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The Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport continues to be going through an air visitors controller staffing disaster, and controllers are working six-day weeks to compensate for the scarcity.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised Fox Information Digital on Sunday that the Virginia airport at present has 26 licensed skilled controllers – two wanting the minimal staffing degree listed on its web site. Controllers are working additional time when assigned, the company mentioned.
Nevertheless, the labor union representing controllers, Nationwide Air Site visitors Controllers Affiliation (NATCA), reportedly advised Fox 5 DC that the airport is going through a 33% scarcity in controllers. There are solely 20 personnel whereas there must be 30, the outlet reported, citing the union.
Staffing issues at Reagan Nationwide Airport have elevated following a January midair collision involving a passenger aircraft and a navy helicopter that killed 67 folks.
FAA INCREASING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL STAFF, SUPERVISORS AT RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT
The air visitors management tower on the Reagan Nationwide Airport on Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (Kayla Bartkowski / Getty Photos)
There was a nationwide scarcity of air visitors controllers, with a necessity for roughly 3,000 extra to completely workers the system, in keeping with Fox 5.
To assist handle the hole on the airport, the FAA mentioned six everlasting controllers and 4 non permanent personnel are anticipated to be onboarded within the coming months.
A Delta Air Strains flight approaches Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 2, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP by way of / Getty Photos)
“The FAA is dedicated to growing the air visitors controller workforce and has set bold hiring targets to alleviate the calls for on present controllers,” the company mentioned, including that two operational visitors administration coordinators (TMC) are at present assigned, and extra picks are as a consequence of arrive.
In distinction, NATCA reportedly advised Fox 5 that no TMCs are at present operational on the facility.
Reagan Nationwide Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 30, 2025. (Leigh Inexperienced for Fox Information Digital / Fox Information)
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The FAA emphasised that their focus is to “get the very best and brightest” into its academy and “make sure that each seat is crammed for the upcoming lessons.”
NATCA didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Fox Information Digital.