WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - Critical U.S. air traffic control (ATC) facilities face staffing challenges and the Federal Aviation Administration "lacks a plan to address them," a government audit released on Friday found.
The Transportation Department Office of Inspector General said the staffing issues pose risks to the continuity of air traffic operations.
The report said the FAA has made limited efforts to ensure adequate controller staffing at the busiest air traffic control facilities, adding that 77% of critical ATC facilities are staffed below the FAA's 85% threshold.
The center in busy Florida has had 300 staffing triggers - events when workforce issues require reducing air traffic, the report said.
The Transportation Department in May sought $117 million to hire 1,800 air traffic controllers next year, in addition to 1,500 being hired this year.
Persons:
General, York TRACON, David Shepardson, Chizu Nomiyama, Matthew Lewis
Organizations:
Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Department, FAA, National, Jacksonville, The Transportation Department, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Washington National, New, ., Thomson
Locations:
U.S, Florida, New York JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, New York, York, Miami, Washington