working longer hours and six day weeks at some facilities. They are wearing out their controllers and mistakes will happen. Some facilities have already had to close of periods of time due to lack of staffing. The FAA has lost sight of their mission to keep the American skies safe. Instead the are focusing on dollars and cents.
The FAA needs to get out of the politics and and focus on providing best service possible to the flying public and the American people.
Posted by Dave on May 24, 2007 08:09 AMFirst, absolute shock at Jim "GW" Jr. You broke the law, got re-hired with the help of NATCA, and drained resources, time and money so you could go sit on your duff and rip the very union responsible for your pension. You have no room to speak and should put your tail between your legs and run home to Marion. However, I appreciate your right to speak your ignorance and arrogance...it is still America, though I wonder sometimes.
To address the real issue at hand- safety. The FAA in its latest incarnation has created an atmosphere of apathy among its workforce. Facilities are understaffed, controllers are tired and distracted my "nontract" issues. Putting aside "nontract" and pay issues, we have been taken out of any sort of collaborative effort and it has taken its toll on safety. An example- a departure procedure was designed by a staff specialist who hasn't worked traffic since Archie League. This procedure turns departing aircraft into adjacent, busy military airspace and increases our workload to ensure seperation and avoid operational deviations. Had current working controllers been involved in the process, a safer, more efficient procedure could have been developed. This is a small example, but it illustrates the need for actual, current controllers to be involved in safety. Design of procedures, developement of new equipment, and implementation have all suffered in an effort to show "who's in power".
Safety is my number one priority- I wish my employer would give me the tools and allow me to be a part of continuing that tradition.
Posted by Steve on May 24, 2007 11:15 AMMore airplanes, massive retirements, unprecedented levels of retaliation against those who expose the agency's irresponsible and immoral behavior, FAA employee morale at the lowest in history (The latest employee attitude survey shows the regional and national office personnel are disgusted as well) and an aging workforce, 1/3 or more of which is eligible to retire now or in the next few years - points to some very serious problems.
We can debate the politics of it forever and not get anywhere but the reality is that when you stress anything enough it will break.
The current FAA Administrator, in her zeal to show everybody how much she hates controllers and NATCA, managed to break the limited few parts of the agency that actually worked. Think Reagan and trickle down. When the ramifications of what she's done trickle down to be fully realized by the voters, it will be way too late and they'll be mourning not just the loss of loved ones after an accident but the loss of what used to be the best and safest air traffic control system in the world.
Where will Blakey be then? Sitting in the corner office of some cush consulting job pointing the finger of blame at the poor schmuck(s) who inherit the mess she made.
Posted by GDW on May 25, 2007 08:45 AM