The U.S. currently needs more than 3,000 air traffic controllers, and the void is significantly impacting flights and airport operations, particularly during inclement weather, reports Recommend.
Despite efforts to address the issue, the problem is projected to worsen before any substantial improvement can be seen. According to a recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report, the number of certified professional air traffic controllers in the U.S. has declined from 11,753 in 2012 to 10,228 in 2020. Although the numbers have slightly increased in recent years, they are still far below the required staffing levels.
Airlines have called on the FAA to speed up the training and hiring of new controllers to alleviate the situation. Suggestions have also been made to allow aviation schools to administer the FAA's certification test, potentially expediting the process.
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