CNN —Despite a surge in hiring last year, air traffic control stations nationwide are still about 3,000 controllers short, according to new Federal Aviation Administration numbers.
The staffing plans developed by the FAA and the union representing air traffic controllers calls for more than 14,600 controllers to fully staff towers and centers.
But at the same time, its air traffic control organization lost more than 1,300 employees, including controllers who retired or candidates who dropped out of training.
The union president representing air traffic controllers said that after accounting for departures, the agency netted an increase of only six new controllers that year.
It also instructs the FAA to install additional simulators at air traffic control sites to speed up training progress.
Persons:
“, ”, Mike Whitaker
Organizations:
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