Duffy: Expect More ATC Delays as Govt. Shutdown Lingers

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is warning of increased air traffic delays as the government shutdown becomes the second-longest in history and controllers face their first $0 paycheck tomorrow. This will come after the nation’s air traffic controllers received only a partial paycheck on October 14. In fact, FlightAware on Sunday logged 8,774 delays involving flights in the U.S.

Speaking during a press briefing with House of Representatives leaders last week, Duffy assured that work continues on air traffic modernization. He reiterated that the system is safe, “but it has to be massively rebuilt. We need a new system.” Duffy noted that he has pushed for $31.5 billion toward that effort but received a “down payment” of $12.5 billion to begin that work. “We have crafted our teams in a way that can keep that work moving forward. It doesn’t stop during the shutdown…that is still operational.”

However, as for the air traffic controllers, who were not furloughed but are asked to work without pay during the shutdown: “They’re angry,” he said. “I’ve gone to a number of different towers over the course of the last week to 10 days, and they’re frustrated.”

As a result, he warned, across the national airspace, “There’s certain centers or Tracons or towers where we'll see lower staffing.” That’s where the system will experience cancellations. These cancellations will not be centered on a particular tower or center. “It’s maybe one center one day. It’s a Tracon another day. It’s kind of moving throughout the national airspace, but it’s causing disruptions.”

Many controllers work more than five days a week to make sure that air travel is covered throughout the country, he added, but now they have to worry about how to pay the mortgage, make a car payment, or put food on the table.

“They have to make choices, and the choices they’re making is to take a second job. Well, I don’t want my air traffic controllers to take a second job. I want them to do one job. I want them coming to their facilities and controlling the airspace.”

Duffy stressed that this will not compromise safety. “Safety is paramount for us, and so if we don’t have the staffing levels in a tower, Tracon, or center, you will see us delay traffic. You will see us cancel flights.”

Another problem that is starting to surface, Duffy continued, is that the students at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City are now starting to question their career path. Duffy pointed to plans to supercharge air traffic controllers hiring, including shortening the timeline to enter the FAA Academy.

“It’s going to be a multi-year process to make up the shortfall that we have in the system,” he said. But “I have young air traffic controller students who are now telling me, ‘What the hell am I doing? Why am I going to take this job?’ They’re thinking about leaving the academy, smart young men and women, because they don’t want to work for a system that won’t pay them.”

Duffy reiterated that the ATC system will focus on safety, “but again, I can’t guarantee you that your flight is going to be on time.”

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has urged its controller members to work during the shutdown, but president Nick Daniels issued a statement also warning, “This shutdown has real consequences for these hard-working American patriots. With each passing day, controllers become more distracted by the risk of receiving a zero-dollar paycheck on October 28.”

This increases their stress and introduces unnecessary risk into the National Airspace System, he added.